What do you make of the interest in the US of Downton Abbey

This could be in Arts and Entertainment but since it was on the US national news I thought I would run it by here on News.
On US's NBC Nightly News tonight they said most of America was watching the new series of Downton Abbey last night on PBS network and they love it. It is produced by a company that is owned by NBC. Considering this is on PBS and the major networks are not making any money from it, they probably feel they missed the boat?
Why is America so interested in this series?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#45934794

No great mystery IMHO.

Americans probably like it for the same reason Brits liked it...a good period drama, good cast, beautiful backdrop. Historical inaccuracies notwithstanding, it was enjoyable.

My DH is the Brit, and claims not to like TV at all but loved both seasons of Downton. I liked it as well or more, and can't wait for Season 3.

DW (who is the American) loves it, I've not watched it. She also put a friend in the US onto it and she watched the first series over the weekend on catch-up before the start of series 2.

Well, it's "Upstairs Downstairs" type of stuff, isn't it. And that was very popular in its day.

I wasn't going to get hooked but finally gave in, mainly because that was the era -- or slightly later -- when my Irish grandma had been in service.  She was a maid in some posh house -- not sure if it was Ireland or England.