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Upstairs, Downstairs

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TV Series

The Resume

    (October 10, 1971-December 21, 1975)
    Aired on ITV
    Created by John Hawkesworth
    Masterpiece Classic Anthology series/Period drama
    Ensemble cast included David Langdon, Rachel Gurney, Karen Dotrice, Jean Marsh, Gordon Jackson, Angela Baddely, and Lesley-Anne Down
    Theme Song: 'The Edwardians'/'What Are We Going To Do With Uncle Arthur?' composed by Alfred Faris and performed by Pauline Collins
    The lives and times of both an aristocratic family (the Bellamys) and their London townhouse servants, following them from 1903 to 1930
    Set at 165 Eaton Place in West London's Belgravia district

Why Upstairs, Downstairs might be annoying:

    Over a thirty year period, its characters barely aged at all.
    Plans for a feature film adaptation during the second season were scrapped.
    When Rachel Gurney asked to be written out of the show, they made Lady Bellamy a passenger on the Titanic.
    Early proposed titles included 'Behind the Green Baize Door,' 'The Servant's Hall' and (inexplicably) 'Below Stairs.'
    The first six of the original episodes were taped in black and white due to a production strike.
    When it aired on American broadcast television, only the latter half of the first season episodes aired, causing confusion over the show's continuity.
    Producers tacked on a '-1' to the exterior townhouse's 65 Eaton address to prevent the real inhabitants from being mobbed by gawking tourists seeking out the Bellamys and their staff (die-hard fans figured it out anyway).
    The BBC attempted a reboot as a response to the success of Downton Abbey but it fell flat and was cancelled after two seasons.
    Its broadcast time was deemed an inconvenience by several British socialites (who complained that it made their kitchen staff late in preparing dinner).

Why Upstairs, Downstairs might not be annoying:

    It was a wry commentary on the British social class mileu.
    It is one of the highest rated programs in the history of PBS.
    It was said to have been Queen Elizabeth's favorite television program.
    It won eight Emmy awards, including Outstanding Drama series (in 1974 - 75; 77).
    It won a Golden Globe for best television Drama (1975).
    It was credited with changing American perceptions about British programming.
    It was the first major color production to air on LWT, and its first to be produced on videotape.
    Gordon Jackson was awarded the coveted Queen's Order of the British Empire while working on the show (1975).
    The line drawings in the opening title sequence were taken from Edwardian editions of the satirical Punch magazine.
    55 episodes were selected as a part of Masterpiece Theatre's Twentieth Anniversary Favorites series (1991).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 35 Votes: 17.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying