Bea Arthur, Merv Griffin Inducted Into TV Art Hall Of Fame

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame Committee has selected Bea Arthur, Dan Burke, Larry Gelbart, Merv Griffin, Tom Murphy and Sherwood Schwartz to be inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame, it was announced today by John Shaffner, Chairman/CEO of the Television Academy.

'The Television Academy's Hall of Fame honors a lifetime of excellence and is a special recognition for those who have made significant contributions and have left an indelible mark on the television business. This year's inductees have each helped shape our industry and are an inspiration for everyone involved in our business," said Shaffner. "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 votes upon the final decision. The current committee is comprised of Mark Itkin, Chairman of the Television Academy Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Fred Silverman, Brian Graden, Mike Darnell, Courtney Cox-Arquette and Anne Sweeney.

"Being part of this selection process was an honor. Each of these inductees has had a tremendous impact on our business," added Itkin. "Their respective careers have stood the test of time and their accomplishments extend over decades. We can't think of five others who deserve this honor more."

Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur is a two-time Emmy® Award-winning and a Tony Award-winning comedienne, actress and singer. In a career spanning six decades, Arthur is best remembered for her trademark role as the title character Maude Findlay on the 1970's sitcom Maude, in which she portrayed an outspoken feminist living in affluent Westchester County with her husband and divorced daughter. The show ran for six years, during which time many controversial topics, including abortion, were tackled.

In 1985, she was cast as Dorothy Zbornak, the divorced substitute teacher on The Golden Girls. On stage, her many roles include "Lucy Brown" in the 1954 off-Broadway premiere of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, "Yente the Matchmaker" in 1964's Fiddler on the Roof, and a 1966 Tony Award-winning portrayal of "Vera Charles" in Mame, a role she recreated for the film version in 1974. In 2002, she made a triumphant return to Broadway starring in Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends, a collection of stories and songs based on her life and long career. The show was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.

Daniel B. Burke

Daniel B. Burke was president of Capital Cities Communications for 22 years, and CEO Capital Cities/ ABC, until his retirement in 1994 (he succeeded Chairman Thomas Murphy as CEO in 1990).

Burke, nicknamed "the Cardinal" because of his strict standards, had been number two to Murphy at CapCities since 1972, running the business day-to-day while Murphy concentrated on strategy. While a top executive at ABC News, Burke was credited with strengthening its domestic and oversee bureaus, contributing to the success of 20/20 and Nightline and helping to hire David Brinkley from NBC and Diane Sawyer from CBS.

Larry Gelbart

Larry Gelbart is a prolific comedy writer with over sixty years of credits. He began his career as a writer for Danny Thomas' radio show during the 1940s and also wrote for Jack Paar and Bob Hope. In the 1950s he began writing for television and worked for Sid Caesar along with other gifted comedy writers including Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen and Carl Reiner.

In 1972, Gelbart was one of the main forces behind the creation of the television series M*A*S*H, writing and producing many episodes. Gelbart also wrote the screenplays for Oh, God!and Blame it on Rio, and in 1982 co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Tootsie. Gelbart's other Broadway credits include the musical City of Angels, which received an Edgar Award in 1990, and the Iran-contra satire Mastergate, as well as Sly Fox. In 1997, Gelbart wrote a memoir called Laughing Matters: On Writing M*A*S*H, Tootsie, Oh, God!, and a Few Other Funny Things.

The recipient of more than a dozen awards, Gelbart has received three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards and the 1981 Laurel Award for outstanding career achievement in television writing from the Writer's Guild of America. Since May 2005, Gelbart has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin An innovative force in television for nearly half a century, Merv Griffin hosted his syndicated talk show for 23 years and made game show history with the creation of "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune."

In 1962, Griffin discovered his talent for talk when he was tapped as guest host for Jack Paar at NBC's "Tonight." (When he received his Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2005, the New York Times headlined: "If Chatting Were an Olympic Sport, Merv Griffin Would Be Draped in Medals.") "The Merv Griffin Show," both on network and later in syndication, impacted American popular culture with its discovery of new talent and its serious discussions with controversial and iconic figures.

Founding Merv Griffin Entertainment in 1986 after the sale of his shows to the Coca-Cola owned Columbia, Griffin continued to create game shows and produce films and reality fare until his death on August 12, 2007. "Merv Griffin's Crosswords," his most recent creation, has been on the air since September 10, 2007.

In addition to new product, there is a steady growth to the $70 million in royalty earnings from the iconic "Jeopardy! Think Music." Merv Griffin earned 32 Emmy nominations and 17 Emmys Awards.

Thomas Murphy

Thomas Murphy was chairman and former CEO of Capital Cities/ABC. Highly regarded in the business world as well as in the broadcast and publishing industries, Murphy built Capital Communications into one of the country's leading media companies.

In 1985, Murphy engineered the acquisition of ABC by CapCities for $3.5 billion. He never forgot his roots in broadcasting, and he frequently spoke about the need to preserve broadcasting's "public trust" responsibilities. In 1990, Murphy stepped down as CEO and handed the responsibility to his longtime colleague, Dan Burke.

Sherwood Schwartz

Sherwood Schwartz is a writer/producer who has been involved with more than 700 television shows, but is still best remembered for two of the most enduring series, Gilligan's Island (1964-1967) and The Brady Bunch (1969-1974). In the 1990s, Schwartz was involved in producing The Brady Bunch Movie and A Very Brady Sequel (1996). He also co-wrote the memorable theme songs for Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch. In March 2008, Schwartz, still ebullient at 91, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Full Interviews the Archive of American Television

Full oral history interviews with Bea Arthur, Larry Gelbart, Tom Murphy and Sherwood Schwartz are available online through the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation's Archive of American Television. Get direct links to the interviews at Archive of American Update blog.

About the 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.

About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

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.