ABC to recreate “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” eps for special

I had to double check that this wasn’t an April Fools prank. Certainly with all the talent involved this could be very cool...or it could end up being a legendary disaster. Either way, it should make for a fascinating watch.

“Jimmy Kimmel will present a live 90-minute primetime event paying tribute to Norman Lear’s groundbreaking comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons on ABC.

An original episode from each iconic Lear comedy will be re-created; Jimmy Burrows is directing the live special. Live In Front Of A Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All In The Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons’ will air Wednesday, May 22, 8-9:30 PM ET.

Woody Harrelson will play Archie Bunker role; Marisa Tomei will play his wife Edith in the recreation of All In The Family. Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes take the roles of George and Louise Jefferson in the All in the Familyspinoff, The Jeffersons....”

More at: Jimmy Kimmel Re-Creates ‘All In The Family,’ ‘The Jeffersons’ Episodes For Live ABC Special – Deadline

 

And from SitcomsOnline...

Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums - View Single Post - Live All in the Family and The Jeffersons for One-Night Only on ABC!

 

Considering no one watches sitcoms due to the talent, but from the authenticity and believable portrayal of the characters by the actors, I'm not seeing this go so well. I wouldn't say disastrous, more like forgettable.

 

I hope Marla Gibbs can reprise her role. She is still in fantastic health for her age.

 

Perhaps as Mother Jefferson...

 

Good point! She can still be the maid I think possibly as another option. She didn't do too much work on the show to begin with which was a running joke.

 

I just read that Justina Machado is playing Florence so hopefully Marla shows up in some capacity.

 

Can they still say "honky" in 2019? If not no sale.

 

the sure can't say Archie's 'dem dere colleds' !!!

 

What, no Maude? I'm thinking maybe Joy Behar...

 

Some of the comments in the article seem to be overhyping this a little. "Can't miss television event of the year, if not the decade" seems a bit much.

That said, it is an interesting format to present these shows in a modern context. It could fall completely flat, but if it succeeds and generates real buzz, we'll probably see additional attempts to reinterpret old episodes in the future.

 

Why is ABC doing it?

 

Further proof that the Hollywood well dried up a long time ago.

 

Fun fact; Woody is ten years older than Carroll O’Connor was when he started playing Archie Bunker.

 

With all the network, cable and streaming outlets there has never been more original tv programming, and they just want to pay tribute to these classic series without doing the tired clip show format.

 

OK. The well has dried up for the networks. Look at the theaters, nothing much original there either.

 

And Norman Lear's brilliant writing of Archie's lovable, ignorant bigot character will not be softened by Woody's air of psychopathy he's projected in other rolls.

O'Connor's acting style fit well with both his northern Brooklyn conservative Archie as well as his portrayal of a southern Mississippi police chief in "The Heat Of The Night". He has the gift of projecting believable vulnerability. I'm not seeing this with Woody's blue saucer eyed gazes.

 

I wouldn’t have thought of him, but for somebody who probably nobody pegged as a serious or versatile actor when he started on Cheers, Woody has had a remarkably long and varied career. I’m sure he’ll find a way to do the character.

 

I'll watch it for Woody and Marisa.

 

Any character's he's played that points to this versatility? John Wayne had a remarkably long and varied career as well, but do you think his delivery of Archie's bigot dialog would land right with all audiences?

 

He’s been in many different things, from Cheers to Natural Born Killers to True Detective to Zombieland to Three Billboards to The People vs Larry Flynt to Kingpin. I wouldn’t exactly call him a chameleon — and I don’t know if he’s ever played anyone from Brooklyn — but he’s fit convincingly into all kinds of movies and shows...

 

What Norman Lear ought to do is recreate "Fernwood 2Night" and "America 2Night" since both "Barth" and "Jerry" are still active (although unfortunately Frank DeVol, Frank Marocco, and Tommy Tedesco have passed away).... While we're at it, why aren't these brilliant and utterly insane shows available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or streaming/download?

Here's an example....

BTW: The accordion player in this clip, Frank Marocco played on "Pet Sounds":

 

This.^ Instead of regurgitating old scripts, why not just create new ones?

 

Because it’s a tribute...not a new series.