The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced today that "Jeopardy!" game show icon, Alex Trebek and Florence Henderson, stage and television star of "Oklahoma" and "The Brady Bunch," will host the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy® Awards today, April 24, 2015. The reception and presentation will take place at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m.
In addition, this year's Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement will be presented to producer, director, Michael Gargiulo, who in his over 50-year career has had a hand in many television classics such as "Password," "I've Got A Secret," "The Tell the Truth," The
THANKSGIVING Day's Parade," the "Tournament of Roses," plus many variety specials for CBS, including the "New Year's Eve Celebration" for more than 30 years."
"I feel like we have garnered two icons of television royalty in having
Alex Trebek and
Florence Henderson as co-hosts for our grand celebration of the best in the craft of television at this year's Daytime Creative Arts gala," said Bob Mauro, President, NATAS. "Adding Producer/Director Michael Gargiulo as our lifetime achievement honoree to the evening's festivities with his over-half a century of Emmy-Award winning work guarantees a terrific evening as we honor the best in daytime television."
"Michael Gargiulo is a behind the camera pioneer that goes back to his days with television
LEGENDS Bob Stewart and Mark Goodson," said
David Michaels, Senior Vice President, Daytime. "From his historic recording of the Nixon Khrushchev "kitchen debate" to the "$10,000 Pyramid," Michael Gargiulo has produced and directed just about everything in a career that includes game shows, variety specials and news. We're delighted to be honoring him with this well-deserved lifetime achievement award."
Alex TrebekAlex Trebek has hosted nearly 7,000 episodes of "Jeopardy" since its
Syndicated debut in 1984. Over the past 31 years, he has become one of television's most enduring and iconic figures, engaging millions of viewers worldwide with his impeccable delivery of "answers and questions."
Trebek made his American television debut in 1973 as the host of the
NBC game show "The Wizard of Odds." After several other hosting roles, Trebek was chosen to host "Jeapardy." He was a hit with viewers and quickly became a pop culture icon. He has been honored with a coveted star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Canadian Walk of Fame in Toronto, making him one of only a handful of entertainers honored by both the United States and Canada. In 2013, Trebek was ranked #8 in a "Reader's Digest" poll of
THE 100 Most Trusted People in America.
In addition to his hosting duties, Trebek has a long-standing commitment with numerous charities and educational organizations. In 2013, he was awarded the Alexander
Graham Bell medal from the National Geographic Society for his 25 years as host of the National Geographic Bee. Trebek has participated in 13 USO tours and was a recipient of the USO
Bob Hope Award for his achievements in entertainment and commitment to America's troops. With World Vision, Trebek has traveled to many Third World countries reporting on the group's efforts on behalf of children around the world. He has traveled with his family to Zambia, where he adopted a village and helped build a school, homes for teachers, and a medical facility.
In 2013, Trebek was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and he was also honored as one of the "Giants of Broadcasting," a designation awarded by the Library of American Broadcasting. Trebek and "Jeopardy" received the Peabody Award in 2011 for "encouraging, celebrating and rewarding knowledge"; that same year, Trebek received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Additionally, Trebek has won five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host.
Trebek and his wife, Jean, live in Studio City, California. They have two adult children, Emily and Matthew.
Florence HendersonFlorence Henderson has endured as one of the most beloved American entertainers of the last six decades. Henderson began her career when she arrived with suitcase in hand to try out for the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York at age 17.
Florence passed her audition at the American Academy, but lasted there only for a year before a Broadway job beckoned. Florence had mixed feelings about leaving school, but an administrator set her straight, "What, are you crazy?!! That's why you're here!" From a role in the chorus of "Josh Logan's Wish You Were Here," Florence was discovered and became a protégé of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein and embarked on the national tour of "Oklahoma" in the lead role of Laurie. From there, her name was soon above the Broadway marquis in "Fanny." Leading roles would follow in major productions of "The Sound of Music," "The Girl Who Came to Supper," (Noel Coward's last play), "South Pacific," and "The King and I," among others.
