Downton Abbey Season Two Trailer

   Downton Abbey season two is set to air this week Sunday Sept 18 in ENGLAND. We, Americans, have to wait 8 long weeks in January to see where Lord Grantham's family left off. I am beyond ecstatic to see this series. For those newbies, please watch the first season on Netflix immediately. It's about 7 hour episodes. (It goes by quickly, I promise!) Downton Abbey is set in the early 20th century after the sinking of the Titanic. It follows a distinguished noble family and their servants. The series left off with the announcement of WWI, which undoubtedly will affect this family.

    What's great is it doesn't entirely feel like a period piece. The stories hit close to home. This is not an old lady's cup of tea because there are some sassy (YES, sassy) characters and scandalous turns of events. Romance, action, backstabbing, and comedy... What more can you ask for? And it's on PBS!!

    There's a great article on the NYTimes site about Julian Fellowes, the creator. I highly recommend to get a glipse of the new season.

First Look: Downtown Abbey Season 2

Season Two of the wonderful Downton Abbey is coming in January. Sadly, it's months from now - but we do have the opportunity to see this early poster from PBS. I've heard so many speculations from fans worldwide.  Who will survive WWI and how will our aristocratic family's story end?  January needs to be here already!



TV Recommendation: Zen

    Several of the best shows on TV can be found on Sunday Nights. I myself watch True Blood, Drop Dead Diva, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Falling Skies, AND Masterpiece Classic. *I sincerely don't know how I manage it!* Sunday has always been home to "prime' television; speaking of which, Masterpiece Classic is not just for geezer and Anglophiles. I recall a certain Cookie Monster and his love of Masterpiece Theater (the name has changed since then). Just to name a few shows: Downton Abbey, Sherlock Holmes, Little Dorrit, Pride and Prejudice were all British production shown on PBS. I can say tonight's programming keeps in this good company.

    Tonight is the second installment of Zen for Masterpiece Mystery. Rufus Sewell stars as the titled character. He's a snazzy detective solving crimes on the cobble streets of Rome. A man that can effortlessly rock an Armani suit deserves our attention.

    In this story, it seems the majority of the Italian government officials are corrupt. Why accepting bribes for murder cases? Oh, just another day at the office. What's special about Aurelio Zen is his morale and uncharted honesty which makes him an outcast in his department. This trait makes him a choice target for criminals and colleagues alike. The first chapter involves two murder cases that aren't so easy to solve. Nothing looks as it seems and our detective has to go digging for dirt. Zen has a romantic subplot with the married office secretary. Hey! Hey! The affair is (for lack of a better word) charming. She has a "complicated" relationship. For once, an adulterer doesn't act like a total sleazebag.  

    The first episode ("Vendetta") is currently streaming at on the PBS site. I thoughly enjoyed this series because it felt like what a "mystery" was suppose to be. *Also, it fills the void left by Downton Abbey until that comes back in January.* I encourage you to take a look for a stylish thriller mixed with splashes of intrigue, romance, and comedy. Zen still lives with his mother. A man on the brink of 40 and doesn't have his own place. Yeah, that is sure to provided entertainment (or a sad reminder for some.. Sorry, fellas!)  

 Masterpiece Mystery - Zen: "Cabal" airs tonight on PBS at 9pm (check your local listings.)