The Rhythm Gets Going With an Unforgettable Musical Opening and a Tribute to Television's Favorite Theme Songs Performed by Today's Top Television and Music Personalities in a New Contest Called "Emmy Idol" on the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards
FOR RELEASE SEPT. 6:
The Black Eyed Peas and Earth, Wind & Fire Open Broadcast with Performance of "September," Accompanied by Clips of the Year's Most Memorable Television Events
Kristen Bell, Gary Dourdan, Megan Mullally, William Shatner, Donald Trump, Macy Gray and Frederica von Stade to Perform on "Emmy Idol;" Viewers to Vote for Favorite During Broadcast
Emmys Telecast Set to Air Sept. 18 On CBS
North Hollywood, CA, September 6, 2005 – Television fans will "get in tune" with this year's Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast with an unforgettable musical opening by The Black Eyed Peas and Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as a new contest in tribute to television's favorite theme songs entitled "Emmy Idol," with performances by Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars"), Gary Dourdan ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"), Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Macy Gray, Emmy Award winner and current nominee Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"), Emmy Award winner and current nominee William Shatner ("Boston Legal"), real estate mogul and current Emmy nominee Donald Trump ("The Apprentice") and famed opera star Frederica von Stade. THE 57TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY® AWARDS will be broadcast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 18 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Grammy Award-winning groups The Black Eyed Peas and Earth Wind & Fire will open the broadcast asking "Do you remember?" with their performance of Earth, Wind & Fire's great hit, "September." The song, aptly named for the longtime broadcast date of the Primetime Emmy Awards and the traditional start of the fall television season, will accompany clips of some of this past season's most memorable television moments.
Throughout the show, in an "American Idol"-esque contest entitled "Emmy Idol," today's top television and music personalities will trigger fans' memories of some of their favorite television theme songs. Bell will perform the theme song from "Fame." Dourdan and Gray will join forces to perform "Movin' On Up" from "The Jeffersons." Mullally and Trump will together perform the theme song from "Green Acres." Shatner and von Stade will team up to perform the theme to "Star Trek." During the live broadcast, viewers can log onto www.cbs.com to vote for their favorite of the theme songs performed during "Emmy Idol." They will also be able to vote via text message. The winner will be announced toward the end of the broadcast.
"There are certain television theme songs that are nearly as memorable as the shows connected to them," said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of THE 57TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS. "By jogging memories as well as creating wonderful moments by having them performed on this year's Emmy show, we think we're giving viewers one more reason to tune in and be entertained. I think we've got some great television moments in this year's broadcast, and our 'Emmy Idol' performances are just the tip of the iceberg."
The Black Eyed Peas sold 7.5 million albums worldwide and won a Grammy Award for their 2003 breakthrough album, Elephunk. The hip-hop quartet consists of members will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo. Monkey Business, the group's current platinum-selling CD, spans a hip-hop spectrum from pop to surf to soul.
Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most influential, innovative and commercially omnipotent contemporary pop music bands of the 20th century. Their 35-year history has produced millions of albums sold worldwide, including eight double-platinum albums, two platinum albums, three gold albums, five #1 R&B albums, one #1 pop albums, eight Top 10 Pop albums and eight #1 R&B singles. The group has earned eight Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, honors from the NAACP and BET, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Earth Wind & Fire remains to this day one of the top globally-popular touring attractions with a catalog of mega-hits spanning over three decades. The legendary band will release their 23rd career album, Illumination, on September 20, 2005.
Kristen Bell stars as Veronica Mars in the acclaimed UPN drama series by the same name. Bell's television movie credits include "Reefer Madness," based on the hit play in which she starred Off Broadway, and lead roles in "Gracie's Choice" and "The King and Queen of Moonlight Bay." Her television series credits include a recurring role on "Deadwood" and guest-starring roles in "American Dreams," "The Shield" and "Everwood." Bell stars in the upcoming feature films "Pulse" and "50 Pills." She also starred in the film "Spartan." Her theater credits include "The Crucible" and "Tom Sawyer" on Broadway, as well as "A Little Night Music" and "Sneaux."
