Archie Bunker is coming back to prime-time network TV and he might look a little different to viewers B次元官网网址� even if what he says is exactly the same.

Woody Harrelson is stepping into the iconic role as part of a 90-minute ABC special celebrating writer, director and producer Norman Lear. It airs May 22.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be exciting as hell,B次元官网网址� said Lear. B次元官网网址淎nother version of Archie Bunker is going to play Archie Bunker. A great, great talent is going to be Archie Bunker.B次元官网网址�

The live special will recreate one original episode from B次元官网网址淎ll in the FamilyB次元官网网址� and another from B次元官网网址淭he Jeffersons.B次元官网网址� It will be hosted by Lear and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who dreamed up the idea.

B次元官网网址淚t really is astonishing just how great these shows are. I say B次元官网网址榓reB次元官网网址� and not B次元官网网址榳ereB次元官网网址� because they are still great,B次元官网网址� Kimmel said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited that a new generation will get to see them, and be reminded of them, and then maybe take the time to go back and watch all the old ones.B次元官网网址�

Joining Harrelson, who will be playing Carroll OB次元官网网址機onnorB次元官网网址檚 old role in B次元官网网址淎ll in the Family,B次元官网网址� will be Marisa Tomei playing BunkerB次元官网网址檚 long-suffering wife, Edith. Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes will play George and Louise Jefferson in B次元官网网址淭he Jeffersons,B次元官网网址� in roles played originally by Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford. The special will also feature Ellie Kemper, Jamie Foxx, Will Ferrell, Justina Machado, Kerry Washington, Sean Hayes and Anthony Anderson.

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LearB次元官网网址檚 two 1970s-era sitcoms are cut from the same topical cloth, tackling racism, feminism and the Vietnam War. Asked if they still hold up, Lear was clear. B次元官网网址淚 think they work very well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔unny is funny.B次元官网网址�

Kimmel took inspiration from the recent move by networks to mount Broadway musicals and make them into live events, like B次元官网网址淩ent,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址漈he Sound of MusicB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淕rease.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not that interested in musicals. I love television shows. And I was just thinking about what gets ratings on TV nowadays,B次元官网网址� said Kimmel.

B次元官网网址淚t seems like live events are still pretty popular and still doing well. I was thinking about the old shows and I thought, B次元官网网址榃hy donB次元官网网址檛 we do one of these great old shows?B次元官网网址� I know people love B次元官网网址楪reaseB次元官网网址� but how many times do you need to see that?B次元官网网址�

Though producers wonB次元官网网址檛 reveal which episodes of the sitcoms are being restaged, Kimmel promised having them live in front of a studio audience B次元官网网址� and the world on TV B次元官网网址� will give the shows a jolt of electricity.

He wants Americans to watch them the way they used to B次元官网网址� together, at the same time. HeB次元官网网址檚 not worried about any screw-ups, either, since that adds to the suspense.

B次元官网网址淲e may release a box of rats onto the set just to see what happens,B次元官网网址� he joked. B次元官网网址淚 think it adds something to the production. You see it in the live musicals. They wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be nearly as interesting if they were on tape.B次元官网网址�

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

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