Fresh off Kevin Hart, John Lithgow, and more joining the cast of ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience for Diff’rent Strokes, it has been announced that the cast for the Live version of The Facts of Life has been set with Jennifer Aniston leading the pack as Blair Warner for a live re-staging of the popular sitcom, succeeding original portrayer Lisa Whelchel. The news was announced on last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Also joining the cast are Gabrielle Union as Tootie Ramsey, succeeding Kim Fields; Kathryn Hahn as Jo Polniaczek, succeeding Nancy McKeon; and Allison Tolman as Natalie Green, succeeding Mindy Cohn. It was previously announced that Ann Dowd would be playing Eastland housemother, Mrs. Garrett, succeeding the late Charlotte Rae.
As previously reported, the live reenactment of Diff’rent Strokes will be led by Kevin Hart in the role of Arnold (previously played by Gary Coleman) and John Lithgow as Mr. Drummond. The cast will also feature Damon Wayans as Willis. Returning as producers for the event are Kerry Washington, Will Ferrell, Justin Theroux, Jim Burrows, and Brent Miller.
Live In Front of a Studio Audience began in the spring of 2019 when stars such as Woody Harrelson, Violas Davis, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Bacon, and Martin Short recreated memorable episodes of Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Later that year, another episode of All in the Family was reenacted for a live audience along with a recreation of Good Times.
The Facts of Life, which was a spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, ran for nine seasons between 1979 and 1988. In the show, Edna Garrett leaves the Drummonds’ Park Avenue home and becomes housemother of a dormitory at a private all-girls school in Peekskill, New York. There, she oversees the care of students Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel), Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey (Kim Fields), Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn), and others.
Will YOU be watching this live event? Live in Front of a Studio Audience featuring Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life premieres on December 7, 2021.