The Gracies

The Gracie Awards celebrate and honor programming created for women, by women, and about women, as well as individuals who have made exemplary contributions in electronic media and affiliates. Presented annually, the Gracie Awards recognize national, local and student works. [ [http://www.awrt.org/awards/gracies.html/ The Gracie Awards] ]

History

The Gracie Awards ceremony is presented by the American Women in Radio and Television. The awards are named after radio and television star Gracie Allen. Gracie was a successful comedienne, entertainer, entrepreneur and activist. As half of the Burns an Allen act, one of the most prominent comedy teams in American history, Gracie has always been a role model for women in media and entertainment.

The Gracie Awards are divided into two days, a gala and a luncheon. The Gracie Awards Gala is a black tie evening affair and awards individuals in the national and mainstream arena. The Gracie Awards Gala has been regularly held at the Marriott Marquis on Broadway in New York City. The Gracie Awards Luncheon, a more casual affair, honors local and student works and has been held at the signature New York landmark Tavern on the Green for the past few years. [ [http://www.awrt.org/awards/gracies.html/ The Gracie Awards Location] ]

In 2004, AWRT partnered with Dove and their Campaign for Real Beauty. The following year, the first Dove Real Beauty Award was presented at the Gracie Awards Gala to Oprah and Friends talk show Host and The Oprah Magazine's Editor-at-Large Gayle King. The award is presented to women who embody and demonstrate real beauty through their lives and careers [ [http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/press.asp?id=6764&section=news&target=press&src=InTheNews_Award/ Campaign for Real Beauty] ]

Categories

Outstanding Anchor News-News Magazine
Outstanding Interactive Website
Outstanding Portrait/Biography Programming
Outstanding Special Program
Outstanding Public Affairs Program
Outstanding Public Service Announcement
Outstanding Commercial – Single Entry
Outstanding Drama
Outstanding Feature – Soft News
Outstanding Feature – Hard News
Outstanding Director – Entertainment Series or Special
Outstanding Documentary – Short Format
Outstanding Documentary – Mid-length Format
Outstanding Documentary – Long Format
Outstanding Producer – Entertainment Series or special
Outstanding Producer – News Series or Special
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Mini Series
Outstanding Female Lead – Drama Series
Outstanding Female Lead – Mini Series
Outstanding Host – News Program
Outstanding Host – Entertainment
Outstanding Host – Information

Participants

Gala Hosts from 2005-2008
Paula Zahn, Megan Mullally, Lesley Visser, Giulianna Rancic

Gala Performers from 2005-2008
Gloria Gaynor, Miri Ben-Ari, Dance Times Square, Onyx, Elisabeth Withers-Mendez, Dwana Smallwood, Girl Scouts Chorus of Nassau County, Taylor Swift, Dianne Reeves, Melissa Pabon Dancers, Darlin Garcia

Luncheon Hosts from 2005-2008
Rene Syler, Roz Abrams(twice), Nancy Giles

Luncheon Keynote Speakers
Geraldine Laybourne, Laureen Ong, The Satellite Sisters, Jessica Weiner [ [http://www.awrt.org/awards/gracies.html/ The Gracie Awards] Dove Real Beauty Award
Lisa Ling 2008 Honoree, Joy Behar 2007 Honoree, Linda Ellerbee 2006 Honoree, Gayle King 2005 Honoree

