Buffy did it, Fringe did it, why not Downton Abbey?

April 23, 2013 9:21 AM

Broadway stars get together to "preview" Downton Abbey Series 4's premiere musical episode, with "Julian Fellowes" (Colin Mochrie) providing commentary. (10m).

The complete credits for the piece are found in the "show more" of the YouTube page.

posted by hippybear (21 comments total)

I enjoyed the a lot.



a foive six seven eight
posted by bleep at 9:38 AM on April 23, 2013

Good god. I was skeptical.... but this is amazing. Inspiring this alone goes a long way toward redeeming Downton Abbey for, well, existing.
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:40 AM on April 23, 2013

I've had the same reaction to tea bags.
posted by The Whelk at 9:53 AM on April 23, 2013

Spoiler alert: the house burns down.
posted by migurski at 10:02 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

GAY NOTE HIT
posted by Windigo at 10:09 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]

noguty
posted by The Whelk at 10:15 AM on April 23, 2013

So many fabulous Broadway folks!!!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:16 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

Nougaty
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:17 AM on April 23, 2013

It's late over here, half past 3am, and for several seconds, I was wondering why Julian Fellowes looked SO MUCH like Colin Mochrie. *facepalm* *off to get sleep*
posted by nile_red at 11:29 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

That was remarkably well cast, in terms of actor-to-actor physical resemblance. Great performances too.
posted by snottydick at 12:04 PM on April 23, 2013

RANDY GRAFF!!!!!
posted by zizzle at 12:53 PM on April 23, 2013

Grey's Anatomy did it as well.
posted by NedKoppel at 12:55 PM on April 23, 2013

I can't believe they managed to pin down some of those people. When did they film this?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:01 PM on April 23, 2013

Wasn't Xena: Warrior Princess the first '90s show to do this ("The Bitter Suite")?
posted by hyperizer at 1:01 PM on April 23, 2013

There's also this show called "Smash," but you probably haven't heard of it.
posted by NedKoppel at 1:03 PM on April 23, 2013

In this evening's performance the part of Matthew will be played by a follow spot.
posted by Spatch at 1:50 PM on April 23, 2013

There's also this show called "Smash," but you probably haven't heard of it.

It's best that you don't.
posted by mykescipark at 2:12 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

When is Law and Order SVU going to do this?
posted by George_Spiggott at 2:25 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

Wasn't Xena: Warrior Princess the first '90s show to do this

Moonlighting flirted with it numerous times, with musical numbers playing a key role in several episodes.

However, this page (seemingly only available through archive-ca, and found by searching a dead link discovered at TVTropes), says that I Love Lucy did the first actual musical episode of a TV series back in 1956.
posted by hippybear at 12:51 PM on April 24, 2013

Ack, sorry, not TVTropes. I found the dead link on a page at The Straight Dope.
posted by hippybear at 1:32 PM on April 24, 2013

Wasn't Xena: Warrior Princess the first '90s show to do this ("The Bitter Suite")?
posted by hyperizer at 4:01 PM on April 23 [+] [!]

Oh, no.

Cop Rock. (With Sheryl Crow!)

Cop Rock did it long before Xena. (GOODS FOR YOU!! BABY SELLING!)

For.every.episode. (Be careful out there. This is some dangerous 90s rock musical stuff.)
posted by zizzle at 1:36 PM on April 24, 2013