In what just might be the most ridiculous thing he’s done since wearing a Batsuit with nipples, George Clooney has just joined the cast of “Downton Abbey.”

Well, kind of.

The Oscar-winning actor will participate in a “Downton Abbey” special as part of U.K. network ITV’s Text Santa campaign, a Christmas charity that raises awareness for a variety of charities, including Marie Curie Cancer Care and Alzheimer’s Society. Details on the “Downton Abbey” charity film are scarce, but Us Weekly reports that Clooney will participate in “a sketch scene” for the special.

In other words, think less Paul Giamatti, more Diddy. Either way, the thought of Clooney pounding drinks with Lord Grantham, seducing Lady Mary, and maybe even seducing some of the kitchen staff (watch out, Daisy!), in any capacity, is almost too ridiculous to handle.

The next season of “Downton Abbey” premieres in the U.S. in January. Here’s a peek at what to expect:

Josh Wigler

Likes pizza, punch and pie. Dislikes the Chitauri.

@roundhoward

With additional reporting by Janelle Myers

Ready To NERD Out?
NERD fans may have a new reason to be happy, because at Pharrell‘s Wednesday night set at the iTunes Festival in London, band member Shay Haley hinted at an upcoming album. “You’re gonna like this s— we’re gonna release” were his exact words, and Pharrell highlighted that there will always be a NERD. They didn’t say when new material would drop, but it will probably be awhile since the “Come Get It Bae” singer is on tour and will be a coach on “The Voice” in the fall.

Rock. The Throne.
Jay Z and Kanye are teaming up again but this time in the movie world: they will co-produce Chris Rock’s film “Top Five.”

Sobering Up
Shia LaBeouf pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct surrounding his now infamous outburst at Broadway’s “Cabaret” three months ago, and the judge sentenced him to six months of outpatient alcohol rehab.

Broadway Bound To Happen
“High School Musical” was her training ground, and now Vanessa Hudgens has made it to the big leagues and will star on Broadway in the titular role in “Gigi.” The musical will debut in Washington D.C. and will make it over to the Great White Way in the beginning of 2015.

Must-See Video Of The Day
YouTuber KabirTV chose a less conventional way to propose to his girlfriend: with the romantic music of Bobby Shmurda. And then they shmoney danced and ...

It’s no secret how much Andrew Garfield enjoys playing Peter Parker. But the “Amazing Spider-Man” star also knows that not everyone is as keen on his work — or, at least, the finished product.

In an interview with The Daily Beast, Garfield acknowledged some of the criticism leveled at “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” The film is rated 53% fresh on review aggregator RottenTomatoes.com, a testament to the superhero sequel’s divisiveness. For his own part, Garfield has stopped to wonder about some of the movie’s potential problem areas.

“For me, I read the script that Alex [Kurtzman] and Bob [Orci] wrote, and I genuinely loved it. There was this thread running through it,” he said. “I think what happened was, through the pre-production, production, and post-production, when you have something that works as a whole, and then you start removing portions of it—because there was even more of it than was in the final cut, and everything was related. Once you start removing things and saying, ‘No, that doesn’t work,’ then the thread is broken, and it’s hard to go with the flow of the story.”

Garfield added that ultimately, it’s top-level studio executives who have the final say on what goes in and what comes out of their films. As a result, perhaps the “Amazing Spider-Man” sequel didn’t live up to certain expectations. But even then, Garfield made it clear how much he relished the opportunity to swing back into that world as an actor.

“Talking about the ...

Nothing stops the Yeezus. Kanye West was reportedly transported to a Melbourne, Australia, hospital on Wednesday after falling ill earlier in the day. A source told E! News that the rapper was fine and “didn’t have a major health scare or seizure. He just suffered a migraine and went to the hospital simply as a precaution.”

So fine, in fact, that he performed his Yeezus tour date in Melbourne as scheduled just a few hours after leaving the hospital, where he got an MRI as a precaution. A woman who was in the emergency room at the same time as West told Australian magazine Woman’s Day that West was whisked into Epworth Hospital around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, where part of the ER was cleared to ensure his privacy.

“My daughter was having an MRI. Shortly after it began, security burst in and cleared the area,” Loraine Terry told the magazine. “Everyone was moved out of the waiting and consulting rooms. We were the only ones left apart from doctors and nurses – we couldn’t leave as the MRI wasn’t finished.” She said West was rushed in on a stretcher, surrounded by security, with one side of his face covered by a white cloth.

