The summer TV press tour where networks promote their upcoming programming kicked off over the weekend at the Beverly Hilton with PBS presenting first — and that meant one thing: a lot of happy discussion about its big hit,"Downton Abbey."
Still beaming Saturday with an Emmy glow — the show took up residence in the drama category, receiving 16 nominations — a few of the actors from the popular British series, including newcomer Shirley MacLaine, took the stage and reflected on the show's somewhat surprising new fame. The show will return for a third season Jan. 6.
"We're gobsmacked," said Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham. "To have the show embraced so wholeheartedly from America is a great thrill for all of us."
MacLaine will join the cast as Martha Levinson, the mother of Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern). The 78-year-old actress, judging from the extensive preview-reel screenings to journalists, will undoubtedly bring a jolt to the series, much in the way she did to the panel — whether it was joking that she and 77-year-old Maggie Smith, who plays the dowager countess on "Downton," were "lovers in another lifetime" — or plainly stating that she had previously not been a fan of the show and that she took the role only after some convincing.
"I didn't know anything about Martha, I don't even know if you do," MacLaine said, looking to creator Julian Fellowes. "But my hairdresser does. All the ladies in my hairdressing place said, 'Oh, she's Jewish and she's from Long Island and she has a lot of money and she's looking for a tight old man.'"
But MacLaine was later upstaged. Bonneville stood up and unbuttoned his shirt to reveal another underneath with a special plea for his character's imprisoned valet: "Free Bates!"
Other "Downton" news included:
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