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Marla Gibbs never won an Emmy for playing Florence Johnston on “The Jeffersons” for 11 seasons. But now she may get her chance.

Sony Pictures TV is submitting the cast of Wednesday night’s ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons'” for Emmy consideration — including Gibbs, who was a surprise, unannounced performer on the program, reprising her role as the Jeffersons’ maid.

“Live in Front of a Studio Audience” will compete in the outstanding variety special (live) race, which makes sense; the category is specifically for variety specials that are live, and the ABC event fits the bill.

But there is no category anymore for variety program performers, which poses a problem for events like “Live in Front of a Studio Audience.” Last year, NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” successfully entered several of its stars in...

Updated with fast nationals: Fueled by big turnout for Jimmy Kimmel’s passion project: Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” ABC won the final night of the 2018-19 season by strong margins, beating runner-up NBC and its season finales of three Chicago dramas Wednesday by 600,000 viewers and three tenths in demo rating.

From 8-9:30 Pm Et, ABC’s live, star-strewn Lear sitcoms reboot averaged 10.36 million viewers and a 1.7 demo rating to outstrip all broadcast primetime competition. That’s a six-month high for ABC in the 90-minute Wednesday time period, following the Cma Awards back in November. Excluding trophy shows, it’s ABC biggest haul since the first Wednesday night of the TV season.

At 10 Pm, the finale of canceled Whiskey Cavalier hung on to about half its lead-in, Nightline’s docu on Norman Lear that followed the live comedy episodes redux.

Kerry Washington is the latest star to join the cast of ABC’s live sitcom special from Jimmy Kimmel that will re-create episodes of two iconic 1970s sitcoms created by Norman Lear.

The Scandal alum will play Helen Willis, the character who was one half of the first interracial couple featured on American primetime TV, in Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.’

Originated by Roxie Roker in nearly 200 episodes of The Jeffersons, Helen and her husband Tom Willis (Franklin Cover) were neighbors of George and Louise Jefferson in that “deluxe apartment in the sky.” Will Ferrell is set to play Tom Willis.

Washington joins the previously announced Live in Front of a Studio Audience actors Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as Archie and Edith Bunker and Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes as the Jeffersons. The cast also includes Ellie Kemper,...

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons’ has added more star power.

Ike Barinholtz will re-create the role of Mike “Meathead” Stivic, Sean Hayes will play Mr. Lorenzo, Amber Stevens West is set to play Jenny Willis Jefferson in the one-night-only sitcom special hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and those classic series’ creator, Norman Lear.

Jovan Adepo will re-enact the role of Lionel Jefferson, Anthony Anderson joins as Uncle Henry, Stephen Tobolowsky is set to play Mr. Bentley, and Jackée Harry will play Diane Stockwell.

The special, airing live on ABC, Wednesday, May 22 at 8 Pm Et, will re-create an original episode from each of the iconic 1970s Lear comedies. James Burrows will direct, and Sony Pictures Television is producing.

Previously announced stars include Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as Archie and Edith Bunker. Also previously announced, Jamie Foxx takes the role of George Jefferson,...