Good humor makes all things possible.
-Charles Schultz-

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.
-Shakespeare-The Merchant of Venice-

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

All I want for Christmas



I missed you, too!  But seriously, every time I thought about posting all I could think about was that dang Downton Abbey Christmas Special, which as you all know was ridiculous, and how Lillie and I could barely stand to WATCH it over and over, let alone write a snappy recap for it.  So for months (and months) we did nothing, and I did nothing, and now the new season starts on PBS in just two weeks.  Our plan was always to have a new recap ready to publish by the time the credits rolled each Sunday (which means having it written and edited in advance) so anyway enough of all those excuses.

We did it.  Here you go.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

I'll be back later with some sort of story about what I did for ten months while I avoided my blog.

anybodycandoanything.com christmas-special-debutantes-and-tiaras


Monday, February 24, 2014

The more they stay the same

Not yet



Lillian and I  haven't written the recap for this week's episode yet.   Last week's, if you missed it, is HERE.   But here's a little click-bait to keep you entertained until we get it finished:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freda_Dudley_Ward

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2520228/Downton-Abbey-Christmas-special-Edward-VIIIs-great-love.html


So I appreciate that Julian Fellowes refers to actual historical figures in his scripts.  Some are obvious, like the King and Queeen, and some seem like fluff:  having Australian opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa play the part of an actual Australian opera singer of the period, Nellie Melba.  And it seems he got that wrong, too.

But on the final episode--"The Christmas Special" for those in Britain and some other countries, Julian wrote in two characters whom we mixed up for  the entire first hour.  We finally got them sorted out and looked the actresses up in the Season Five cast list to see if we really had to pay attention or could just forget them both, and OH MY STARS AND GARTERS Freda Dudley-Ward was a real live human.  She was a married mother and "friend", or "confidante" for those too discreet to say mistress, of the Prince of Wales, who became King George for a few minutes before abdicating to marry a different mistress, Wallis Simpson.

Of course all we could think of was Camilla Parker-Bowles, who was Prince Charles's mistress for so many years (and she was also married with children).  I know things are different across the pond, and the monarchy is a peculiar type of business, but still!  At one point Mrs Dudley-Ward would have been invisible, but there she was acting as a party date to the Prince of Wales, as bold as brass.  To her credit, Camilla kept to the shadows until Princess Diana was cold in her grave.  And as time passes, even nerdy old Princes Charles seems like sort of an okay guy.  (Even though I want to carry a grudge, as I get older  I realize my indignation might be misplaced.  You just never know the whole story, do you?)

There's still a lot going on here to keep us from finishing the recap, but I know when we're finally done we'll feel bereft until Season Five starts (for us cheaters) in September.  Thanks for sticking with us!


Friday, February 14, 2014

That'll do, pig

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all

The thing about posting the last week's recap on a Friday is only having two days to get the next one written!  Yes, we brought it on ourselves.  Yes, we love doing it (or maybe; we love having done it.)  But when people read them and share them and we see the page-views go up and up…well, that's a pretty nice reward.  Thanks, everyone!

Hurry on over to:   Anybody Can Do Anything Especially Lillian

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Time out

bugger


I hate to say it, but the recap will be late this week.  I hope not for long!  There is just too much other LIFE in the way right now.  Mostly, I am uncomfortable to admit, my life.

#$^*&(!)~>!

Lillie and I are a team, and until we can do this together, the recaps will just have to wait.  We truly want each one to be everything you have come to expect.

Thanks, readers!
BRB

Sunday, February 2, 2014

What Super Bowl?



If all the scenes were like this one, we wouldn't have anything to write about.  But--not all the scenes were like this one, so we were busy again this week.  What a season we have here!

What are we going to learn about Baxter?

What will Edith decide to do about her problem?  And her other problem?

Who will Mary pick?

Will Tom stay--or go?

And when are Martha and Harold ever going to get here?

Anna?  Daisy?  Isobel?  Rose? So many story lines...

As the season ramps up we are definitely beginning to think about the end, aren't you?

http://www.anybodycandoanything.com/2014/02/downton-abbey-recap-all-single-ladies.html

Here's what Lillian and I have to say about that.



Monday, January 27, 2014

Why you gotta do me like that, PBS?

Better start another pot


Busy week.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I would tell you all the reasons I'm mad at PBS but you'll just have to trust me.

Here's the link:

http://www.anybodycandoanything.com/2014/01/downton-abbey-recap-if-at-first-you.html

Time to apply for jobs and start absorbing next week's episode.


Monday, January 20, 2014

Where are we, again?





