While we poor American souls must wait until January 6th for the third season premiere of Edwardian zeitgeist juggernaut Downton Abbey, that season has already aired in the UK in full (minus the Christmas Special).  However, Downton uber-fan Michelle Obama apparently asked British producers if, as a favor, she could view the tapes early, before they air in the U.S.  Stephen Colbert reacted to this on The Colbert Report last night, with not only indignation to the idea, but by going one step further.  He countered with a sneak peek of his own: new scenes from Breaking Bad … performed by the men of Downton Abbey.  Hit the jump for the video of this hilarious mashup.

Downton Abbey stars Rob James-Collier (who plays scheming footman Thomas on the series), Jim Carter (reliable and staid butler Carson) and Hugh Bonneville (the Honorable and oft-befuddled Lord Grantham) appear in their Downton gear while brewing some more modern stuff -- "the black chamomile crank" as Carson quips.  The Earl, channeling Walter White, tells his cohorts "a gentleman keeps his word, or one will have a cap popped in one's ass" and later laments, "as Byron once said, 'more money, more quandaries.'"

There's plenty more in this glorious sketch, including an appearance by Mark Consuelos, sporting some gnarly teeth.

Downton Abbey returns January 6, 2013 on PBS, while the final season of Breaking Bad returns to AMC this summer.

 

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