Jim Carter as the butler leads the servant staff (L), whileHugh Bonneville as the Earl heads the family (R)
I just reviewed Downton Abbey, Season One at my companion site, 1000 Dvds to See. I gave it one of just 40 perfect 10's I've awarded out of 830 reviews so far. As far as tv goes, and especially Masterpiece Theater, it doesn't get any better than this.

Season one was seven episodes, just

Films in gold won Best Picture

12 Angry Men (bw)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (bw)
All About Eve (bw)
Amadeus
The Apartment
Broadcast News
Citizen Kane (bw)
Dominick and Eugene (drama)
Elmer Gantry (drama, bw)
Empire Falls (mini-series)
Fearless (Peter Weir's)
Good Will Hunting
Housekeeping
Hud (bw)
The Hustler (bw)
The Last Picture Show (bw)
Little Foxes (bw)
The Magnificent Ambersons (bw)
Midnight