(Image credit: ITV/Screenshot)
By Scott Meslow
last updated
As part of ITV's "Text Santa" charity drive, the cast of Downton Abbey has filmed a pair of short movies, riffing on It's a Wonderful Life with a story about what would happen if Lord Grantham had never been born. As it turns out, no less a star than George Clooney would have taken his place.
In part two, Clooney appears as "the most honorable George Oceans Gravity, the Marquis of Hollywood." Typecast, inevitably, as a handsome charming guy, Clooney even manages to win over the Dowager Countess. But for all the fun of watching Clooney mingle with the Downton Abbey gang, the sharpest gag comes in a self-deprecating appearance by series creator Julian Fellowes, in which he admits that he's more concerned about tiny historical accuracies than telling a coherent story.
Watch both parts below. --Scott Meslow
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Explore More
Speed Reads
To continue reading this article...
Create a free account
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
register for free
Already have an account? Sign in
Subscribe to The Week
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Subscribe & Save
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Unlimited website access is included with Digital and Print + Digital subscriptions.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Scott Meslow
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
Today's political cartoons - June 22, 2024CartoonsSaturday's cartoons - growing fascism, dangerous drag, and moreBy The Week USPublished 22 June 24 5 scathing cartoons on social media health warningsCartoonsArtists take on tobacco-like warnings, tweaking the algorithm, and moreBy The Week USPublished 22 June 24 VAT on private schools: a spiteful policy?Talking PointLabour accused of 'politics of envy' but some see policy as a moderate 'compromise'By The Week UKPublished 22 June 24
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed ReadThe former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancerBy Rafi Schwartz, The Week USPublished 12 April 24 Momof*cku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed ReadThe company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlashBy Rafi Schwartz, The Week USPublished 9 April 24 Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed ReadHe is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prizeBy Peter Weber, The Week USPublished 25 March 24 Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed ReadImelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipelineBy Adrienne Wyper, The Week UKPublished 21 March 24 'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed readThe film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)By Peter Weber, The Week USPublished 11 March 24 'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed readThe film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsalBy Peter Weber, The Week USPublished 7 March 24 The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed ReadDirector Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band memberBy Peter Weber, The Week USPublished 21 February 24 Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed ReadSZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA galaBy Arion McNicoll, The Week UKPublished 5 February 24