photo credit: Ron Adar // Shutterstock
On Wednesday night, ABC through it way back, bringing together an amazing cast in a re-creation of “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.”
Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Foxx, Woody Harrelson, Wandy Sykes and many more could be seen in “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jefferson,’” in which episodes of both shows were re-created, down to the famous 70’s shows sets, in front of a live studio audience.
While Woody Harrelson and Jamie Foxx admirably took on the roles of Archie and George, Marisa Tomei stole the show as sweet, simple Edith Bunker and Wanda Sykes grounded the proceedings as smart, no-nonsense Louise Jefferson.
An unannounced appearance by “Jeffersons” original cast member Marla Gibbs, reprising her role as maid Florence Johnston, appeared to impress fellow cast members as much as the cheering studio audience, with Foxx clasping his hands as Sykes beamed.
Many felt that in 2019, Lear’s cutting-edge comedies would be too offensive to be revived. The scripts were presented in their original form, complete with Archie Bunker’s slurs against blacks, Jews and women, although the use of the N-word by George Jefferson and his black neighbor, Helen Willis, was bleeped in the new version.
Lear summarized the night best during an introduction delivered from Archie Bunker’s iconic living room chair.
“When we introduced America to the Bunkers and the Jeffersons, people weren’t used to TV shows dealing with issues like racism and sexism, but we thought humor was a way into people’s hearts,” he says. “The language and themes from almost 50 years ago can still be jarring today and we are still grappling with many of these same issues. We hope tonight will make you laugh, provoke discussion and encourage action.”
“I imagined this would be great and I just can’t believe how great it was and how great you all were,” Kimmel said at the end of the special, with the full cast.
We said anything could happen! #LiveInFrontOfAStudioAudience #TheJeffersons #AllintheFamily pic.twitter.com/d8lNCjUzD3
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) May 23, 2019
.@IAMJHUD brought the house down! #TheJeffersons #LiveInFrontOfAStudioAudience pic.twitter.com/6Bxz8cJYjQ
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) May 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/kerrywashington/status/1131395468594950144
Written by Clarke Jones
Source: USA Today