ABC’s Live In Front Of A Studio Audience All in the Family is scheduled to make a return to television on December 18 and also returning are Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Ellie Kemper, and Ike Barinholtz to reprise their iconic roles as Archie and Edith Bunker, Gloria Stivic, and Meathead. This time around they’ll be joined by some new additions to the cast as Kevin Bacon, Justina Machado, and Jesse Eisenberg have all signed on to make appearances in the live staging of the Norman Lear sitcom classic.
Back in May, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons averaged 14.29 million total viewers and reached 23.5 million total viewers for its original Wednesday broadcast, which went on to air two encores Saturday, May 25, and Saturday, Aug. 17. The special earned three Emmy Award nominations and took home the win for Outstanding Variety Special. Sony Pictures Television is producing the holiday-inspired event and will reunite executive producers Lear, Jimmy Kimmel, Brent Miller, Will Ferrell and Justin Theroux, as well as Kerry Washington, who portrayed Helen Willis from The Jeffersons original special that aired in early summer.
In addition to bringing back Lear’s All in the Family, ABC has also announced there will be a Good Times remake joining the holiday special, as well. Good Times, developed by Lear and created by Mike Evans, Eric Monte, aired for six seasons on CBS from 1974-1979 and was considered a groundbreaking sitcom for being among the first of television shows to feature two African-American parents.
ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke said, “The holiday season is the perfect time for families to come together and enjoy another Live in Front of a Studio Audience special on ABC. Only Jimmy and Norman can top what they accomplished the first time. From the superstar talent to the unforgettable music and the richly deserved Emmy win, their collective vision has introduced a whole new generation of people to these groundbreaking and timeless stories.”
Cast details for the Good Times remake have yet to be decided but should be announced soon.
Regarding the upcoming special, Kimmel said in a statement, “Being a part of Norman Lear’s world was a career highlight; and working with great actors on these great shows was so much fun, we couldn’t resist tackling a holiday episode of All in the Family and one of my favorites, Good Times.”
Live In Front Of A Studio Audience All in the Family and Good Times is scheduled to air Wednesday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.