Tom Hanks, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kristen Bell are among additional celebrity appearances and cast members joining Norman Lear’s 100th birthday special on ABC.
Asante Black, George Clooney, Laverne Cox, Isabella Gomez, Emily Hampshire, Rita Moreno, Ms. Pat, Jay Pharoah, Rob Rainer, Ada Rodriguez and George Wallace, with Hanks, providing speech and comedy performances during “Norman Lear: 100” will do. Years of Music and Laughter. Meanwhile, Bell, Ross, Anthony Anderson, Ledisi, Justina Machado, Kelly Rowland, Amber Stevens West and Michelle William will pay tribute to the iconic sitcom theme songs with special musical performances.
The new roster of attendees joins previously announced talent Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler and Octavia Spencer.
Honoring the life and legacy of the leading storyteller, activist and philanthropist, the one-night celebration will include intimate conversations, special performances and surprising reunions to celebrate the man behind some of TV’s greatest stories in celebration of his 100th birthday. pay tribute. The tribute was announced on 27 July, coinciding with Lear’s centenary.
“I have always believed that music and laughter added time to my life. I have seen so much throughout my 100 years, but I never would have thought America would be on the front lines for my birthday celebrations,” Lear said said in a statement.
Lear is behind some of the most celebrated programming in TV history, including iconic shows from the 1970s and ’80s such as “All in the Family,” “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons,” “Maude” and “Mary Hartman.” Huh. Mary Hartman. Most recently, he served as executive producer for the critically acclaimed reissue of “One Day at a Time,” which ran for four seasons and was the first Netflix series to be renewed for network television (PopTV and CBS). . Lear executive produced and co-hosts “Live in Front of a Studio Audience…” with Kimmel, which set record ratings for ABC and won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special for two consecutive years.
“Norman Liar: 100 Years of Music and Laughter” is produced by Dunn + Dusted, with executive producers David Jamie, Brent Miller, Garrett English, Raj Kapoor and Eric Cooke. James Merriman is the director.
“Norman Liar: 100 Years of Music and Laughter” airs on ABC on September 22, with the following day streaming on Hulu.
