'All in the Family': Bacon joins ABC special

Kevin Bacon is photographed as he promotes the TV series "City on a Hill" in New York. Bacon will be in a guest role on an upcoming "All in the Family" on ABC. (Armando Gallo/Zuma Press/TNS)
Kevin Bacon is photographed as he promotes the TV series "City on a Hill" in New York. Bacon will be in a guest role on an upcoming "All in the Family" on ABC. (Armando Gallo/Zuma Press/TNS)

Get ready for new ways to figure Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

ABC's next staging of an "All in the Family" episode will feature the prolific Bacon in a guest role. The other guest stars include Jesse Eisenberg and Justina Machado.

ABC will mount "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Back as Archie Bunker will be Woody Harrelson. Oscar winner Marisa Tomei plays Edith Bunker again. The other returning cast members include Ellie Kemper as Gloria Stivic and Ike Barinholtz as Gloria's husband, Mike, who's also known as "Meathead."

Casting for the "Good Times" episode will be announced later, ABC said.

ABC scored a big success in May with "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons.'" It was one of last season's biggest surprises and a joyous TV event. The special was a reminder of how provocative and timely the 1970s sitcoms remain.

The special was nominated for three Emmys and won for outstanding variety special (live). The special also drew more than 14 million viewers across all platforms after 35 days of playback.

The executive producers on the new special include Lear, Jimmy Kimmel, Kerry Washington, Will Ferrell, Justin Theroux and Jim Burrows. Pam Fryman and Andy Fisher will direct the live show.

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