Jimmy Kimmel Will Host a Star-Studded Live Tribute to 2 Classic TV Sitcoms
It might not be #ThrowBackThursday, but ABC is definitely taking it back to the old-school TV days. In collaboration with Live! host Jimmy Kimmel and legendary producer Norman Lear, the broadcast network will present a one-time live-action TV event inspired by sitcom classics All in the Family and The Jeffersons. The production, which is titled Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons will put a modern day twist on the two classic shows and feature a star-studded cast — including Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson and Woody Harrelson as Archie Bunker — and we can already tell it's going to be hilarious!
"They have said over and over again that these two shows were meant for the '70s and would not work today," Lear said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "We disagree with them and are here to prove, with two great casts depicting All in the Family and The Jeffersons, the timelessness of human nature."
"The fact that a group of Oscar winners eagerly agreed to play these iconic characters is a testament to the greatness of these shows and their creator, Norman Lear. To be a part of this is a dream come true for me and for everyone involved," added Kimmel, who will host the live event, set to air at 8 p.m. ET on May 22. Read ahead to see which other familiar famous faces we can expect to see in the upcoming special.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/746/n/1922283/8910ca82340acf7f_jamie_and_sherman.jpg)
Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson
Jamie Foxx will take on the role of The Jeffersons protagonist and patriarch George Jefferson, originally played by Sherman Hemsley. Jefferson is portrayed as a successful African-American entrepreneur who runs a train of dry cleaning stores in 1970s NYC.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/746/n/1922283/3b3d658d3d8d3ea3_woody_and_carroll.jpg)
Woody Harrelson as Archie Bunker
Woody Harrelson will take on the classic role of All in the Family's Archie Bunker, originally played by Carroll O'Connor. Bunker is an ill-tempered World War II veteran and a hard-working family man, often defined by his prejudiced nature.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/744/n/1922283/c1ba52e7830b4cd1_norman_l.jpg)
Norman Lear
Lear, the original producer of both sitcomes, will host the 90-minute event alongside Kimmel.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/744/n/1922283/8f34b385dcb4d136_wanda.jpg)
Wanda Sykes as Louise Jefferson
Sykes will play George Jefferson's wife Louise, a kind-hearted woman who mediates her husband's hot-headed arguments with their neighbor, Archie Bunker.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/744/n/1922283/23249a317d709555_will_F.jpg)
Will Ferrell as Tom Willis
Ferrell will play George and Louise's friend Tom Willis, an author and president of his publishing company.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/744/n/1922283/0cbee96fb96297f8_marisa.jpg)
Marisa Tomei as Edith Bunker
Tomei will play Archie's wife Edith, a flaky but kind and cheery woman with a good heart.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/744/n/1922283/93839ee6f300c416_ellie.jpg)
Ellie Kemper as Gloria Stivic
Kemper will play Archie and Edith Bunker's daughter, Gloria Stivic, an only child often caught in the middle of arguments between her conservative father and her liberal husband Michael.
:upscale()/2019/04/19/744/n/1922283/496a7023371ee46b_justina.jpg)
Justina Machado as Florence Johnston
Machado will play George and Louise's sassy housekeeper Florence Johnston. While she doesn't actually do much housekeeping, Florence tells it like it is and isn't afraid to make a few wisecracks at the expense of the Jeffersons.