Marlo Thomas Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
Presenters and attendees included Atsuko Okatsuka, Jodi Balfour, Bishop Briggs, Rachel Lindsay, Keltie Knight, Rose McIver, Kerri Kasem, Ellen K, and Harriet Dyer
Diane Warren and Shayna Zaid Delivered Breathtaking Performance
Los Angeles, CA. (May 23, 2023) – The 48th Annual Gracie Awards, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media
Foundation
(AWMF), illuminated the night with an extraordinary celebration of women in
media held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The evening honored the exceptional
talent that have left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring audiences,
and revolutionizing storytelling.
Inside
the gala, a powerful atmosphere prevailed, showcasing stories of triumph, civil
rights activists, and women who are actively shifting culture through their
narratives. The winners of this year’s Gracie Awards embody the spirit and
courage exemplified by Gracie Allen, and they serve as a reminder of the
invaluable contributions women make in shaping our media landscape.
Marlo Thomas, renowned for her groundbreaking role as
television’s first independent single woman in “That Girl” and
revered as a Founding Mother of the Ms. Foundation for Women, was honored with
the distinguished Lifetime Achievement
Award. Tony Thomas, brother of
Marlo and an Academy Award nominated television and film producer, presented
the award to her.
Additional
presenters and attendees included influential figures such as Atsuko Okatsuka, Jodi Balfour, Bishop Briggs, Keltie Knight, Kerri
Kasem, Ellen K, Hallie Sahar, Harriet Dyer, Julie Carmen, Lily Moore, Rose
McIver, Terri J. Vaughn, Chelsea Gilligan, Sharon Carpenter, and Medalion Rahimi. A special
musical performance by 14-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren and Shayna Zaid,
enthralled the audience, reminding everyone of the power of music in
storytelling. EXTRA’s correspondent, Rachel
Lindsay, served as the Gracie Awards social media ambassador, and the
ceremony was executive produced by Vicangelo
Bulluck.
This
year’s Gracies Awards also shined a spotlight on the incredible achievements of
women directors and writers. Their talent and dedication were celebrated,
emphasizing the critical roles they play in shaping the cultural landscape
through their storytelling.
NOTABLE
MOMENTS
- Marlo Thomas during her lifetime award acceptance
speech said: “All of these memories are
nutrition for the soul. And events like this one created by women and
recognizing women are our nutrition. You see examples of others who are finding
their voices. We hear their dreams and
share their stories. They give us life.They give us enthusiasm that we can
continue to make new dreams.”
- Miranda Kwok (The Cleaning Lady),
winner of the Writer Scripted – Drama category, said: “I stand here in solidarity with my fellow writers as we fight for fair
treatment and compensation and the simple recognition that the soul of a writer
cannot be replaced with Artificial Intelligence. As writers, our goal is
to enlighten and inspire, to reach hearts and minds, to build compassion and
understanding, and to effect change for the betterment of humanity.”
- Presenter
Rachel Lindsay introduced the women
directors moment with a powerful tribute, recognizing their vital role in
shaping on-screen stories following an unprecedented number of submissions
saying, “An interesting fact, most people
don’t know that women directors were vital to the beginning of cinematic
storytelling. But when movies became big business in the 1920’s, the male
dominated studio system created monopolies that pushed out female and minority
led independent film companies.”
- Michelle Miller (48 Hours: “Katrina
Brownlee: The Good Cop”), News Magazine [TV – National] category, said: “I want you to know I’m not old enough to
remember Gracie Allen, but I am old enough to remember her husband, George Burns. I remember him
telling stories of this incredible woman, his late wife, adoring stories, but
also kind of mischievous ones. And I thought she’s been dead 20 years, and yet
he still talks about her like she’s here in this moment. She had to be one heck
of a fine lady. One heck of a fine lady. One heck of an extraordinary lady…”
At
its core, the Gracie Awards Gala supports AWMF’s charitable efforts. As a
non-profit organization, AWMF is dedicated to creating educational programs,
charitable activities, and scholarship initiatives that benefit women in the
media. By investing in these initiatives, AWMF continues to foster growth,
empowerment, and leadership opportunities for women across the industry.
Below,
please find links to access house footage, which includes b-roll of arrivals;
interviews with honorees and presenters; clips from the ceremony; and more.
Video Credit – Getty Images Video
Photo Credit – Getty on behalf of The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation
Sponsors
of The Gracies include Hallmark Media, American Urban Radio Network, Bloomberg,
CBS News, CNN, Disney, ESPN, Fox Sports, Katz Media Group, NBCUniversal News
Group, NCTA: The Internet & Television Association, Peacock, Premiere
Networks, Apple Music, Fishers Finery, and Romano Law.
To view a
complete list of award recipients and honorable mentions, visit allwomeninmedia.org. The local
and student award-winners will be recognized at the Gracie Awards
Luncheon on June 20
at Cipriani in NYC.
About
The Gracie Awards
The
Gracies Awards is the largest fundraiser of the Alliance for Women in Media
Foundation which advances women in media through educational programs and
scholarships. The Gracie Awards honors exemplary programming and individual
talent created by, for and about women. The Alliance for Women in Media
Foundation has created partnerships and joint initiatives with the Emma Bowen
Foundation, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NCTA – The Cable
and Telecommunications Association and other organizations that are
philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. For more
information about The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and the Gracie
Awards please visit allwomeninmedia.org and follow on Twitter
(@AllWomeninMedia), (#TheGracies), Instagram (@allwomeninmedia) and Facebook.
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Press Contacts
The Samonte Group
Michael Samonte and Alyssa Kind (Furnari)
Michael@SamonteGroup.com; Alyssa@SamonteGroup.com