SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

After the star-studded live sitcom special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, ABC News' Nightline will take a special look at the cultural and historical significance of the two iconic series. Participants in the live sitcom special along with modern-day comedians, television stars and journalists reminisce about each show's groundbreaking impact and legacy. Nightline Presents All About All in the Family and The Jeffersons airs Wednesday, May 22 at 9:30 pm EDT for a half-hour on The ABC Television Network. The prime-time special features interviews with All in the Family and The Jeffersons creator Norman Lear; host and executive producer Jimmy Kimmel and Live in Front of a Studio Audience stars Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Jackée Harry, Ellie Kemper and Kerry Washington; comedians and actors Raven-Symoné, David Alan Grier, Lil' Rel and John Amos; original The Jeffersons cast member Marla Gibbs (Florence Johnston); and journalists Deborah Roberts, Chris Connelly, Marc Lamont Hill and Joe Levy.

And don't forget to watch Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons on Wednesday from 8:00pm-9:30pm on ABC. The special stars Woody Harrelson (Archie Bunker), Marisa Tomei (Edith Bunker), Jamie Foxx (George Jefferson), Wanda Sykes (Louise Jefferson), Ellie Kemper (Gloria Stivic), Will Ferrell (Tom Willis), Kerry Washington (Helen Willis), Justina Machado (Florence Johnston), Ike Barinholtz (Mike Meathead Stivic), Sean Hayes (Mr. Lorenzo), Amber Stevens West (Jenny Willis Jefferson), Jovan Adepo (Lionel Jefferson), Anthony Anderson (Uncle Henry), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mr. Bentley) and Jackée Harry (Diane Stockwell). The live episode is directed by 10-time Emmy award-winning sitcom director James Burrows (Cheers, Taxi).

Nickelodeon is set to launch the reimagined iconic family game show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, with a week of premieres beginning Monday, June 10, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Hosted by John Cena, who also serves as executive producer, the new series follows the original premise of kids helping adult contestants put their knowledge to the test with questions taken directly from an elementary school curriculum. New episodes will continue to air Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, June 19, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT), before moving to its regular Monday timeslot on June 24 at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

In an all-new format that places kids in the center of the action, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader contestants must revisit the classroom to answer six questions on a variety of subjects from the first through fourth grade, before moving on to the final round where they must race against the clock to answer five questions taken from the fifth grade. Each time the contestants answer questions correctly, their bank increases with a possible winning of $100,000. Newly-added elements to the show include an additional "cheat" option and new ways contestants can enlist the help of their grade-school classmates.