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What to Watch Thursday: Stars gather for Norman Lear’s 100th birthday tribute

Celebrities gather to pay tribute to Norman Lear, the creator of some of TV’s most influential comedies, who turned 100 years old in July.
Celebrities gather to pay tribute to Norman Lear, the creator of some of TV’s most influential comedies, who turned 100 years old in July. ABC

Here’s what’s on TV tonight.

Returning TV series with season premieres:

NBC: “Law & Order: Organized Crime” (8), “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9), “Law & Order” (10) (Note: The same case is carried throughout all three episodes tonight.)

Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter (9 p.m., ABC)

Celebrities gather to pay tribute to Norman Lear, the creator of some of TV’s most influential comedies — “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Maude,” “Sanford & Son” and “Good Times,” just to name a few.

Lear turned 100 years old in July.

Among the stars showing up to honor Lear: George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler, Octavia Spencer, Rita Moreno, Laverne Cox, Rob Reiner, George Wallace, Asante Blackk, Isabella Gomez, Emily Hampshire, Ms. Pat, Jay Pharoah and Aida Rodriguez.

There will also be special musical performances of iconic sitcom theme songs, performed by Anthony Anderson, Kristen Bell, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ledisi, Justina Machado, Kelly Rowland, Amber Stevens West and Michelle Williams.

This will stream tomorrow on Hulu.

Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.

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This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 7:11 AM with the headline "What to Watch Thursday: Stars gather for Norman Lear’s 100th birthday tribute."

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Brooke Cain
The News & Observer
Brooke Cain is a North Carolina native who has worked at The News & Observer and McClatchy for more than 30 years as a researcher, reporter and media writer. She is the National Service Journalism Editor for McClatchy. 
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