Each episode also featured a new final line – the Facts of Life quip spoken by Jennifer Aniston, wasn't very memorable and was partially covered by applause. Will Arnett, playing a thickheaded suitor to Blair in the Facts of Life episode, offered a brief ad lib while speaking to Jon Stewart that scored better than most of the scripted punchlines (Stewart was playing Carl, a geek who also liked Blair). Indeed, the best moments of the night came when stars broke character briefly or found a way to bring new interpretations to old material. And the night's best bit of surprise stunt casting – rapper Snoop Dogg as Willis' friend Vernon – was inspired, mostly because Snoop is a much better comic actor than many realize. ("Even though he looks 45, he's just 8," Wayans deadpanned about Hart's Arnold in one moment). Damon Wayans, taking over Todd Bridges's role as Arnold's brother Willis, was another surprise, setting up Hart's punchlines as a consummate straight man before landing his own sly jokes. Hart wrung out every bit of physical comedy he could manage, pretending to struggle while climbing down from a bunk bed and copying Coleman's distinctive gait. Drummond – you felt the absurdity of the casting bring new laughs. Watching a bearded Hart, running around the stage in a superhero outfit, jumping into the arms of John Lithgow – playing Arnold's wealthy adoptive father Mr. And in one notable scene, Hart, who is 5-foot-2, climbed down from the top of a bunk bed to hilarious effect.Kevin Hart in 'Live in front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes.'Ĭasting for maximum humor, rather than mimicry He of course delivered Coleman’s now iconic line, “Whatcha talkin’ about Willis?” with suitable zest. Hart got into the spirit as Arnold, complete with Coleman’s heavy sighs, elastic facial expressions and deft physical comedy. Said Bridges of his onetime colleagues: “If they were here, they’d be proudly celebrating." (The "Facts" episode ended with three original stars taking bows before the live audience: Lisa Whelchel as Blair, Mindy Cohn as Natalie and Kim Fields as Tootie.) Garrett and Gary Coleman, who as the inimitable Arnold, played, along with Willis, an adoptee from Harlem. While the actor has had his own hardships, he poignantly noted that the rest of his co-stars have passed on: Conrad Bain as wealthy family patriarch Phillip Drummond Dana Plato as his daughter Kimberly Charlotte Rae as the original Mrs. There was decidedly more there there when it came to the “Diff’rent Strokes” episode, titled “Willis’ Privacy.”įor starters, the episode was introduced by Todd Bridges, who played Willis on the original show. When Aniston’s Blair realized the right thing was to follow through on her dinner date with Stewart’s Carl, she kindly wiped food from his braces-barred lips while summoning that “Friends” theme and said: “Don’t worry, I’ll be there for you.” The closing moments, however, did offer an improvised surprise from the original script. With scores of “Facts” episodes to choose from, one wonders if perhaps there might not have been a better selection than this one, which apart from its enduring message –don’t be cruel – felt especially 80s-Lite. While both Will Arnett and Jason Bateman sported similar goofy wigs, Arnett made the bigger meal out of his meat-head character as Aniston’s boyfriend, Dink. Not to be overlooked, two other unannounced guests appeared as jocks/love interests lugging equipment to the harvest festival event. Here, Stewart was less Carl and more Jon with a hair piece. Stewart, some may recall, was a guest on late 90s sitcoms such as “The Nanny” and “NewsRadio,” though his talents ultimately were much better served elsewhere. And she can’t be faulted for breaking character after being face to face with surprise guest Stewart, who donned a wig and braces to play a Grateful Dead-loving dork. Garrett – was unimpeachable, with the adult actresses summoning their best teen selves (notably Hahn’s huffy performance as boy-phobic Jo).īut it was Aniston who reminded us that her true place is on a situation comedy, where she can milk scripted beats to the max. The core “Facts” cast – which also included Kathryn Hahn and Gabrielle Union (as classmates Jo and Tootie) and Ann Dowd stepping in as their housemother Mrs. “The Facts of Life” crew went first, acting out an episode called “Kids Can Be Cruel,” in which a vengeful Natalie (Allison Tolman) tries to get back at superficial Blair (Aniston) by setting her up on a date with Carl (Stewart) at their all-girls’ school harvest festival. This time, the festivities opened with Jimmy Kimmel introducing his age-defying friend (Lear turns 100 in July), who promptly let fly when asked about his philosophy on finality: When things are over, he said, "they’re (expletive) over,” as Kimmel’s eyes popped.
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