The latest season of Julian Fellowes's historical drama "The Gilded Age" has drawn criticism not for its plotlines, but for the unexpected appearances of celebrities Matt Damon and David Letterman as background characters. TV critic Christopher Stevens, writing for the Daily Mail, questioned the decision to allow the Hollywood stars to feature in a brief, six-second scene.
In the episode, Damon and Letterman are seen as well-dressed extras conversing on a New York street. Stevens noted that the cameo was filmed for Letterman's Netflix series, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction." The critic suggested that if the duo had desired speaking roles, they likely would have been offered, implying their choice to remain silent extras was deliberate, possibly due to Fellowes's writing style.
Stevens characterized the appearances as an "abuse of privilege," arguing that it undermines the show's premise of satirizing New York's elite society. "Why Lord Fellowes... decided to permit his show to be used as a toy for a couple of Hollywood celebs is anyone's guess," Stevens wrote.
The review also pointed out instances of on-the-nose dialogue, such as a character exclaiming, "The horses must have been spooked from the storm," and another stating, "Thank goodness you're here! I fear we should have sent for you sooner."
"The Gilded Age" premiered its fourth season on Sky Atlantic on November 2, 2026. The show, created and written by Julian Fellowes, who also created "Downton Abbey," follows the lives of the wealthy in New York City during the 1890s.