Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

William Shatner, James Burrows, Tom Brokaw and Regis Philbin (pictured in rotation) are among icons honored with Television Academy Hall of Fame inductions this year.

Photos: Mathew Imaging

North Hollywood, CA, June 19, 2006 – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Committee has selected Tom Brokaw, James Burrows, Leonard Goldberg, Regis Philbin and William Shatner to be inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame. Dick Askin, Chairman of the Television Academy, announced the news today.

''The Television Academy's Hall of Fame honors a lifetime of excellence and is a special recognition for those who have made significant contributions that will leave an indelible mark on the television business," Askin said.

"This year's inductees have each helped shape our industry and serve as inspiration for everyone involved in our business," he continued. "It is an honor to recognize their careers and we are pleased to welcome them into our Hall of Fame.''

Hall of Fame candidates are submitted from the Television Academy's membership and the industry at large to the Hall of Fame selection committee who vote upon the final decision.

The committee was comprised of Sam Haskell and Conrad Bachmann, Co-Chairmen of the Television Academy Hall of Fame Selection Committee; Leslie Moonves, Chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation; Gail Berman, President, Paramount Pictures; Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment, the CW; and Peter Roth, President of Warner Bros Television Production.

“Being part of this selection process was an honor and each of the inductees has had a tremendous impact in both television and entertainment," Haskell added. “All of these individuals have had careers that have stood the test of time and their accomplishments extend over decades. We can't think of five others who deserve this honor more."

Background on this year's Hall of Fame inductees follows:

Tom Brokaw

One of the most trusted and respected figures in broadcast journalism, Brokaw stepped down after 21 years as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News but is continuing with NBC News for the next ten years as a special correspondent. Brokaw has hosted, written and moderated special programs on a wide range of topics including a series of award-winning hour-long documentaries entitled Tom Brokaw Reports.

He was the first to obtain a one-on-one interview with Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and only anchor to report from the scene the night the Berlin Wall fell, and the first American anchor to travel to Tibet to report on human rights abuses and to conduct an interview with the Dalai Lama.

Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, an Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Peabody Award, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Interview, and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism.

Complementing his distinguished broadcast journalism career, Brokaw has written articles, essays and commentary for several newspapers and magazines, and in 1998, became a best selling author with the publication of his first book, The Greatest Generation.

James Burrows

Producer/director James Burrows has been nominated for an Emmy Award for directing a comedy series 23 times in 24 years. Over his distinguished career, Burrows has been the recipient of ten Emmys, four Directors Guild of America Awards, the 1996 American Comedy Awards’ Creative Achievement Award and the 2006 US Comedy Festival Career Tribute Award. He has received 21 nominations for the Director’s Guild of America Award, thus bestowing him the honor of being the most nominated director in the history of television at the Guild.

Burrows has just completed his eighth and final season with the NBC hit series, Will and Grace, which was produced by his company, 3 Sisters Entertainment. He was the co-creator, executive producer and director of the critically acclaimed series, Cheers. The hit show, which aired for 11 seasons, is the most nominated series in the Television Academy’s history and holds third place for most Emmys received.

Burrows has also received numerous awards for his work on such series as Frasier, Friends, Wings, Night Court, Taxi, and Dear John. For the first time in 25 years, he returned to the stage in the spring of 1998 to direct the highly acclaimed Man Who Came To Dinner at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, starring John Mahoney.

Leonard Goldberg

An award-winning television and film producer, Goldberg is known for several highly acclaimed television movies including the Peabody Award-winning Brian's Song, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble and Something About Amelia, for which he received an Emmy Award.

He also produced a string of hit television series while in partnership with Aaron Spelling—the best-known being Charlie's Angels,  Hart to Hart,  Starsky and Hutch and Family.

Goldberg also served as Head of Programming for ABC where under his aegis, television’s "Movie of the Week" was created. As President of 20^th Century Fox, the studio produced the features Big, Die Hard and Broadcast News; and for television, The Simpsons. Under his own banner, his big screen productions include Wargames, Sleeping With The Enemy, and Double Jeopardy.

Goldberg has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Regis Philbin

As the face to which millions of Americans wake up every morning, Philbin has become a cultural icon in television broadcasting. The host of the long-running nationally syndicated morning talk show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Philbin took his daytime success to primetime with Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Super Millionaire, and in the summer of 2006 he will return to primetime with America's Got Talent.

Philbin first appeared on television more than 40 years ago where he spent seven years as host of A.M. Los Angeles. From there, he served as Joey Bishop's sidekick on the Joey Bishop Show, and helmed the Regis Philbin Show.   Now in its eighteenth season, Live with Regis and Kelly originated in 1983 when Philbin created the Morning Show for WABC in New York. In 1988, the show was renamed Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, then entered a new era in 2001 when he was joined by Ripa.

An all-around television personality, singer, writer and fashion designer, Philbin is the recipient of four Daytime Emmy Awards, a TV Guide Award for "Personality of the Year" and a Broadcasting & Cable Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, he was officially entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for 'most hours on camera,' having logged more than 15,000 hours in his illustrious career.

William Shatner

One of pop culture’s most recognized figures, Shatner has cultivated a career as a professional actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist, author, horseman, and Hollywood philanthropist.

Born in Montreal, he worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Company and later won the Tyron Guthrie Award for his efforts on stage. After moving to New York City, he become part of television’s Golden Age. Since making his film debut in 1957, Shatner has starred in several hundred television programs—including many classics.

In 1966, Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek. After the show was cancelled and relaunched in syndication, he reprised the role in seven Star Trek feature films. He played title role in the hit network series, TJ Hooker, was the host of CBS series Rescue 911 for six seasons and made his directorial film debut in 1989. In 2004, Shatner won his first Emmy Award for his role as “Denny Crane” on The Practice. That same year, he released the compilation record Has Been, comprised with several musical artists. In 2005, he won his first Golden Globe award and a second Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Boston Legal.

* * *

About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame

Founded by former Television Academy president John H. Mitchell, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to television: on camera legends and pioneering talent that include directors, producers, costume designers, writers, animators, executives, reporters and explorers.

Since the first ceremony in 1984, more than 100 of television’s notables have been inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. Past honorees include Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, David Sarnoff, Walter Cronkite, Milton Berle, Walt Disney, Bob Hope, Mary Tyler Moore, Barbara Walters, Angela Lansbury, Oprah Winfrey and Carl Reiner.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946 just one month after network television was born. It is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry. In addition to recognizing outstanding programming through its Emmy® Award, the Television Academy publishes Emmy® Magazine and stages many industry-related programs, services and year-round events for the television community.

For additional press information and resources concerning the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, please direct your inquiries to Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group at (323) 965-1990.

Press Contacts

For the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

Robin Mesger
The Lippin Group
rmesger@lippingroup.com
323-965-1990

Pam Golum
The Lippin Group
pgolum@lippingroup.com
323-965-1990