IN LIVING COLOR Among Classic Shows Honored at 2012 TV Land Awards

Celebrity icons from television, film and music joined TV Land and host Kelly Ripa for an unforgettable evening tonight at the "TV Land Awards" 10th Anniversary celebration, which returned to New York for the second year in a row! The gala event, which premieres on TV Land on Sunday, April 29 at 9pm ET/PT, honored Aretha Franklin (Music Icon Award) and the casts of "Laverne & Shirley" (Fan Favorite Award), "One Day At A Time" (Innovator Award), "In Living Color" (Groundbreaking Award), "Murphy Brown" (Impact Award) and "Pee-wee's Playhouse" (Pop Culture Award).

Memorable moments in this night of top-notch entertainment included a hilarious opening sketch (with 13 costume changes!) by second-time host Kelly Ripa, who started the show coming down from the ceiling dressed as Catwoman. "Murphy Brown" co-star Faith Ford danced like her alter ego on the show, Corky, while Jim Carrey gave a heartfelt speech when accepting the Groundbreaking Award with his fellow cast members of "In Living Color." The "TV Land Awards" 10th Anniversary also featured amazing performances by Music Icon Award-winner Aretha Franklin singing her hit songs "RESPECT," "Chain of Fools," "I Came To Lift Him Up" and "Ombra Mai Fu,"(some of which will be posted exclusively on TVLand.com). To close the night, the "In Living Color" Fly Girls danced out the show with Kelly Ripa to The B-52's "Rock Lobster."

The tribute awards included the following:

 

THE FAN FAVORITE AWARD

 

"Laverne & Shirley" still lives in the hearts of viewers everywhere and was the recipient of this year's Fan Favorite Award, which goes to a series that's an All-American classic. Presented by Katie Couric, "Laverne & Shirley" stars Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, Michael McKean and David Lander accepted the honor.

 

THE IMPACT AWARD

 

Receiving the Impact Award this year was the cast of "Murphy Brown" - Candice Bergen, Faith Ford, Grant Shaud, Charles Kimbrough and Joe Regalbuto - as well as show creator Diane English. Presented by host Kelly Ripa, The Impact Award is given to a series that offered both entertainment and enlightenment with comedy that reflected reality.

 

THE GROUNDBREAKING AWARD

 

The Groundbreaking Award, given to a series that breaks down barriers in television, was presented to the Emmy(R) Award-winning series "In Living Color" by Whoopi Goldberg. Accepting on behalf of the show was creator and star Keenen Ivory Wayans, as well as Jim Carrey, Tommy Davidson, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Kelly Coffield Park, Kim Wayans, T'Keyah Crystal Keymah, David Alan Grier and former Fly Girls Carrie Ann Inaba, Laurieann Gibson, Lisa Marie Todd, Deidre Lang and Michelle Whitney-Morrison.

 

THE POP CULTURE AWARD

 

The Emmy(R) Award-winning children's series "Pee-wee's Playhouse" has been a staple in pop culture for over 25 years and fittingly received the Pop Culture Award. Paul Reubens, the actor and comedy icon who created the character of Pee-wee Herman, accepted the award on behalf of the series from presenter Mike Myers.

 

THE MUSIC ICON AWARD

 

The Music Icon Award was given to celebrated musician and "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, who brought down the house with four of her hit songs and accepted her award from presenter John Legend, who serenaded her on stage.

 

THE INNOVATOR AWARD

 

Presented by legendary comedienne Fran Drescher, star of TV Land's "Happily Divorced," the Innovator Award was given to the cast of "One Day at a Time." Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips, Pat Harrington, Glenn Scarpelli and Richard Masur accepted the award on behalf of the series.

 

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the "TV Land Awards" pays tribute to classic and contemporary luminaries of television, music and movies. The 90-minute telecast hosted by Kelly Ripa features exhilarating musical performances and reunites some of the most iconic celebrity TV casts.

 

Previous honorees include Regis Philbin, Michael J. Fox, John Travolta, Bill Cosby, Mike Myers, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Garry Marshall, the cast of "Glee," "Desperate Housewives" and the hilarious sitcoms "Cheers," "The Cosby Show," "Family Ties," "The Facts of Life," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Bosom Buddies," "Welcome Back, Kotter," "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "M*A*S*H." Past presenters include Academy Award-winner Halle Berry, Barbara Walters, Justin Timberlake, Ray Romano, Steve Carell, Billy Crystal, Sharon Stone, Robin Williams and Academy Award-nominee Robert Downey, Jr., to name a few. Past musical performers include Liza Minnelli, Stevie Wonder, Blondie, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson and Lionel Richie.

 

Michael Levitt ("Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List," "Billboard Music Awards," "Scream Awards") is executive producer; Five-time Emmy Award-winning Glenn Weiss is director ("Primetime Emmy Awards," "BET Awards," "The Tony Awards"); Greg Sills serves as supervising producer ("VH1 Rock Honors," "The Teen Choice Awards," "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards"); Gary Tellalian is producer and TV Land's Larry W. Jones and Casey Patterson are executive producers. Tim Bruno is executive in charge of production for TV Land.

 

TV Land and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

 

About TV Land

 

TV Land is the programming destination featuring the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Consisting of original programming, classic and contemporary television series acquisitions, hit movies and a full-service Web site, TV Land is now seen in over 98 million U.S. homes.

 

About Viacom

 

Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB) is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in more than 160 countries and territories. With approximately 170 media networks reaching more than 600 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, Spike TV and Tr3s. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming.