During this hideous COVID 19 Pandemic the best thing for me is having all the time in the world to stream all my favorite tv series over and over! So in no particular order, here are my top 5. I seem to be escaping into Britain. They take me away...
THE CROWN ( Netflix)
The Crown is a historical drama web television series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, created and principally written by Peter Morgan, and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for Netflix. It grew out of Morgan's film The Queen (2006) and his stage play The Audience (2013), and is credited as based on the latter. The first season covers the period from Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's marriage in 1947 to the disintegration of her sister Princess Margaret's engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend in 1955.
The second season covers the period from the Suez Crisis in 1956 to the retirement of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1963 and the birth of Prince Edward in 1964. The third season spans the period between 1964 and 1977, including Harold Wilson's two periods as prime minister, and introduces Camilla Shand. The fourth will include Margaret Thatcher's premiership and introduce Lady Diana Spencer. Watch on Netflix
BREAKING BAD (Netflix)
Breaking Bad is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. The show aired on AMC from January 20, 2008, to September 29, 2013, consisting of five seasons for a total of 62 episodes.
It was set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and tells the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), an underpaid and dispirited high school chemistry teacher who is struggling with a recent diagnosis of stage-three lung cancer. White turns to a life of crime, partnering with his former student.
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)
The Sopranos revolves around fictional New Jersey-based, Italian American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). The series portrays the difficulties that he faces as he tries to balance his home life and his criminal organization.
These are often highlighted during his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). The series features Tony's family members, mafia colleagues, and rivals in prominent roles and story arcs, most notably his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and protégé Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).
DOWNTON ABBEY (Amazon Prime/PBS)
Downton Abbey is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes.
The series, set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey between 1912 and 1926, depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants in the post-Edwardian era—with the great events of the time having an effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy. Events depicted throughout the series include news of the sinking of the Titanic in the first series; the outbreak of the First World War, the Spanish influenza pandemic, and the Marconi scandal in the second series; the Irish War of Independence leading to the formation of the Irish Free State in the third series; the Teapot Dome scandal in the fourth series; the British general election of 1923 and the Beer Hall Putsch in the fifth series. The sixth and final series introduces the rise of the working class during the interwar period and hints at the eventual decline of the British aristocracy.
The Forsyte Saga, (Amazon Prime/PBS)
First published under that title in 1922, is a series of three novels and two interludes published between 1906 and 1921 by Nobel Prize–winning English author John Galsworthy. They chronicle the vicissitudes of the leading members of a large, upper-middle-class English family, similar to Galsworthy's family.[1] Only a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors, the family members are keenly aware of their status as "new money". The main character, Soames Forsyte, sees himself as a "man of property" by virtue of his ability to accumulate material possessions – but this does not succeed in bringing him pleasure.
On August 27, 1979, Lord Louis Mountbatten was assassinated when Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorists detonated a 50-pound bomb hidden on his uniquely green fishing boat Shadow V.
Mountbatten, a huge war hero, elder statesman, and second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II was spending the day with his family in Donegal Bay off Ireland’s northwest coast when the bomb exploded.
Three others were killed in the attack, including Mountbatten’s 14-year-old grandson, Nicholas. Later that day, an IRA bombing attack on land killed 18 British paratroopers in County Down, Northern Ireland.
The assassination of Mountbatten was the first blow struck against the British royal family by the IRA during its long terrorist campaign to drive the British out of Northern Ireland and unite it with the Republic of Ireland to the south. The attack hardened the hearts of many Brits against the IRA and convinced Margaret Thatcher’s government to take a hard-line stance against the terrorist organization.
Louis Mountbatten, the son of Prince Louis of Battenberg and a great-grandson of Queen Victoria I, entered the Royal Navy in 1913, when he was in his early teens.
He saw service during World War I and at the outbreak of World War II was the commander of the 5th destroyer flotilla. His destroyer, the HMS Kelly, was sunk off Crete early in the war. In 1941, he commanded an aircraft carrier, and in 1942 he was named the chief of combined operations.
From this position, he was appointed supreme Allied commander for Southeast Asia in 1943 and successfully conducted the campaign against Japan that led to the recapture of Burma.
In 1947, he was appointed the last viceroy of India, and he conducted the negotiations that led to independence for India and Pakistan later that year. He held various high naval posts in the 1950s and served as chief of the United Kingdom Defense Staff and chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Meanwhile, he was made Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and a first earl. He was the uncle of Philip Mountbatten and introduced Philip to the future Queen Elizabeth. He later encouraged the marriage of the two distant cousins and became godfather and mentor to their first born, Charles, Prince of Wales.
Made governor and then lord lieutenant of the Isle of Wight in his retirement, Lord Mountbatten was a respected and beloved member of the royal family. His assassination on August 27, 1979, was perhaps the most shocking of all horrors inflicted by the IRA against the United Kingdom.
In addition to his grandson Nicholas, 15-year-old boat hand Paul Maxwell was killed in the attack; the Dowager Lady Brabourne, Nicholas’ grandmother, was also fatally injured. Mountbatten’s grandson Timothy–Nicholas’ twin–was injured; as was his daughter, Lady Brabourne; and the twins’ father, Lord Brabourne. Lord Mountbatten was 79.
The IRA immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it detonated the bomb by remote control from the coast. It also took responsibility for the same-day bombing attack against British troops in County Down, which claimed 18 lives.
IRA member Thomas McMahon was later arrested and convicted of preparing and planting the bomb that destroyed Mountbatten’s boat. A near-legend in the IRA, he was a leader of the IRA’s notorious South Armagh Brigade, which killed more than 100 British soldiers. He was one of the first IRA members to be sent to Libya to train with detonators and timing devices and was an expert in explosives.
Authorities believe the Mountbatten assassination was the work of many people, but McMahon was the only individual convicted. One of the suspected bombers (Burns) blew himself up while working on his own bomb. Sentenced to life in prison, he was released in 1998 along with other IRA and Unionist terrorists under a controversial provision of the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland’s peace deal. McMahon claimed he had turned his back on the IRA and was becoming a carpenter.
Looking forward with great anticipation to the premiere of The Crown Season three on November 17, I am nervous about the new cast. I will reserve judgment until I see it. Olivia Coleman is such a brilliant actress and I am certain she'll be perfect as QEII. Not so sure about Helena Bonham-Carter. My only reservation is that she is so pretty. But she is quite the snarky one and will most likely capture Princess Margaret perfectly. Vanessa Kirby was just so perfect as Margaret Rose.
Claire Foy will be a hard one to follow. She was just brilliant as the young QEII.
The third season of The Crown is expected to cover the decade after the 1963 Profumo scandal – touching on everything from the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean to Apollo 11’s moon landing in 1969. On home shores, the drama will also focus on Labour prime minister Harold Wilson’s road to Downing Street and the 1966 Aberfan disaster in Wales, which resulted in 144 deaths.
In terms of personal relationships, this series will chart the tumultuous marriage of Princess Margaret and photographer Lord Snowdon, showrunner Peter Morgan told Entertainment Weekly.
Helena Bonham-Carter and Vanessa Kirby
It will also introduce viewers to grown-up versions of the Queen’s eldest children, including Charles – who was crowned Prince of Wales in 1969 – and Anne. Charles’s early romance with Camilla will also be a key focus of the plot. Read More
Season 3 of Netflix's award-winning drama The Crown will premiere Nov. 17. The third season of the show, which tracks the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, stars Olivia Colman as the monarch, Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. The trio is replacing Claire Foy, Matt Smith, and Vanessa Kirby, who played the roles in seasons 1 and 2.
Season 3 of the hit drama also stars Ben Daniels as Margaret’s husband Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Charles Dance as Lord Mountbatten, Marion Bailey as the Queen Mother, Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Erin Doherty as Princess Anne, and Jason Watkins as Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
Rising British star Josh O’Connor will play Prince Charles in Netflix’s hit series “The Crown.” He will step into the role of the heir to the throne for the show’s upcoming third and fourth seasons. The producers also announced Thursday that Marion Bailey (“Allied”) will play Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
O’Connor was lauded for his starring role in indie British film “God’s Own Country,” which won him the best-actor prize at the British Independent Film Awards last December. He has also been nominated as a BAFTA Rising Star.
“I am thrilled to be joining The Firm for the next installment of ‘The Crown,'” said O’Connor, who replaces Julian Baring in the role. “Seasons 3 and 4 will follow some of the most turbulent events in the Prince of Wales’ life and our national story, and I’m excited to be bringing to life the man in the midst of it all. I’m very aware it’s a formidably talented family to be joining, but reliably informed I have the ears for the part and will fit right in.” Read More Here
Season 3 isn't set to debut until 2019, although it will be shot back-to-back with season 4
Netflix has released its first look at Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in the new season of “The Crown,” which is in production. Colman will play Her Majesty in the third and fourth seasons of the smash hit, taking over the role from Claire Foy.
Helena Bonham Carter as the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret
The image shows the queen sipping a nice cuppa and wearing her trademark pearls. No other cast members can be seen.
Season 3 is expected to premiere in 2019. Picking up roughly where the second season ended, it covers the period of 1964 through the early 1970s. The overhauled cast includes Tobias Menzies as the queen’s husband, Prince Philip; Helena Bonham Carter as the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret; and the recently announced Ben Daniels as Antony Armstrong-Jones, Margaret’s husband.
Tobias Menzies
The sophomore season of the royal-family drama just received 13 Emmy nominations, including one for best drama. Foy was nominated for her critically acclaimed performance as the young Elizabeth. Vanessa Kirby and Matt Smith received nominations for their performances as Margaret and Philip, respectively.
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Game of Thrones”
“This Is Us” “The Crown”
“The Americans”
“Stranger Things”
“Westworld” Comedy Series
“Atlanta” (FX)
“Barry” (HBO)
“Black-ish” (ABC)
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“GLOW” (Netflix) “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
“Silicon Valley” (HBO)
“The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix) Limited Series
Sterling K. Brown Compares Second Emmy Win to Childbirth
'This Is Us' Boss on Emmy Noms & Snubs, Season 3's 'New Chapters,' and the Series Finale
“The Alienist” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
“Genius: Picasso”
“Godless”
“Patrick Melrose” Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Ed Harris (“Westworld”) Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”)
Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”) Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Claire Foy (“The Crown”)
Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)
Keri Russell (“The Americans”)
Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”) Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
Bill Hader (“Barry”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) Ted Danson (“The Good Place”) Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”) Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”)
Issa Rae (“Insecure”)
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:
Antonio Banderas (“Genius: Picasso”) Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”)
Jeff Daniels (“The Looming Tower”)
John Legend (“Jesus Christ Superstar”)
Jesse Plemons (“USS Callister”)
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:
Laura Dern (“The Tale”)
Jessica Biel (“The Sinner”)
Michelle Dockery (“Godless”) Edie Falco (“The Menendez Murders”)
Regina King (“Seven Seconds”)
Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story: Cult”)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”)
Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”)
Joseph Fiennes (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
David Harbour (“Stranger Things”)
Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”)
Matt Smith (“The Crown”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Alexis Bledel (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”) Vanessa Kirby (“The Crown”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Louie Anderson (“Baskets”)
Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta”) Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Henry Winkler (“Barry”)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”)
Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Laurie Metcalf (“Roseanne”) Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”)
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jeff Daniels (“Godless”)
Brandon Victor Dixon (“Jesus Christ Superstar”)
John Leguizamo (“Waco”)
Ricky Martin (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Edgar Ramirez (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Michael Stuhlbarg (“The Looming Tower”)
Finn Wittrock (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Sara Bareilles (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert”)
Penelope Cruz (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Judith Light (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Adina Porter (“American Horror Story: Cult”)
Merritt Wever (“Godless”)
Letitia Wright (“Black Museum” (Black Mirror))
Guest Actor in a Drama Series
F. Murray Abraham (“Homeland”) Cameron Britton (“Mindhunter”)
Matthew Goode (“The Crown”)
Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)
Gerald McRaney (“This Is Us”)
Jimmi Simpson (“Westworld”)
Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis (“Scandal”)
Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Cherry Jones (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Diana Rigg (“Game of Thrones”)
Cicely Tyson (“How to Get Away With Murder”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Sterling K. Brown (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) Bryan Cranston (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”)
Donald Glover (“Saturday Night Live”)
Bill Hader (“Saturday Night Live”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”)
Katt Williams (“Atlanta”)
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey (“Saturday Night Live”) Tiffany Haddish (“Saturday Night Live”) Jane Lynch (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Maya Rudolph (“The Good Place”)
Molly Shannon (“Will & Grace”)
Wanda Sykes (“Black-ish”) Reality Competition
“The Amazing Race”
“American Ninja Warrior” “Project Runway”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice”
Variety Sketch Series
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Portlandia” (IFC)
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central) “Tracey Ullman’s Show” (HBO)
“At Home with Amy Sedaris” (TruTV)
“I Love You, America” (Hulu)
Variety Talk Series
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” “Late Late Show with James Corden
“Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Television Movie
“Fahrenheit 451” (HBO)
“Flint” (Lifetime)
“Paterno” (HBO)
“The Tale” (HBO)
“Black Mirror: USS Callister” (Netflix)
Structured Reality Program
“Antiques Roadshow” (PBS) “Fixer Upper” (HGTV)
“Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount)
“Queer Eye” (Netflix)
“Shark Tank” (ABC)
“Who Do You Think You Are?” (TLC)
Unstructured Reality Program
“Born This Way” (A&E)
“Deadliest Catch” (Discovery)
“Intervention” (A&E)
“Naked and Afraid” (Discovery Channel) “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked” (VH1)
“United Shades of America With W. Kamau Bell” (CNN)
