Jennifer Aniston Fans Freak Out Over Her Role as Blair Warner in Live ‘Facts of Life’ Reboot
Jennifer Aniston has been added to the cast of Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. She will tackle the role of Blair Warner, made famous by Lisa Welchel. This special will be the third time classic television episodes will be rebooted with some of today’s favorite actors. However, this will be the first time Aniston has appeared in a live rendition of a 1970s classic television series.
Jennifer Aniston will play ‘Facts of Life’ rich girl Blair Warner
Aniston joins an all-star lineup of talent who will tackle the roles first portrayed in the iconic television sitcom The Facts of Life in this one-night-only event. She will play the role of rich girl Blair Warner, originated by Lisa Welchel.
Joining Aniston are Gabrielle Union as Tootie, Allison Tolman as Natalie, and Kathryn Hahn as Jo.
Previously announced cast members taking on the famed Diff’rent Strokes roles include John Lithgow as Mr. Drummond, Kevin Hart as Arnold, and Damon Wayans and Ann Dowd as Willis and Mrs. Garrett.
The Facts of Life ran from 1979 to 1988 and starred Welchel, Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, and Charlotte Rae. Diff’rent Strokes was on the air from 1978 to 1985 and starred Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Dana Plato, and Charlotte Rae.
“I cannot imagine a better group than Jennifer Aniston, Allison Tolman, Gabrielle Union, Kathryn Hahn, and Ann Dowd, and I can’t wait to do their hair,” said executive producer Jimmy Kimmel of the casting.
Fans react to Jennifer Aniston’s casting in the special live episode
Upon learning of Aniston’s casting on the series and a return to her television sitcom roots, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. They reacted to an Instagram post shared by Kimmel.
“Are you freaking kidding me???? Jennifer Aniston as Blair Warner!!! Perfect casting, just perfect!” penned one follower.
“That’s amazing! So excited for this,” wrote a second Instagram user.
“This is going to be EPIC! Love Jennifer Aniston,” claimed a third fan.
“Fun, fun, fun, fun…the other episodes were great. Can’t wait to see what this cast and Jen do for these,” remarked a fourth fan.
What is ‘Live in Front of a Studio Audience’?
Live in Front of a Studio Audience is a series of episodes that feature all-star casting for live recreations of sitcom episodes that originally aired in the 1970s.
The first two installments of this live event captivated audiences. They used all-star casts and recreations of classic episodes of All in the Family and The Jeffersons in spring 2019. A second featuring two classic episodes of All in the Family and Good Times aired in the winter of 2019.
The original episode featured Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as All in the Family’s Archie and Edith Bunker, along with an episode of The Jeffersons with Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson and Wanda Sykes as Weezy.
However, the one-night event was a hit, with many viewers tuning in to see the classic television episodes reimagined for a new set of viewers. The episodes, which were almost 50 years old, stood the test of time and continued an important conversation about race relations in the United States.
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes airs Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
