(Long Island, NY) Thanksgiving week I was privileged to be invited to the 34th International Emmy Awards Gala at the Hilton Hotel. This year’s event was hosted by British export Mr. Grahm Norton, award-winning television personality (Comedy Central, BBC). Liu Changle, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Satellite Television and Abbe Raven, Chief Executive Officer, A&E Television Networks served as the evening’s co-chairs.
Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States and it presents the International Emmy Awards to programs in fourteen categories. The event is held every year in New York City and attracts over 1,100 international figures in broadcast entertainment and the media.
The International Emmy Awards were presented in the categories of: Children and Young People, Arts Programming, Best Performance by an Actor, Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress, Documentary, Drama Series, Non-Scripted Entertainment and TV Movies/Mini Series.
Soap Star Lorenzo Lamas
This fabulous star-studded gala included many glamorous celebrities that attended and presented awards were Actress Susan Sarandon who presented the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Award, Soap Star Lorenzo Lamas presented the Arts Programming Award, Maureen and Steven Van Zandt presented Best Performance by and Actor, Julianne Nicholson and Best Actor from last year handsome French star Thierry Fremont presented Best Performance by an Actress, Actress Rosie Perez presented Best in Comedy, Christiane Amanpour presented Best Documentary, Soprano Stars Robert Lier and Dominic Chianese presented best Drama Series, Ashleigh Banfield and Anuj Saxena presented Best Non-Scripted Entertainment and Roger Bart and Padma Lakshmi presented Best TV Movie/Mini Series.
The highlight of the International Emmy Awards is the Founders Award. This years Founders award was presented by anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News Katie Couric. Ms Couric debuted on September 5, 2006 becoming the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news program broadcast. This year’s recipient for the Founders Award is none other than famous Director Steven Spielberg for his outstanding television career. Mr. Spielberg’s first directing job was an episode of “Night Gallery” directing Hollywood Legend Joan Crawford. As a result of the success of his first episode of “Night Gallery” he went on to direct a second episode. He later directed episodes of “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “The Name of the Game,” and “Columbo.”
“Duel” his made-for Television production became a career breakthrough when it was released theatrically in the international market. Mr. Spielberg’s first feature film “Jaws” established him as respected Hollywood Director. Along with his movie career he continued to be successful in television creating a weekly anthology series “Amazing Stories” with a new director and cast each week. Mr. Spielberg is now working on future projects including a long-form production about World War II in the Pacific which will be from the “Band of Brothers” team, the sci-fi long form production “Nine Lives” and “On the Lot,” an unscripted series which will allow aspiring film-makers to vie for a studio development deal at DreamWorks.
Director Steven Spielberg
The night was frigidly cold but that didn’t stop the stars from coming. At the red carpet arrival darlings, I had a chance to interview some of the glamorous celebrities that were presenting awards as well as the international stars that received them. Grahm Norton wearing a black tuxedo jacket with the Eiffel Tower etched in crystals revealed to me that this is the third year he is hosting the gala and Rosie Perez told me her fabulous gown was designed by Dolce and Gabana. Last years winner for Best Actor, French star Thierry Fremont expressed to me how happy he was to return to the gala this year. Mr. Fremont is the first Frenchman to have received an Emmy Award for best actor at the International Emmys.
In my conversation with Latin lover and handsome Soap Star Lorenzo Lamas he expressed how excited he was to present the Best in Arts Programming. Son of Hollywood movie star Fernando Lamas and stunning redhead Actress Arlene Dahl, gorgeous Lorenzo play Hector Ramierz, one of LA’s finest firefighters on the hit soap “The Bold and the Beautiful” which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary of being the first and only daytime drama to simulcast in Spanish utilizing SAP technology on the CBS Network Television. “How many countries is the Bold and the Beautiful viewed in” I asked? Mr. Lamas gazed into my dark brown eyes for a moment and revealed to me that the series is shown in more than 110 countries making it a world- wide television phenomenon. The series tapes at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California.
I also had a chance to chat with Padma Lakshmi an internationally known actress and awarding winning writer. In the last year Padma has been busy with two mini-series, television hosting, a feature film and a new cookbook on the horizon. Ms. Lakkshmi currently stars as the host of Bravo’s “Top Chef”.
The Best Performance by an Actress was won by Maryam Hassouni from the Netherlands for her performance as Laila in Offers and the Best Performance by an Actor was won by Ray Winstone from the UK for his performance as Vincent in Vincent.
In addition to the Best Actor category, British programs won in the Children & Young People, Comedy, Documentary, Drama Series and Non-Scripted Entertainment categories.
“We congratulate this year’s winners for their outstanding achievement. The Academy is proud to be the international television community’s platform for recognizing excellence in television programming worldwide,” said Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner, also President of Hearst Entertainment.
For more information about the International Emmy Awards please visit www.iemmys.tv.
