Television Academy Names Rita Moreno to This Year’s Hall of Fame Class

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno is entering a special hall…

The Television Academy has announced its 26th Hall of Fame class, with the 90-year-old Puerto Rican entertainer among the honorees.

Moreno will be joined by choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, documentarian Ken Burns, BET founder Robert L. Johnson, CBS executive Bob Daly and cinematographer Donald A. Morgan.

Moreno, an EGOT winner (Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, Tony Awards), is a two-time Emmy winner for The Muppet Show and The Rockford Files.

She has starred in series including The Electric Company, Sesame Street, Nine to Five, Oz, Cane, Happily Divorced, Jane the Virgin, and the Latinx reimagining of Norman Lear’s One Day at a Time.

Moreno’s many accolades also include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Arts, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Peabody Award.

Moreno is among two of the honorees who’ve already received honorary awards from the Television Academy. She was awarded a “Televisionary Award” in 2008. Allen received a Governors Award last year.

The Hall of Fame event will take place on Wednesday, November 16, at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

In addition to the induction of the 2022 Hall of Fame recipients, the event will include the presentation of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award to actor/director/activist Sean Penn and the unveiling of new busts of four previous inductees.

“These legendary performers, creators, craftspeople and television executives are luminaries in our industry,” Frank Scherma, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, said in a statement. “Their work has influenced and immeasurably elevated the current television landscape and culture. We are proud to induct these trailblazers into the Hall of Fame and honored to celebrate their extraordinary contributions to our industry.”

“This year’s honorees have told the American story through television in ways that will forever shape our history and culture,” said Rick Rosen, Hall of Fame selection committee chair (who is also WME co-founder and head of television). “Whether they reshaped the industry itself through visionary leadership or created pieces of work that have had a lasting legacy, these individuals will forever be remembered for the impact they’ve had on the medium.”

The 2022 Hall of Fame honorees join more than 150 individuals previously inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1984. The honors were presented every year from 1984 to 1993, but the Academy has skipped 13 years since then for various reasons. This is the first induction class since 2019.

In addition to Rosen, this year’s Hall of Fame selection committee included Marcy Carsey, Emmy-winning producer; Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studio Group; Peter Roth, former chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group; Nina Tassler, co-chief executive officer of PatMa Productions; and Dana Walden, chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content.

AFI to Honor Rita Moreno During This Year’s Virtual AFI Fest

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno is ready to talk shop as part of a special night…

The 88-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress will be honored during this year’s virtual AFI Fest, which will take place from October 15-22.

Moreno, who currently stars on PopTV’s One Day at a Time, will be honored alongside Sofia Coppola, Kirby Dick and Mira Nair, with each taking par t in an evening of conversation celebrating their careers.

“Artists of this caliber are essential players in our global culture,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “To honor each of them – and all of them – at AFI FEST will prove a symphony of talent at a time the world needs it most.”

Moreno’s career began with a Broadway debut at 13 years old. Since then she has won all four of the most prestigious awards in show business – an Oscar, a Tony, two Emmys, and a Grammy – as well as a Peabody Award and a Kennedy Center Honor. Moreno has also been recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush and the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.

Moreno received an Honorary Degree from the AFI Conservatory in 2016.

Moreno is starring in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, which will debut in theaters in December of 2021. She currently stars on the remake of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom, One Day at a Time.

Aubrey Plaza to Appear in NBC’s Special “Parks and Recreation” Reunion Episode

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plazais going back to Pawnee, to Pawnee…

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian and her fellow Parks and Recreation cast mates will return to Pawnee, Indiana, for a one-time special amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The half-hour scripted special to benefit Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fundis set to air on Thursday, April 30 at 8:30 pm ET/PT.

All of the original characters from the series will return in the Universal TV-produced special, played by original cast members Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, and Retta.

Several guest stars from the Pawnee universe may pop in as well.

The story comes from the events of the day – Pawnee’s most dedicated civil servant, Leslie Knope (Poehler), is determined to stay connected to her friends in a time of social distancing.

“Like a lot of other people, we were looking for ways to help and felt that bringing these characters back for a night could raise some money,” said executive producer Michael Schur. “I sent a hopeful email to the cast and they all got back to me within 45 minutes. Our old ‘Parks and Rec’ team has put together one more 30-minute slice of (quarantined) Pawnee life and we hope everyone enjoys it. And donates!”