Winners, Presenters, and Attending Guests

Many television and radio executives and personalities attend The Gracies Gala to honor their peers and excellence in their fields. Previous attendees include:
Roz Abrams, Journalist; Cindy Adams, Columnist, "New York Post"; Marcellus Alexander, EVP, National Association of Broadcasters; Layla Alizada, Co-Star, Court TV’s "Chasing Freedom"; Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent, CNN; Dr. Maya Angelou and Gayle King, XM’s Oprah & Friends; David Barrett, President & CEO, Hearst-Argyle Television; Maria Bartiromo, News Anchor, CNBC; Lisa Belkin, Host, XM Satellite Radio’s "Life’s Work with Lisa Belkin"; Pierre Bouvard, President, New Ventures/International, Arbitron; Campbell Brown, Anchor, NBC’s "Today Show Weekend Edition"; Darryl Brown, EVP, ABC Radio Networks; Richard Brown, Host, AMC’s "Movies 101"; Martha Byrne, Star, CBS’ "As the World Turns"; Sarah Chalke, Star, Lifetime’s "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy" and NBC’s "Scrubs"; JuJu Chang, Correspondent, ABC News' "20/20"; Jean Chatzky, Host, Harpo Radio’s "Jean Chatzky Show"; Julie Chen, Anchor, CBS News’ "The Early Show"; Jamie Colby, Anchor/Correspondent, Fox News Channel; Heidi Collins, Correspondent and Anchor, CNN; Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005; Rita Cosby, Anchor/Correspondent, MSNBC; Ann Curry, Anchor & Correspondent, NBC News; Laurie David, Executive Producer & Environmentalist; Dominique Dawes, U.S. Olympic Gymnast; Dominick Dunne, Host, Court TV’s "Power, Privilege and Justice" and international best-selling author; Linda Ellerbee, CEO, Lucky Duck Productions; Tina Fey, Star, NBC’s "30 Rock"; Brian Frons, President, ABC Daytime; Nancy Giles, Writer/Contributor CBS News Sunday Morning ; Cheryl Gould, Vice President, NBC News and CNBC; Nancy Grace, Anchor & Host, CNN; Chelsea Handler, Host, "Chelsea Lately"; Chris Hansen, Correspondent, NBC’s "Dateline"; Ted Harbert, President, E! Network; Angel Harvey, Producer, "Paul Harvey News & Comment"; Jill Hennessy, Star, NBC’s "Crossing Jordan"; Mindy Herman, President & CEO, LTM Consulting; Monica Horan, Co-star, CBS’ "Everybody Loves Raymond"; Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Host, Air America’s "Ring of Fire"; Billie Jean King, Tennis Legend and Founder of Women’s Sports Foundation; Gayle King, "O, The Oprah Magazine"; Larry King, Host, CNN’s "Larry King Live"; Lia Knight, Host, Jones Radio Network’s "The Lia Show"; Hoda Kotb, Correspondent, NBC’s "Dateline"; Jane Krakowski, Co-star, NBC’s "30 Rock"; Carson Kressley, Fashion Guru, Bravo’s "Queer Eye"; Lisa Kudrow, Star, HBO’s "The Comeback"; Ali Larter, NBC’s "Heroes"; Mary Laurence Flynn, NBC News; Gerry Laybourne, Chairman & CEO, Oxygen Media; Lara Logan, Correspondent, CBS News; Lynda Lopez, Anchor, WCBS/TV; Susan Lucci, Star, ABC’s "All My Children"; Gail Mancuso, Director, NBC’s "30 Rock"; Leslie Moonves, President & CEO, CBS Corporation; Lisa Myers, Correspondent, NBC’s Nightly News; Niecy Nash, Actress, "Reno 911" and Host of Style Network’s "Clean House"; Soledad O’Brien, Co-anchor CNN’s "American Morning"; Stu Olds, CEO, Katz Media Group; Laureen Ong, President, National Geographic Channel; Suze Orman, Host, CNBC’s "Suze Orman Show"; Katherine Pope, President, NBC Universal Television Studios; Giuliana Rancic, Host, E! News Live; David Rehr, President & CEO, National Association of Broadcasters; Deborah Roberts, Correspondent, ABC’s "20/20"; Chris Rock, Comedian; Jai Rodriguez, Culture Guru, Bravo’s "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"; Al Roker, NBC’s "Today Show"; Kelly Rutherford, CW’s "Gossip Girl"; Satellite Sisters, ABC Radio Networks; John Shaker, SVP, Licensing, BMI; Judy Sheindlin, Host, "Judge Judy"; Bob Schieffer, Anchor, CBS Evening News; Kate Snow and Bill Weir, Co-anchors, ABC News’ "Good Morning America Weekend Edition"; Neal Shapiro, President, NBC News; Debbie Smith, CEO, Walter Kaitz Foundation; Gloria Steinem, Co-founder, "Ms. magazine"; Harry Smith, Hannah Storm and Rene Syler, Co-Hosts, CBS’ "The Early Show"; Tracy Smith, Co-Anchor, CBS News’ "The Saturday Early Show"; Pam Stone, Host, "Pam Stone Show"; Wanda Sykes, HBO’s Special: "Sick and Tired"; Lea Thompson, Correspondent, NBC’s "Dateline"; Meredith Wagner, EVP, Lifetime Television; Brian Williams, Anchor & Managing Editor, NBC News; Paula Zahn, Anchor, CNN; Jeff Zucker, Chief Executive Officer, NBC Universal Television Group and hundreds more. [ [http://www.awrt.org/awards/gracies.html/ The Gracie Awards] See Also

American Women in Radio and Television
George Burns
Broadway
Dove Campaign for Real Beauty

References

External Link

[http://awrt.org/ AWRT]
[http://awrt.org/foundation/index.html/ The Foundation of AWRT]