by One of the more unusual announcement out of ABC Upfronts yesterday wasn’t the Roseanne reunion — because that news leaked out a little while ago — but the live primetime special that could become a series of specials in which Jimmy Kimmel and Justin Theroux will perform episodes from old classic sitcoms.
Whatchu talkin’ about?
Exactly.
In fact, Theroux and Kimmel joked on Jimmy Kimmel Live that one of their ideas would be to recast an episode of Diff’rent Strokes with Kevin Hart as Arnold and Will Ferrell as Mr. Drummond. With Theroux as Willis? Kimmel also floated the idea of re-enacting an episode of Laverne & Shirley with Jen Aniston and Courteney Cox.
Roll the clip!
From the press release:
The “Untitled Kimmel and Theroux Project” will bring viewers classic sitcom scripts from the 70s, 80s and 90s, to be acted out live by today’s biggest names in comedy.
“Jimmy Kimmel has proven to be a preeminent voice in comedy, with 15 seasons of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ under his belt and successfully tackling the herculean task of hosting both the Emmys(R) and the Oscars(R) in the same season,” said Dungey. “Likewise, Justin Theroux’s versatile talents are showcased in every project he takes on. We are thrilled to be developing a new sitcom experience that will combine Jimmy’s mastery of live television and Justin’s irreverent sensibilities.”
“I spent most of my childhood in front of a TV set, obsessively watching comedies from great producers like Norman Lear, Jim Burrows, James L. Brooks and Garry Marshall,” said Kimmel. “This is a way for a new generation of viewers to discover these classics and a new generation of actors to play characters they love, live in front of a studio audience.”
The “Untitled Kimmel and Theroux Project” will be produced by Smoking Baby Productions and taped in front of a live studio audience. Jimmy Kimmel and Justin Theroux serve as executive producers.
