Gabrielle Union and Jennifer Aniston to Star in Live 'Facts of Life' Remake

ABC’s live remake of The Facts of Life has found its cast.

The one-night only “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” event will star Jennifer Aniston as Blair, Gabrielle Union as Tootie, Allison Tolman as Natalie, Kathryn Hahn as Jo, and Ann Dowd will play Mrs. Garrett, ABC announced Monday night.

“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.

Tuesday, Dec 7th the cast of #DiffrentStrokes meets an equally-amazing cast for #TheFactsOfLife! Jennifer Aniston as Blair, @ItsGabrielleU as Tootie, Kathryn Hahn as Jo, @Allison_Tolman as Natalie & Ann Dowd as Mrs. Garrett. #LiveInFrontOfAStudioAudience @ABCNetwork pic.twitter.com/yWf1hO7WCZ

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) November 30, 2021

Dowd will also appear in the live installment of Diff’rent Strokes on the same night.

The special will feature reenactments of the two shows. As previously reported, the episode of Diff’rent Strokes will also feature John Lithgow as Mr. Drummond, Kevin Hart as Arnold, and Damon Wayans as Willis.

The 90-minute special comes from executive producers Norman Lear, Jimmy Kimmel, Brent Miller, Kerry Washington, Will Ferrell, Justin Theroux and Jim Burrows.

The special is produced by Kimmelot, ACT III Productions, Gary Sanchez Productions, D’Arconville, Simpson Street and Sony Pictures Television.

The “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” presentation of The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes airs Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 9:30-10:00 p.m. ET on ABC. An early premiere of the Quinta Brunson-led comedy Abbott Elementary will follow the live program. The Sony Pictures Television special can also be viewed the next day on Hulu.

Previous installments of the live franchise featured remakes of All in the Family and The Jeffersons in spring 2019. Next up was an additional episode of All in the Family and Good Times in winter 2019.