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You probably missed my post further up this thread which explained why. Post #243, the actors are all very popular in the US, and everyone wants them. (sigh) I love happy endings and hate when they leave me empty.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFWalkoff
I would actually prefer they get another actor to play a part, then to write a character out of a series.
Looking beyond season 3 of Downton to season 4...
This would be a smart move. They know that there are too many ways for US viewers to get their hands on new episodes as they are airing in the UK, which could chip away from the ratings when they finally air officially in the US.Quote:
'Downton Abbey': PBS Considers Airing Season 4 Closer To U.K. Air Date
Posted: 12/06/2012 10:14 am EST
The third season of "Downton Abbey" is premiering on PBS next month, and the network's executives are already looking ahead to the series' fourth season will hit the airwaves stateside.
“The audiences for 'Downton' have been terrific,” senior VP and PBS’ chief programming executive John Wilson noted in an interview with THR. “So you can’t say that [airing months earlier in the UK] has knocked the legs out from underneath 'Downton Abbey.' On the other hand, we can’t know how much more terrific it might have been had it aired closer to the UK premiere.”
Wilson added that the network is assessing the possibility of airing Season 4 of "Downton Abbey" closer to the UK premiere date. Though that would make US fans happy, one thing about Season 4 is still upsetting: Dan Stevens' decision to duck out of the series.
Stevens, who plays Lady Mary's (Michelle Dockery) love interest Matthew Crawley, will reportedly only appear in the first episode of the "Downton's" fourth season. And according to series creator Julian Fellowes, his role won't be recast.
“Sometimes actors feel they want to move on. Initially, for the first two or three [seasons] you can contract them, but after that, every season, you have to re-contract them,” Fellowes told EW. "If they don’t want to come back, there’s nothing we can do.”
Season 3 of "Downton Abbey" will premiere on Sunday, January 6 on PBS.
Oh, and a memo to Dan Stevens: I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself here in New York, performing in The Heiress. We're enjoying having you, and the show is great.
Now get your butt back to Downton, you fool! What is it, a couple of months' filming? What incredible things will you miss in that short span of time? Go back to the show that gave you all this opportunity and honor it. (End rant)
That's my problem with it. This show doesn't do 22 episodes per season or anything. I'll bet it's maybe 2-3 months of filming, tops. Since it's TV, the shooting schedule is probably shorter than for a film. It's not a HUGE time commitment like US broadcast network dramas.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFWalkoff
Any time young actors decide to leave their wildly successful TV show and capitalize on that popularity, I want to direct them to the first season of NYPD Blue and David Caruso's career.....and he wasn't part of a wildly popular couple when he left that show.
I like Dan Stevens, but I can't see how he'll become a big star outside of that show :shrug
He does theater too, and now that he's on Broadway, he fell in love with the place and wants to move his family here and keep looking for stage work (and I assume some local TV guest shots when he's going hungry).
CBS Sunday Morning had a wonderful piece on the filming of Season 3 with updates on some of the actors. It is posted with a SPOILER ALERT.
Behind the scenes at "Downton Abbey" - CBS News
I'm new to the show. I'm getting up with the marathons. I've been DVRing all day. I just love this show!
I just loved the feature of them today on the CBS Morning Show.
Thanks for the link. I got more out of this than I did from that lame recap show with Angela Lansbury on PBS. Plus, no pledge breaks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Arielflies
Since I already watched season 3 (except for the Christmas special, of course), I'm geared up for season 4. I'll watch season 3 when it airs on PBS, but I've really begun the countdown to season 4.
I'll be happy when everyone here has seen season 3 so I can discuss it!
Thanks so much for putting this into a Spoiler Alert, Arielflies. I just wish the PBS article posted above had been put into a Spoiler Alert because I am so sorry to prematurely learn that Matthew is leaving the series. Please guys, there are so many of us who really don't wish to know this kind of information in advance. Please respect that, and put any storyline or casting information into a spoiler. Thanks so much for doing so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arielflies
:yeahthat You are my (s)hero! :winkgrin I have never understood people who just insist on telling people what they tell them they don't want to know. Somebody explain that to me....pretty please!