At least he does in the "Downton Abbey" charity skit¹ that aired Friday in the U.K to benefit the British charity Text Santa.

 

The movie star played a version of himself in the sketch², which saw Lord Robert Crowley (Hugh Bonneville) discovering with the help of an angel (played by "Absolutely Fabulous³" star Joanna Lumley) what life at Downton Abbey would be like without him.

 

In the alternate reality, the Earl of Grantham is aghast to learn that his wife Cora has married another man: George Oceans Gravity, Marquis of Hollywood, otherwise known as Lord Hollywood (Clooney).

 

The skit indulged in many winks⁵ to the audience, starting with Hollywood's charms working not only on Crowley's wife but even his mother Violet (Maggie Smith), who faints after receiving a kiss from him.

 

Another wink⁴ was when the "Downton" cast assembled for a selfie with Clooney's character, reminiscent of the famous Oscar selfie initiated⁶ by host Ellen DeGeneres.

 

"This is ridiculous," Crowley grumbles⁷. "That man has the entire household behaving like fools."

 

Luckily, the patriarch realizes that Downton is better with him, returning him to his life with his family, with the skit ending with the cast singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

 

For those who want even more "Downton Abbey," the drama's fifth season will debut⁸ in the U.S. on Jan. 4 on PBS.

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