“Downton” and “Schitt’s” reruns get a boost

Two series — both of them popular and praised — have new homes for their reruns:
— “Schitt’s Creek” has just moved to HBO Max; and
— “Downton Abbey” (shown here) has set a deal that will put the first three seasons at 10 p.m. Sundays on PBS, from May 17 to Sept. 13. The other three seasons will rerun a year later.
“Schitt’s Creek” began with little notice, a quiet comedy produced for a Canadian network, with backing from a new cable network, Pop. After a slow start, it was discovered by critics and viewers.
In its fifth season, it drew four Emmy nominations, including best comedy series. In its sixth and final one, it won nine Emmys, including best comedy and all four stars — Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy and Dan and Eugene Levy, the son/father duo that created the series.
Now — shortly after O’Hara’s death at 71, after a brief illness — it has moved to HBO Max.
“Downton Abbey,” by comparison, was an instant success. In its first year, it won six Emmys (including best miniseries or movie and co-star Maggie Smith) and was nominated for five more. The subsequent five seasons brought 44 more nominations and nine wins.
Now the reruns will help continue PBS’ plan of three drama hours most Sundays. The first season will be May 17 to June 7, the second June 14 to July 26, the third from Aug. 2 to Sept. 13.