AMERICAN IDOL to Be Honored with Television Academy's Governors Award

According to Variety, FOX's long-running singing competition AMERICAN IDOL will be honored this fall with The Television Academy's Governors Award, which recognizes exceptional achievement in the television arts and sciences.

In announcing the news, Governors Award selection committee chair Michael Levine commented: "'American Idol' wasn't just a hit show. With its successful integration of social media, dominance of the pop-culture conversation and legions of imitators, it changed television in a profound way. You could meaningfully divide the history of television into 'before American Idol' and 'after American Idol'."

Previous recipients of the Governors Award include A+E Networks, William S. Paley, Hallmark Cards, "Masterpiece Theater," Comic Relief, the ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC networks for" America: A Tribute To Heroes," and the "It Gets Better" Project.

"American Idol" recently signed off the airwaves after 15 seasons. The show debuted in June 2002 and concluded in April. During its run, the one-time juggernaut received 59 Emmy nominations and won eight Emmys. It was created and executive produced by Simon Fuller, and produced by FremantleMedia NORTH AMERICA and 19 Entertainment. The show has produced such superstars as Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

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