On Monday night at the Hudson Theater in New York, the "Downton Abbey" cast together with EP Gareth Neame continued their holiday season tradition of visiting New York City prior to the the show's US premiere. It was also an opportunity to say farewell to its US audience.
It was announced in March that "Downton Abbey" Season 6 would be the last for the series about the aristocratic Crawley family and their loyal servants that span the Edwardian era, World War I and the Roaring Twenties. The show dealt with many political and social issues that are as relevant today as they were 90 years ago reports WSJ.
There wasn't much discussion about the plotlines of the coming season perhaps to avoid leaking too much spoilers. The Q&A panel moderated by Dave Itzkoff of the New York Times chose to focus instead on reminiscences on the show's six seasons.
There are a lot of stories to share what with six seasons of filming. Monday night probably barely scratched the surface. One of the anecdotes was about Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael introducing the wonders of YouTube to screen legend Maggie Smith.
Itzkoff also asked what they will miss most working in the show. Yahoo reports that Elizabeth McGovern brought the house down with her dig at the show's overuse of exposition. She said, "I'll miss reiterating the plot with Hugh Bonneville in bed every night - and never having any sex."
Dockery and Allen Leech said they will miss most the fictional flamboyant American stylist named Jacques who has very strong opinions on the "Downton Abbey" wardrobe. The two did a spot on impression of Jacques that brought on the laughs from the audience.
Itzcoff said he could not end the panel without asking if the Crawleys will be seen by audiences again. Neame did not flat out deny the possibility of a "Downton Abbey" movie but he was not confirming one either according to CRI English.
Neame shared that he was told at the onset that, "Nobody in the United States will ever have any interest in this project". He assured the audience of satisfying episodes in "Downton Abbey" Season 6 which will have a clear direction.
"Neither you, nor I, can hold back time", Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, tells Carson in the "Downton Abbey" Season 6 premiere. The words surely ring true to the countless of fans who have followed the Crawleys for five seasons now. The final season of "Downton Abbey" premieres on "Masterpiece" on PBS, Sunday, January 3.
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