Sock it to me! Netflix will pay tribute to NBC’s seminal sketch comedy series Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In with Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate. The special celebration will be taped March 8 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood with original cast member Lily Tomlin performing and the show’s legendary director-producer George Schlatter in attendance.
The evening will mark the iconic series’ 50th anniversary with homages and modern takes on quintessential sketches and acts from the original series. Tomlin will reprise her memorable characters Edith Ann — she of the oversized rocking chair — and snorting phone operator Ernestine. Joining Tomlin for the tribute will be star-studded lineup of comedians, actors and musicians including Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Neil Patrick Harris, Taye Diggs, Michael Douglas, Jay Leno, Rita Moreno, Rita Wilson, JoAnne Worley, Maria Bamford, Margaret Cho, Ron Funches, Brad Garrett, Nikki Glaser, Lisa Ann Walter, Bobby Moynihan, Cheri Oteri, Rob Riggle, Jeff Ross, J.B. Smoove, Tony Hale, Jon Lovitz, Natasha Leggero and more.
The series, which ran from 1968-73, won two Emmy Awards and would go on to be one of the most iconic sketch comedy shows in television history. It premiered in January 1968 as a midseason replacement show and became the No. 1 show in all of primetime that season and the next. Among the many regulars from that first season were Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Henry Gibson, Arte Johnson, Joane Worley and Larry Hovis.
Dave Broome (The Day I Met El Chapo, Ultimate Beastmaster) is executive producing the special under his 25/7 Productions banner along with Schlatter. Yong Yam also is an EP. Netflix has yet to announce when the special will be available for streaming.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Deadline