PrettyRedRose

Agreed with most of this but I’d add there was far, far too much crying. I remember reading some years back that Mel and Sue would deliberately spoil shots of contestants crying. Sandi and Noel seem to frame them instead and it lessens the overall kind, warm vibe of the show I think.

It was fascinating to watch the transformation of Margaret from Hot Lips, a caricature that bothered me even way back in the day, into a fully realized and complex character. One of my favorite things that she said was once when she was being treated disrespectfully because women aren’t “real” majors was that the oak leaf on her collar is gold, they don’t come in blue for boys and pink for girls. MASH elevated the sitcom, allowed that format to take on drama and pathos with more depth and regularity than any before it. Every dramedy on TV since owes them a debt.

Agreed. I'm getting the shows about a week after y'all so I have to avoid this thread but this year's crop are not doing it for me. Not sure why, maybe they're too competitive or something.

Getting Cranston to be the radio guy is a pretty lame way to put him in the movie.

Saw the Downton movie. It was basically the show in movie form, silly and frothy but beautiful. It’s nice to spend a couple hours with old friends. One of the downsides is 1930s fashion for women is pretty awful, unflattering stuff. The costuming made the most of what was available but other than Lady Mary’s ballgown nothing knocked my socks off. Springsteen movie trailer in my theater.

I binged this and it's probably not for everyone but I liked it. If you liked Downton Abbey, you'll enjoy it. The Crown is the same kind of show, glacial pacing and gorgeous to look at. Performances are all solid but John Lithgow is outstanding as Churchill.