Monday, February 11, 2013

Downton Grammy

Last night I toggled back and forth between Downton Abbey and the Grammys.  They may have become intertwined, as this is what I remember from the evening:

Dowager Countess grants Edith permission to write a newspaper column, noting that she is neither young nor Fun. : "Toni-i-i-i-ight you aren't young. So go set the world on fi-yyyah!"  Lady Edith channels Kelly Clarkson, as she feels "Stronger," yet notes that her Grammy has sneaked in an insult at the same time.


In turn, the befuddled flirty newspaper editor tells Lady Edith that he and his mad Bertha Rochester-esque locked-up wife are "never ever ever ever getting back together."
Lord Grantham frets at dinner about the increased Irish presence in Downton (his son-in-law). "Soon we'll be singing 'Molly Malone,'" he grumbles.

Lady Mary rejoins, "Papahwhrr, don't preach," demonstrating that it is actually she who's behind the times. Really, Madge?
And indeed, after the cricket match during which Tom (the Irish SIL makes the winning catch, the gang breaks out into the Once-inspired Lumineers number, "Ho Hey!"  

But Mosley disappoints during cricket, which is upsetting, considering all the hype leading up to his performance. Frank Ocean may feel his pain, what with a New York Times Magazine cover story on his the day of the Grammys and being featured earlier this week in a NYT story on syncing his running video to his live upper half.  Did the sound dim?  Was Ocean off key?  To be Frank, it wasn't a winning outing for either gent.


The dowager countess, who is still confused about what a "weekend" is, transposes the words of "Ho Hey!" when she summons Ethel to her home.  There, the dowager reassigns Ethel to a new place of employment in a new town where she can be close to her son (whom she gave up to his grandparents for adoption). The dowager further remarks that Ethel's past can be "wiped clean," rendering her not un"Like a Virgin," as Madge makes another cameo.


Toward the end, the upstairs reconvenes with the downstairs for a rousing chorus of "The Weight" (also referred to as "Take a Load off, Fanny." Thomas feels surprisingly weightless as he is returned to the cocoon of Downton but O'Brien feels the weight of her past evil-doings with her ladyship's soap. 

And thus the soap opera that is Downton Grammy ends for the evening,

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