Gary Dourdan currently stars as Warrick Brown on the hit CBS drama, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." He won a 2003 NAACP Image Award as Best Supporting Actor for this role and has been nominated for the role every year since in the Best Actor category. He has also appeared in numerous other television roles including, "Soul Food," "Muhammad Ali: King of the World," "Swift Justice," "New York Undercover," "Cold Feet" and "Beggars and Choosers." Among Dourdan's feature film credits are "Impostor," "Alien Resurrection," "Playing God," "Scarred City," "New Jersey Turnpikes" and "The Weekend."
Macy Gray received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1999 for her hit single, "I Try," off her debut album, On How Life Is... She will soon release her fourth album, BIG. Gray appeared in this year's Emmy-nominated television movie "Lackawana Blues" and will next be seen in the feature films "Domino," "Shadowboxer" and "Speakerboxx." Her other television credits include "MDs" and "American Dreams," and she will soon guest star in "The Missing." Her feature film credits include "Training Day," "Spider Man," "Scary Movie 3," "The Crow: Wicked Prayer" and "Around the World in 80 Days." In addition to her acting and music careers, Gray has proliferated into the world of fashion, creating Natalie Hinds Clothing (after her real name). This fall, Gray will also open the doors to her own music school, the M. Gray Music Academy in North Hollywood, Calif.
Megan Mullally can be seen weekly as Karen Walker on the hit series "Will & Grace," a role for which she has garnered 3 SAG Awards, an Emmy Award, and a current Emmy nomination. Megan Mullally made her Broadway debut in the 1994 revival of "Grease" and then starred in the Broadway revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Mullally is also a distinguished recording artist. Her band, Supreme Music Program, has recently performed at The Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Seattle Symphony.
William Shatner won his first Emmy Award for his recurring role on "The Practice," a role which he is reprising as a series regular on "Boston Legal" and for which he is currently nominated for an Emmy Award. Shatner began his career on the stage and later guest starred in numerous television programs including "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Mission: Impossible," among others. In 1966, Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the groundbreaking television series "Star Trek." Shatner also played the title role in the hit series "T.J. Hooker" before hosting the CBS series "Rescue 911." Shatner's feature film credits include seven of the "Star Trek" motion pictures as well as "Airplane II: The Sequel," "Loaded Weapon 1" and both installments of the "Miss Congeniality" franchise. He has also directed numerous feature films, television movies and series. Shatner serves as the spokesman for Priceline.com, has authored over 20 bestselling books in both the fiction and non-fiction genres and also has a career in horse breeding.
Donald J. Trump is the definition of the American success story with interests in real estate, gaming, sports and entertainment. The Chairman and President of The Trump Organization, he is currently the Emmy-nominated star and co-producer of the reality television series, "The Apprentice." He also co-owns the broadcast rights for the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants. In 2004, his radio program broke all syndication records. In New York City, Trump owns such famous addresses as the Fifth Avenue skyscraper, Trump Tower, Trump International Hotel & Tower, Trump World Tower, 40 Wall Street and Trump Park Avenue. He also develops properties nationwide and owns four award-winning golf courses. Trump has also authored seven books, all of which have become bestsellers, and has launched Trump World Magazine, Trump University Online and a licensing program which includes a line of menswear.
Frederica von Stade has enriched the world of classical music for three decades with her appearances in opera, concert and recital. The mezzo-soprano is known to audiences around the world through her numerous featured appearances on television including several PBS specials and "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcasts. She has made over 60 recordings with every major label, including complete operas, aria albums, symphonic works, solo recital programs and popular crossover albums. Her recordings have garnered six Grammy nominations and numerous other awards. In 2000, the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut with a new production of "The Merry Widow" created specifically for her. von Stade currently stars in the L.A. Opera production of "The Grand Duchess."
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The 57TH Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards is being produced by Ken Ehrlich Productions and is presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer; Michael B. Seligman and Renato Basile are the producers; Danette Herman is the coordinating producer and executive in charge of talent. Bruce Gowers will direct. Nominations for the 57TH Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards were announced July 14, live from the Television Academy’s Leonard H. Goldstein Theatre in North Hollywood.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946 just one month after network television was born. It is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry. In addition to recognizing outstanding programming through its Emmy® Award, the Television Academy publishes Emmy® Magazine.
For additional press information and resources concerning the Primetime Emmy Awards or the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, please direct your inquiries to Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group at (323) 965-1990.
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Press Contacts:
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The Lippin Group for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
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