The special comes five years after viewers said farewell to the iconic comedy series.

“In such uncertain times, we can’t think of anyone better than Leslie Knope to unite our country with her unbridled enthusiasm and compassion,” said Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta, Co-Presidents of Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment. “A huge thank you to Mike Schur and the cast of Parks and Recreationfor putting this wonderful special together and bringing a smile to all our faces while raising money for such a worthwhile cause.”

State Farmand Subaru of Americawill each make matching donations of $150,000 and, combined with NBCUniversaland the writers/producers/cast of Parks and Recreation, a total of $500,000 in matching donations will be made through May 21.

Parks and Recreationreceived a Peabody Award for excellence in television programming, an AFIhonor as one of the Top 10 Television Shows of the Yearand several Emmynominations including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing and lead actress for Poehler, who won a Golden Globe for her performance in 2014.

Sheila E. to Perform at Apollo Theater’s 2017 Spring Gala Fundraising Event

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Sheila E. is ready for a special show(time) at the Apollo…

The 59-year-old Mexican-American percussionist and singer will perform at the Apollo Theater’s 2017 Spring Gala on June 12.

Sheila E., best known for her career-defining song, “The Glamorous Life,” joins a lineup that includes CeeLo Green, Charlie Wilson and Wé McDonald of NBC’s The Voice.

Actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer will host the 12th annual benefit, which is the legendary theater’s largest fundraising event.

In addition to the aforementioned musical performances, the Spring Gala will present two special awards. Peabody Award-winning director/producer Stan Lathan will receive the Trailblazer Award in recognition of his performing arts achievements, including television’s The Bernie Mac Show, Def Comedy Jam, Sanford & Son and, most recently, Dave Chappelle’s comedy special Deep in the Heart of Texas. This year’s Corporate Award will be given to Verizon on behalf of the company’s achievements in diversity, community leadership and innovation.

In a statement announcing the 2017 gala, Apollo Theater president/CEO Jonelle Procope said, “Since its inception, the Apollo Theater has been home to legendary and up-and-coming artists, serving as an ever-changing driving force in popular music and culture not only in Harlem [New York] but across the world.”

The 2016 Spring Gala raised $1.7 million. All gala proceeds support the non-profit organization’s year-round performing arts, education and community programming.

For tickets and additional information click here.

IFC Renews Armisen’s “Documentary Now!” for Two More Seasons

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is proving to be IFC’s comedy star….

The cable and satellite network has renewed its original comedy Documentary Now! from the 48-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star, Bill Hader and Seth Meyers, for two additional seasons.

IFC has also added a seventh episode to Season 1, up from the initial order of six episodes, ahead of its season premiere on August 20.

Documentary Now! parodies some of the world’s best-known documentaries. Starring Armisen and Hader, each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking and honors some of the most important stories that didn’t actually happen.

The second episode of Documentary Now! is currently pre-premiering on VICE.com, IFC.com, YouTube, VOD, DISH channel 102, iGuide, and on TV Everywhere platforms across IFC’s distribution partners. The episode launched on August 10 and will be available through August 27.

Documentary Now! premieres this Thursday, August 20 at 10 PM.

Armisen is currently the star of IFC’s satirical sketch comedy television series Portlandia. The series, which has won a Peabody Award, is currently in its fifth season.

FX Orders Zach Galifianakis-Starring Comedy Pilot Co-Written by Louis C.K.

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

FX may have landed its next critically acclaimed series, with help from its star Louis C.K.

The network has ordered a comedy pilot created by and starring Zach Galifianakis and co-written by the 46-year-old Mexican American comedian and star of FX’s Emmy-winning series Louie, which also earned a Peabody Award last April.

There’s still no concept yet for the project, the first to come out of Louis C.K. and his company Pig Newton’s overall pact which FX Productions.

Louis C.K. had previously signed a production deal with FX Productions to help get new projects off the ground.

Galifianakis will executive produce alongside Louis C.K.

This marks the 12th greenlighted comedy pilot for FX Productions as the company is beefing up its comedy production efforts to supply both FX and sibling FXX with content.

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