The classic 1980s sitcom The Facts of Life is the latest show to feature in ABC's "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" series. Producer's and Hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Norman Lear have managed to get Friends icon Jennifer Aniston on board, alongside Gabrielle Union and Allison Tolman.
Newsweek has everything you need to know about the live rendition of The Facts of Life, including release date, cast, plot, and more.
When is The Facts of Life Live on ABC?
There is good news for fans of Jimmy Kimmel and Norman Lear's Live in Front of a Studio Audience series.
The Facts of Life live reenactment will premiere on Tuesday, December 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
You can watch The Facts of Live via the ABC Network and ABC.com. Alternatively, Live With a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes will be available to stream on Hulu from Wednesday, December 8.
The Facts of Life will be followed by the previously announced recreation of Diff'rent Strokes, which aired from 1978 to 1986.
Diff'rent Strokes will star John Lithgow as Mr. Drummond and Kevin Hart as Arnold.
What Episodes of The Facts of Life Will Be Re-enacted?
The Facts of Life, created by Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon served as a spin-off to the beloved series Diff'rent Strokes.
The series followed Edna Garret (played by Edna Rae), the former housekeeper on Diff'rent Strokes who became the housemother and later dietitian of a dormitory at an all-girls private school in New York.
The sitcom aired for nine seasons between 1979 and 1988 and starred Lisa Welchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, and Nancy McKeon.
The 2021 reenactment on "Live in Front of a Studio Audience", will see the star-studded cast breathe life into original episodes of The Facts of Life. There will also be reenactments of episodes of Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life's sister show.
Unfortunately at the moment, which episodes will feature in the live reenactment have not been confirmed. Newsweek has reached out to ABC for confirmation.
Who Stars In The Facts of Life?
Friends star and award-winning actress Jennifer Aniston will play the role of rich-girl Blair in The Facts of Life.
The original Blair was played by American singer, songwriter, author, and life coach, Lisa Whelchel.
She's All That icon Gabrielle Union will take on the role of Tootie, the group's biggest gossip. The original Tootie was portrayed by The Upshaws star Kim Fields.
Joining Union and Aniston is Fargo star Allison Tolman as Natalie, originally played by The Secret Life of an American Teenager's Mindy Cohn.
Taking to Instagram to share the exciting news, Tolman posted an official poster of the ABC special, with the caption: "So listen, I actually can't believe this is happening.
Tuesday, December 7th on ABC, #LiveInFrontOfAStudioAudience #TheFactsOfLife #DiffrentStrokes."
WandaVision's Kathryn Hahn takes on the role of Jo and The Handmaid's Tale alum Ann Dowd will portray Mrs. Garrett.
Jo was portrayed by Nancy McKeon in the original series and Mrs. Garrett was played by the late American actress, Charlotte Rae.
Announcing the news of the cast on Monday night's (November 29) edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel joked: "I cannot imagine a better group than Jennifer Aniston, Allison Tolman, Gabrielle Union, Kathryn Hahn, and Ann Dowd, and I can't wait to do their hair."
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes premieres Tuesday, December 7 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
