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Referenced By / Downton Abbey

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Films -- Live-Action

  • Iron Man 3: Happy is stated to be a huge fan, and is shown watching the series while in hospital.

Literature

  • In Dogs Don't Talk, Ben says that he's surprised to learn that Emily watches reality TV, as he'd thought she only liked Downton Abbey. Emily replies, "I do like Downton Abbey. But I like junk shows."
  • Zoe from Social Queue is used to her sister picking out her clothes. When she realizes that she'll have to pick out her own clothes for once, she feels like Lady Mary from Downton Abbey - spoilt and used to being waited on.

Live-Action Television

  • Community: "Biology 101" mentions a fictional Cougar Town Transatlantic Equivalent named Cougarton Abbey. It apparently ended after six episodes with a mass suicide, which pokes fun at British Brevity.
  • Modern Family: In "Disneyland", Cam accidentally pronounces Toontown as "Toonton".
  • Suits: A scene in the third season had Edward Darby, an internationally recognized British lawyer, waiting outside Harvey's office when Mike walks by. Mike asks why he's waiting there and not going in, and Edward replies that Harvey's secretary isn't there to announce him, and so entering would be impolite. Harvey hears part of the conversation and calls out to ask what's the problem and Mike, dazed by the sheer Britishness of the situation, calls out, "I don't know... have you ever seen Downton Abbey?" Edward and Mike then spend a good minute talking about the show before Mike takes the Carson role and stuffily announces Edward into Harvey's office. Near the end of the episode, when Harvey and Edward are more adversarial, Mike gets a dig in by spoiling one of the episodes that Edward hadn't seen yet.

Video Games

  • Dragon Age: Inquisition: In one piece of dialogue detailing Dorian's efforts to gain unrestricted access to the wine cellar, a messenger says Josephine received a letter from a "Countess Grantham".

Western Animation

  • Arthur: The episode "Fountain Abbey" is one big reference to Downton Abbey, right down to imitating the show's opening theme. Muffy learns that an ancestor of hers was a maid who worked at Fountain Abbey, which belonged to Binky's ancestor Lord Bantham.
  • Bob's Burgers: "Zero Larp Thirty" has Bob and Linda attend a Larp based on Winthorpe Manor, an American knockoff, as mentioned by Tina.
    Tina: Winthorpe Manor is the American Downton Abbey.
    Gene: I thought that was Mike & Molly.
  • The Simpsons
    • In "Dangers on a Train", Marge is a big fan of Upton Rectory.
    • One of the rehab centers advertised on The Stinger of "Screenless" is named Downton Rehabby.
  • Sonic Boom: In "Aim Low", when Eggman goes into a state of depression after firing Soar the Eagle, his motivational coach, Orbot tells Sonic that the only planning Eggman is doing is marathoning through the fourth season of Hedgehog Abbey.

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