Downton Abbey

It's obvious that period dramas have become the hottest thing in movies and television.  "The King's Speech" won the Academy for Best Picture and critics just adore shows like "Mad Men" and "Mildred Pierce."

I've recently become obsessed with Masterpiece Theater.  To anyone who enjoyed "Pride & Prejudice" with Colin Firth, I highly recommend "Downton Abbey."

Set in the years leading up to World War I, the show focuses on drama of an aristocratic family and their servants.  The show was a huge hit in Britain, and the six-hour series has begun filming a second season.  Over 100 countries have purchased the rights to broadcast "Downton" since it first premiered last fall.  It's out on DVD in the the US.

The video below features Dame Maggie Smith and is one of the my favorite moments from the series, if not from television in recent months.