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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 124-04
May 20, 2004

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG HOSTS RECEPTION IN HONOR OF 31st ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hosted a celebration at Gracie Mansion this evening in honor of the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. The event recognizes excellence within New York City’s daytime television community.  Mayor Bloomberg honored the New York daytime drama Guiding Light, Herb Scannell, President of Nickelodeon Networks, MTVN Group President, Bobby Flay, host of Boy Meets Grill and Food Nation and Meredith Vieira, moderator of The View.  The Mayor also gave special recognition to the nine National Television Academy's first-time Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.  The Mayor was joined by Commissioner Katherine Oliver of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB) and Peter Price, President of the National Television Academy. 
 
"The daytime television industry is a significant part of our local economy, and I am pleased to pay tribute to the outstanding television programming produced in New York City,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “The number of Emmy nominations received by television shows produced in New York City this year is a testament to our leadership in the daytime television industry."    

This year, New York-based television shows received 113 nominations for Daytime Emmy Awards. The shows nominated include: All My Children, As The World Turns, Guiding Light, Sesame Street, The View, One Life to Live, Between the Lions, Live with Regis and Kelly, Martha Stewart Living, Bear in the Big Blue House, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Blue’s Clues, The 77th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 9/11 Memorial from Ground Zero, Britney in the Zone and Out All Night, Montel Williams Show, Boy Meets Grill, Stuart Little, Zoom and Live from Lincoln Center: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: "The Complete Brandenburg Concertos."

Each year, the Daytime Emmy Awards contribute more than $15 million to New York City's economy.  The City is home to more than 105 television shows, and in 2003, the number of television production shooting days in the City increased 45%, from 5,016 in 2002 to 7,294 in 2003.  New York City's production industry employs 100,000 New Yorkers and generates $5 billion annually.  

“On behalf of the Academy, it is an honor to be received by the Mayor and to support the production of major television events in New York City,” Peter Price, President of the National Television Academy, said. “I would like to personally thank the Mayor for making this City a great place to live and to work in daytime television.”
 
During the celebration the Mayor presented four “Made in New York” Awards to members of the daytime television community who have made significant contributions to the industry in New York City.  The “Made in New York” stamp is a mark of distinction given to quality programming produced in New York City.   
 
“New York City is the most vibrant, exciting place to make a daytime television show, and we are pleased to join once again with the National Television Academy to celebrate excellence in daytime," said Commissioner Oliver. “Tonight's honorees are richly deserving of the very first ‘Made in New York’ awards, which honor their unparalleled contributions to local television production.” 
 
The “Made in New York” honorees include:
 
Guiding  Light.  Guiding Light started out on radio in 1937, and is the longest running daytime drama in the history of television. Mary Alice Dwyer Dobbin and Phil Dixson accepted the award on behalf of the show, each of whom have more than 35 years’ worth of experience in New York City’s television industry. Ms. Dwyer-Dobbin serves as Executive-in-Charge of Production for Procter & Gamble Productions, and Mr. Dixson is Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Televest Daytime Programs.   
 
Bobby Flay began his culinary career in New York with his restaurants the Mesa Grill and BOLO. He currently stars in two national shows on the Food Network, Food Nation and Boy Meets Grill, which both shoot on location in New York City. Mr. Flay’s latest show, BBQ with Bobby Flay, will launch on June 2. He is also the Food Correspondent for The Early Show on CBS.
 
Herb Scannell, President of Nickelodeon Networks and MTVN Group President, is responsible for all creative and business decisions at Nickelodeon, which has been the number one rated cable network for eight straight years. Headquartered in New York, Nickelodeon is now seen in 300 million homes in 149 countries and territories around the world. Mr. Scannell commissioned the creation of a digital animation studio for Nickelodeon here in the City, and the Nickelodeon shows including the Emmy award-winning Little Bill, the Peabody award-winning Dora the Explorer, Nick News, U-Pick Live, Blue's Clues, Blue's Room, and The Backyardigans are all  produced in New York. Also under his leadership, TV Land has become the highest-rated network to launch within the past seven years and the Spike TV network for men has recently been launched.
 
Meredith Vieira, moderator of The View, which has been nominated for Daytime Emmys for “Best Talk Show Host” every year since its 1997 debut. In 2002, Ms. Vieira began hosting the weekday version of the New York show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”, for which she received an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Talk Show Host.” The show’s ratings were up 23 percent last year, and the show has just been renewed for another season.
 
The Mayor also honored nine individuals who will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 31st Annual Emmy Awards at Radio City Music Hall on May 21st:
 
Rachel Ames has starred on General Hospital since the program’s debut in 1964. She is the longest running performer on ABC’s longest running daytime drama.
 
John Clarke is one of the original cast members of Days Of Our Lives.  He played the role of Mickey Horton for 38 years.
 
Jeanne Cooper has starred in The Young and the Restless for over 30 years, in the role of Katherine Chancellor. 
 
Eileen Fulton originated the role of Lisa back in 1960 on As the World Turns.
 
Don Hastings has played Dr. Bob Hughes on As The World Turns for over 40 years.
 
Ray MacDonnell  is an original cast member on  All My Children, and has played Dr. Joe Martin since 1970.
 
Frances Reid has played Alice Norton on Days of Our Lives for the past 38 years, and is the only remaining original cast member.
 
Helen Wagner made her debut on As the World Turns when it was created in 1956 and now plays the longest-running continuous character in television history.
 
Anna Lee played Lila on General Hospital beginning in 1978.  Unfortunately Ms. Lee passed away on May 14, 2004.  

The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be presented by the National Television Academy on Friday, May 21 at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast on NBC Television Network beginning at 9:00 pm.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Silvia Alvarez   (212) 788-2958



GENERAL CONTACT:

Julianne Cho   (MOFTB)
(212) 489-6710 x226


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