While Kanye and wife Kim Kardashian West have not commented, a Live Nation spokesperson said in a statement, “Kanye went on stage last night in Melbourne as scheduled. The tour continues at Sydney’s Allphones Arena tomorrow and Saturday, before concluding in Brisbane on ...

The man behind one of the greatest foes that James Bond ever faced is no longer with us.

Actor Richard Kiel, who starred as the metal-toothed Jaws in multiple installments in the Bond franchise, passed away on Wednesday (September 10) in a Fresno, California hospital. No cause of death was revealed. Kiel was 74 years old.

With a hulking stature of just over seven feet, Kiel worked regularly from the 1960s until the time of his death, often playing imposing figures that matched his height. Most memorably, Kiel was Jaws, a brutal henchman who squared off against Roger Moore’s James Bond in 1977′s “The Spy Who Loved Me” and 1979′s “Moonraker.” He lent his voice to Jaws in other Bond projects over the years, lending his voice and likeness to video games like “007: Everything or Nothing.”

Kiel’s other credits were many and varied, including “The Wild, Wild West,” “Barbary Coast” and “The Giant of Thunder Mountain.” His acting credits slowed starting in the 1990s, but he delivered a scene-stealing turn in 1996′s “Happy Gilmore” as Mr. Larson, Gilmore’s ex-employer who turns from foe to friend, with a special distaste for Gilmore’s rival Shooter McGavin.

Even more recently, he lent his voice to Disney’s 2010 movie “Tangled,” playing Vladamir.

Leave your condolences for Kiel and his family in the comments below.

Josh Wigler

Likes pizza, punch and pie. Dislikes the Chitauri.

@roundhoward

Did you see those “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” set photos featuring the new Batmobile yesterday? They’re child’s play compared to the real thing.

Apparently moved by the “Batman v Superman” leak, director Zack Snyder has opted to unleash the first official picture of the Batmobile on his own steam. Here it is:

She’s a thing of beauty, ain’t she? A gun turret right on the hood, what appears to be a pair of dual missile launchers only slightly further back, and a structure that brings to mind the best of the “Dark Knight” era Tumbler and the aesthetic of Tim Burton’s Batmobile. All told, it’s a pretty slick new addition to the on-screen Batmobile collection.

Starring Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader and Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel, Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” roars into theaters on March 25, 2016.

Josh Wigler

Likes pizza, punch and pie. Dislikes the Chitauri.

@roundhoward

If the cat’s had your tongue on more than one occasion or you need a compass to get to the point, you can certainly identify with “Virgin Territory“‘s newest feature, John.

On tonight’s episode, the 19-year-old college student explained very clearly why he, unlike his close group of friends, is still a virgin: he’s “awkward as f**k.” As he described it, his fear of rejection takes over each time he approaches a pretty girl, and even if he drums up the courage to ask one out, prospective girlfriends usually find some excuse to bail. Once, John, admitted, a girl even said she couldn’t commit to an outing because she decided to take a nap, instead.

“A lot of times, I end up c***-blocking myself because when I get nervous…I get weird,” John disclosed.

And John continued to strike out when a girl he met at a pool — who agreed to accompany him to a party — blew him off. His friends grew increasingly critical of his singledom, and when he felt the pressure mount, he decided to try a new approach.

Among John’s group of guy friends was the lovely Justine, with whom John said he could completely be himself. John had always looked to his gal pal as “one of the homies” but decided that pursuing something more with her was worth a shot. So he asked her out but, try as he might, he couldn’t get a read on whether Justine was receptive ...

If you can’t remember how to get, how to get to Sesame Street, don’t worry, Janelle Monáe’s got you covered.

The soulful, pompadoured singer stopped by the long-running children’s television show to perform “Power of Yet.”

It’s an uplifting tune about the power of persistence, but her version was made even more inspiring with help from Elmo, Bert, Grover, Big Bird and the rest of the gang.

“You tried to dance, but you tripped on your own feet, just breathe don’t lose control, keep trying and you’ll reach your goal, you just didn’t get it yet, but you’ll make it soon I’ll beeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, it’s the power of yet,” she sings while dancing in her trademark androgynous tuxedo.

Of course, the most adorable part is when everyone’s favorite ravenous cutie pie Cookie Monster isn’t quite as good at baking his beloved treats as he at consuming them—yet!

Watch the full clip below to get a nice, encouraging boost.

Maurice Bobb @ReeseReport