The Paley Center for Media in New York has announced that its upcoming spring gala will celebrate women in television. The May 17 event will include a tribute to Carol Burnett, whose variety show The Carol Burnett Show earned 22 Emmy Awards during its 11-year run.
The legendary 84-year-old, who recently landed a starring role in ABC’s upcoming new comedy Household Name, will be in attendance at the gala. Burnett will appear at the event alongside Lauren Graham, Dorothy Hamill, Mariska Hargitay, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Julianna Margulies, Chrissy Metz, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marlo Thomas, and Paula Zahn. Stage and screen actor Thomas will present opening remarks.
The Paley Honors: Celebrating Women In Television Presented by Verizon will take place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York at 6:30 PM.
“I’m thrilled to be honored by the prestigious Paley Center for Media,” commented Burnett in a press statement. “I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be on television as long as I have. It is a wonderful and powerful medium that, when done well, can impact millions of lives in a positive way. It’s very exciting to take part in this special evening with these amazing women.”
“What's so compelling about women's roles on television is that they have reflected—and often instigated—the seismic changes that have taken place in our culture for the last half century,” added Thomas. “In the early days of TV, women were supposed to be perfect—innocent and chaste, cooperative and never angry, an ideal wife and supermom. It took warriors to break through and depict women in all their complex, imperfect splendor—over-worked and loving, accomplished and insecure while never losing sight of entertaining us—to make us laugh or cry or think. It's been quite a journey.”
“The Paley Center is so proud to bring together this incredible gathering of women for what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime event,” commented Maureen J. Reidy, the president & CEO of The Paley Center for Media. “Together, we’ll celebrate the pioneering entertainers, groundbreaking series, and current hit shows that have sparked conversations, educated audiences, and thrilled generations.”
The evening will present programs of historical importance, pay homage to creative female visionaries—including actors, comedians, athletes and journalists—and feature iconic talent recognizing the contributions of legacy stars as well as today’s most recognizable names.
For additional event information, including how to purchase tables, visit Paley.me/honors2017.
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