The emerging medium of television piqued her interest, and Florence soon accepted the job as the "Today Show" Girl, sitting alongside pioneering broadcaster Dave Garraway as a female anchor (and would be succeeded by
Barbara Walters when she left). Florence was also a mainstay on live performance shows like "
Ed Sullivan," the "Bell Television Hour" and others. Later, her ability to match wits as well as sing made her a favorite of
Dean Martin and
Johnny Carson (becoming the first woman to guest host his show). Her competitive nature also came out in her love of game shows, and regular appearances on shows like "Hollywood Squares" and "Password" also reinforced her appeal as a personality. But that was all a warm up for mega-popular "The Brady Bunch," the television series that has remarkably not left the airwaves in syndication since it ceased production in 1974 after 117 episodes. Aired in over 122 countries, "The Brady Bunch" was an opportunity that Florence initially viewed as lukewarm at best. But the series about the blended family with its trademark tick tack toe opening credits hit an immediate chord with the American public. Carol Brady became one of the most popular mothers in television history.
In the aftermath of "The Brady Bunch,"
Florence Henderson continued to star in major theatrical productions, headline in Las Vegas and performs live, at major venues around the country. Today, she stars in her autobiographical one woman show, "All the Lives of Me," which takes her audience from her hardscrabble childhood in Indiana through each chapter of her career and personal life to the present.
Florence was inducted into the Smithsonian Institute's first permanent "Entertainment History Exhibit,"as one of the greatest pop cultural icons of all time in November 2008 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. Her memoir, "Life Is Not a Stage," is published by Center Street/Hachette Book Group.
Michael Gargiulo
Michael Gargiulo was born and raised in Coney Island and lived above his father's restaurant, where bands and variety talent appeared regularly. Down the block, was a strip joint and a side show. It seemed only fitting that a career in showbiz was in his making!
In 1954, Gargiulo was hired by WNBC as a staff director and did most all of the local shows in New York until 1959 when
NBC selected him to join the State Department project to build a television studio in Moscow and introduce color television to the Russian people during a cultural exchange. It was in this studio that
NIKITA Khrushchev and Richard Nixon had their famous "kitchen debate", which Mike recorded and rushed back to
NBC , who shared them with
CBS and
ABC within hours.... the start, perhaps, of the modern-day, televised political debates. Back in New York, he did a takeoff of an American staple, renamed, "The Ruble is Right," which was his friend
Bob Stewart's show. It received a very positive review in The New York Times. Mark Goodson read about it and it was the start of Mike's game show career. He did a pilot for "Password" and went on to produce and direct the show for many years to come. At Goodson-Todman, he also directed "Match Game," "I've Got a Secret," "To Tell the Truth," and "The Price is Right." In 1969, Mike joined
Bob Stewart Productions to direct "Jackpot" on NBC, and later, the "$10,000 Pyramid." During this career, Michael Gargiulo also had a flair for variety shows, which became the vogue in the early 1960's.
Victor Borge hired him to direct his music and comedy special featuring the jazz version of "Peter and the Wolf." He also returned to Russia for "The Leningrad Ice Show," and later to Las Vegas for a second
NBC special featuring the Igor Moiseyev contemporary dance company, hosted by
Orson Welles. Gargiulo has also become legendary in his producing and directing of the Tournament of Roses and
THANKSGIVING Day Parades plus variety specials for CBS, including the New Year's Eve celebration for more than 30 years. He recently directed "An American Portrait", a series of one minute spots, honoring someone who contributed to the fabric of our society. For two years, every weekday evening, one American was honored, for one minute, coast to coast. Gargiulo has accrued 31 nominations and 9 Emmy Awards in his storied career. He notes that none of this would be possible without the support of his wife of over half a century, Dorothy and his children; daughter Susan at Nickelodeon, and son Michael, an anchor at WNBC in New York.
About The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Award for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime Entertainment, Daytime Creative Arts & Entertainment, Public & Community Service, and Technology & Engineering. NATAS membership consists of over 14,000 broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the country. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including Regional Student Television and its Student Award for Excellence for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public. For more information, please visit the website at www.emmyonline.tv
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