Well, this one won't make you cry!  Here's the link to the PBS episode shown January 19--some say episode 4, some insist it's Episode 3.  As far as these recaps go, it's EPISODE FOUR. And I'm annoyed at the BBC (again) for ignoring pivotal scenes.  So pay attention when you watch PBS--if we buy the series what will we get?

Lillie is across town house-and-dog-sitting this week, so putting the NEXT recap together could prove challenging.  [For those of you following-- little Miss Lennon was born Saturday and is doing well.]  I'm going to start on the new one first thing in the morning!

http://www.anybodycandoanything.com/2014/01/downton-abbey-recap-regrets-ive-had-few.html

(There are a few issues with some of the photos--Lillie and I will work on that as soon as we're back in the same house.)  Enjoy!

********update, the pictures are fine.  And believe me, if we had seen the inside of the Minute Clinic (conveniently ignored by the BBC) we'd have taken a screen shot.  Don't they care that we do all this in advance so you can read these recaps in the morning?******




Sunday, January 12, 2014

An evening of light entertainment


It was painfully sad when Sybil died and terrible when Matthew was killed.  We felt bad when Edith's wedding fell apart.  Julian Fellowes isn't afraid to make us cry.  But THIS one? It was AWFUL.

We know that if all the characters were happy and all the loose ends got tied up at the end of each episode, Downton Abbey would be a movie and not a series.

The only thing that soothes is that we've seen the whole season and we know there are better days ahead.

PBS broadcasts the unabridged versions of each episode, so there are some great scenes we haven't seen before, but this time PBS totally left out the two final scenes--brief but important.  The first shows Edna slipping into Tom's bedroom on the last night of the house party, and the other quick but poignant clip shows Anna leaving the house, alone, to walk back to their cottage while Mr Bates calls after her.  

We've noticed this before and it makes us mad, but what can you do?  

These recaps take every minute we can spare to write--but I've got the first draft of Episode Four ready to start on this week.  I suspect that if we didn't feel like we HAD to hit "publish" we'd keep editing each one forever. (Or anyway, I would!)  Lillie and I have such different writing styles that it's really a labor of love to pull together long enough to set each one free into the Cybersphere.  It's a lesson in teamwork and love; fueled by your enthusiastic responses.  We write them for YOU, and that feels good to US.


http://www.anybodycandoanything.com/2014/01/downton-abbey-recap-lets-get-this-party.html

Links to all previous recaps are included with each one.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Late but not lost



I feel ya, Molesley.
So the second half of last Sunday's recap is ready, and here's the link:


http://www.anybodycandoanything.com/2014/01/downton-abbey-recap-where-theres-will.html

Lillie and I will continue to refer to this one as Episode 2, and next week as 3, and so on.  Those British can't just play fast and loose with the sequence of things!

Check back next Monday for the recap of Sunday's episode.  Hold on to your hat, that's all I'm saying.

Monday, January 6, 2014

On your mark, get set, go



So we no sooner get the recap sewn up, shut our laptops and turn on PBS to watch it the Premiere with everyone else who waited so patiently and DARNED IF THEY DIDN'T AIR TWO EPISODES.

We only finished ONE recap.

Here it is:


http://www.anybodycandoanything.com/2014/01/downton-abbey-recap-how-mary-got-her.html

It's midnight.  We won't be doing anything about it tonight.  But we'll get right on it tomorrow--because then we have to do one for Episode 3!  Please don't remind me that we had four months to write the recaps.  I was too busy hiding under my bed.

Enjoy!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

I know what you're looking for


Carson doing his impression of me.

…and this isn't it.  The Downton Abbey recap for tonight's episode is on the drawing board, but  we HOPE intend to have it ready to post  by tonight.  Lillie's new job has her driving around town starting super early, and our goal is to get the recaps written and polished BEFORE the last minute.  Fingers crossed.

I haven't posted at all this fall, I know.  No Puerto Rico trip, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas.  Zip.

I was here.  I'll try to tell you about it at some point.

Because I'm still unemployed, and doing anything that wasn't actual paid work, or looking for paid work, felt really shameful and wrong.  I've felt way too guilty to blog.  I still do, in fact, but that's a great big slimy can of worms.  Not funny, not creative, and not sustainable.  I know.

Nobody wants to hear about that.  This isn't that kind of blog.

So.  While I wade through the muddy part of the river, we'll write recaps about Mr Carson and Mary and Violet and Edith.  It's a good season, with only a few ridiculous story lines.  Can you remember last year when you said OMIGOD HOW CAN I WAIT  UNTIL IT STARTS AGAIN?  Well--you made it!

See you tomorrow!

Yes, really.