Downton Abbey paced like NYPD Blue? That's what Julian Fellowes says (Mail On-Line)

By ALASDAIR GLENNIE

Last updated at 7:58 AM on 20th January 2012



It has won plaudits for its gentle evocation of a bygone age.

But costume drama Downton Abbey was actually modelled on gritty police series NYPD Blue, its creator Julian Fellowes has revealed.

A far cry from New York crime: But Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes said he based the drama on US police show NYPD Blue

But after his Golden Globe success at the weekend Fellowes, 62, said he learned the secrets of a good plot by watching American television.

Speaking to a US newspaper yesterday, the Oscar-winning writer said: ‘Although dealing with corsets and long dresses, our structure is like your E.R. No kind of fat. Just keep furthering the story economically. Move forward.

'Like NYPD Blue things go fast. Miss a beat, too bad, go onward. The pace developed the American way. The old style now seems so slow.’

Fellowes said he wrote the award-winning series off the cuff, and struggled to finish the second series in time for filming.

 

He said: ‘I started February and wrote it all, including the last episodes, under pressure because September we were already in production.


Read the entire article:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2089157/The-pace-developed-American-way-Julian-Fellowes-reveals-modelled-Downton-Abbey-NYPD-Blue.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Award-winning: Fellowes and Downton stars Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville at Sunday's Golden Globes where the show won best television mini-series