Jimmy Kimmel is bringing a new special to ABC this May that will celebrate two of Norman Lear’s most classic and beloved sitcoms.
Jimmy Kimmel first announced back in May of 2017 that he was working on a special that would pay homage to some sitcom classics. After years of work, Kimmel finally announced an air date for his creative classic television tribute.
On May 22, you can watch Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons on ABC. The special will take two episodes from the beloved shows and recreate them with celebrity guests.
Kimmel wanted to produce this special to not only pay homage to some shows that were important to him in his formative years, but to also show that just because a show is old, it doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t impact viewers today. Norman Lear agreed with Kimmel’s thoughts, saying that the shows would highlight the “timelessness of human nature.”
As Variety reports, there is a pretty epic cast that will be joining in on Kimmel’s project. While the entire cast hasn’t been announced yet, we do know that for the All in the Family production, Woody Harrelson will play Archie Bunker, Marisa Tomei will play Edith Bunker, Ellie Kemper will play Gloria Stivic, and Will Ferrell will play Tom Willis. As for the Jeffersons production, Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes will play George and Louise Jefferson and Justina Machado will play Florence Johnston.
Regarding the powerhouse cast, Kimmel told Variety that, “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.” Lear has indeed made an indelible mark on television. If you aren’t familiar with his older shows, you’ve most certainly experienced his work in the amazing and gone-too-soon Netflix show One Day At a Time.
This special is going to be some truly exciting TV, bringing in longtime fans of Lear’s work together with new fans. It will be a fun way to show the timelessness of the human experience and pay some much-earned tribute to some amazing shows in sitcom history.
Be sure you set your DVRs to catch Jimmy Kimmel’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons on ABC on May 22.
Source: Variety
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