The Manor on PBS

Jay H · 04-29-2003, 10:24 AM

Anybody watching "Manor House" [edit-oops, wrong title]on PBS, seem to be running 6 episodes over 3 days (2 hour long episodes per night) this week. Monday, tuesday, and wednesday nights At least on WNET (NYC).

I'm wondering how many Scullery maids they are going to go through! The website seems to imply they go through 3 of them, at least they have three profiles of different people in the role of SM. That first girl, Lucy was a project, and the first person voted...I mean quit.. off the manor

I guess this is considered a "reality show" but in the PBS style which means it's very interesting and a fascinating experiment.

Jay

Jeff Kleist · 04-29-2003, 10:53 AM

Yes, unlike network reality shows, it has actual value as both a social experiment and an example of history, without the ludicrous backstabbing

I've enjoyed all of the "House" series, Frontier House still being the best (but they never repeat the others, sigh)

Tim_P_76 · 04-29-2003, 11:21 PM

I am quite hooked on this and certainly don't feel my IQ goin south while watching it. I find the history quite enthralling. I'm finding the thought of the dvd quite intriguing.

Jay H · 04-30-2003, 06:40 AM

I've been checking out the thirteen website and alot of their links aren't working or it could just be my browser... I even tried to check out some of the realplayer audition tapes but couldn't connect.

I've been wondering who does the yardwork, I presume they had some non-motorized lawn mowers because in 3 months, I'm sure the bushes, shrubbery, and well manicured lawn would need some kind of maintenance, but it seems the show only concentrates on inside stuff. I thought the Socialism thing at the party was funny, what a great plot device to stir things up!! And I'm trying to figure out what the stableboy does when he's not taking care of the horses, if he has other chores, he's not shown that much in the first 4 episodes, other than showing Jonty how to ride and a couple of other instances with horses. I thought with the fox hunt, he'd have the spotlight, but maybe that will be tonight.

Jay

CharlesD · 04-30-2003, 09:05 AM

I've been watching it too, it is absolutely fascinating. I'm enjoying this one even more than Frontier House.

Jay,

In Edwardian times I'm sure there would have been an additional Gardening staff to take care of the grounds, but they would have had separate quarters.

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Jeff Kleist · 04-30-2003, 05:08 PM

I liked Hall-Boy's plan to kidnap Jonty, too bad he didn't follow through

Karl_Luph · 04-30-2003, 09:03 PM

Saw a little of this last night. I really enjoyed the last one about the British family in 1940 England, but I missed the last episode. I guess that won't be repeated will it?

Jay H · 05-01-2003, 06:38 AM

Karl, check out the PBS website:

http://www.pbs.org/manorhouse/theproject/schedule.html

Depending on your local PBS station, they will rebroadcast it in its entirety sometime in the near future. For my PBS station, WNET in NYC, they're showing it on May 4th from 12:30-6:30 All in a row! So take a look there...

Wow, another great finale last night. I don't think they could of chosen a better butler, Mr Edgars just looks perfectly the did the part very well, knowing that some of the servents should of gotten the boot but also knowing that booting somebody out would not really go over well with the rest. He even showed a lot of restraint with the Reji Raj Singh incident!!!

The poor chef, at first he comes off as some mad French chef, like one of the footmen says, but after seeing the three episodes, you must respect that he must of worked his tail off like Mr John says at the end. Between having to fill in for the first Scullery Maid Lucy to staying up to carve a huge chunk of ice.

Very interesting interviews at the PBS site, check out the transcripts from the Washington Post, they are very informative of the show and how they all adjusted to the roles and stuff. Even Angelica and Mr John Oliff-Cooper sort of go at it at one point!

Jay

Karl_Luph · 05-01-2003, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the info Jay. I caught last night's episode. I enjoyed the part about the charity gala for the hospital bed that needed to be purchased and the new girls who came onto the staff. Anybody catch the part about the women's undergarments back then? Looks like they wore alot of crotchless underwear and garters and corsets.

Jay H · 05-01-2003, 12:17 PM

Well, the amount of clothing the lady of the manor seemed to wear, it seemed almost a necessity!

Jay