Original episodes from each iconic comedies will be recreated for the special
All in the Family and The Jeffersons are coming back to TV — well, for one night, at least!
A reboot of the hit ’70s sitcom is set to air as a live 90-minute primetime event on ABC later this month, according to Deadline.
Original episodes from each iconic Norman Lear comedies will be recreated for the special. Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes have all signed on to appear.
Harrelson will play Archie Bunker, with Tomei as wife Edith in the recreation of All In The Family. Meanwhile, Foxx and Sykes take on the roles of George and Louise Jefferson in the spinoff, The Jeffersons.
Ellie Kemper will also star as Gloria Stivic and Will Ferrell will appear as Tom Willis.
Jimmy Kimmel and Lear are set to host the event.
“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,” Kimmel said, according to Deadline.
Lear hit back at claims that the sitcom wouldn’t work in the modern world, saying, “We disagree with them and are here to prove, with two great casts depicting of All In The Family and The Jeffersons, the timelessness of human nature,” he said, adding, “I cannot wait to see what these glorious performers make in our time of these indelible characters.”
All in the Family originally premiered in 1971 and was praised for tackling tough subjects including racism and women’s rights.
The Jeffersons ran from 1975-1985 and followed a black family living in a predominantly white society.
