For He's a Jolly Good Fellowes

Point of personal privilege.

I never really watched “Downton Abbey.”  I saw maybe two episodes.  I could tell it was superbly done, it just wasn’t something I cared for.  (I love British stories, and love stories about the British upper class and lower class.  But when they combine the two, I haven't enjoyed them as much.  I didn't care much for "Upstairs, Downstairs" either, for instance.  But, again, I knew it was well-done, too.  I won't go into all the reasons for my reaction, it's not the issue here.) 

However, I watched the one-hour NBC special on this “Grand Finale” movie.  I recorded it and watched last night.  It was nicely produced – all the major actors gathered at the Savoy Hotel in London.  They did a small segment with the costume designer.  And a bit with the production designer.  And a long piece with the music composer.  And in the entire show, there was not one single mention of the name “Julian Fellowes”!!!  The man who created the series, and who wrote every word any actor ever spoke on it. 

This is Julian freaking Fellowes.  Who not only created Downton Abbey and wrote every word in it -- he created The Gilded Age and has written almost script for it.  And wrote every episode of the limited series The English Game.  And wrote every episode of the limited series Belgravia.  And wrote the screenplays for the movies Gosford Park (for which he won the Academy Award), Vanity Fair, The Young Victoria, and much more.  And wrote the books for the stage musicals Mary Poppins and School of Rock (for which he won the Tony Award).  And he was made a Lord of the British Realm in 2011.  Yes, that Julian Fellowes.  Sorry, I mean Lord Julian Fellowes.  Who wrote every single word of Downtown Abbey.  How on earth do  you leave out all mention of his name in a retrospective on Downtown Abbey???!!

Only in the final credits, was there a small notation under a heading “With Gratitude” where his name was listed at the bottom of the screen with five other people, before it zipped by, and you caught it if you were looking for it, as I was.  It came right after, "Promotional Consideration Provided by The Republic of Tea and The Savoy".  Here, in case you missed it --

Seriously, how do you not have the name “Julian Fellowes” repeated throughout the show and repeatedly proclaimed in awe by all those actors??  British actors know the importance of writers, generally far more than American actors.  And mere mention aside, how do you not have a segment with Julian Fellowes on the show?  Perhaps he wasn’t well, or wasn’t available to appear, or didn’t want to appear (though that’s improbable, see below).  But even if you didn’t have him there in person, why didn’t they create even just a two-minute segment devoted to him??!

Now, it’s possible that he did get mentioned, but that got cut out in the final edit.  But – how do you cut out what would have been the ONLY mention of Julian Fellowes?? And leave in about a minute on how a particular dress was designed?  I'm sure it was an important dress in the series.  Julian Fellowes was more important.

Yes, I'm in the Writers Guild and am a screenwriter, so I'm biased.  But I'm right.  Because I have absolutely no doubt that almost all (and probably all) deep fans of Downtown Abbey know and admire what Julian Fellowes means to the series and subsequent movies at their foundational core.  I was aghast watching the special, and by the end, when it was clear that not only would he not be appearing, but that his name wouldn’t even be mentioned, I was just churning inside and gnashing my teeth.

So, at the very least (and it is), we can can with this.