Last night, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame Committee inducted television legends actress Candice Bergen, art director Charles Lisanby, announcer Don Pardo, comedians Tom and Dick Smothers and game show creator Bob Stewart into the Television Academy’s esteemed Hall of Fame.
The legacy of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry continues to flourish after he was honored posthumously at the annual event. After a memorable introduction by sci-fi enthusiast Seth MacFarlane, his son Rod Roddenberry accepted the honor. Amy Poehler, SNL alum and star of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, hosted the evening.
Presenters Seth MacFarlane, Betty White, Diane English, Rob Reiner, Lorne Michaels, Television Academy Chairman & CEO John Shaffner and Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chair Mark Itkin, plus guests Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Elisabeth Moss and Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, Kathryn Joosten, Dule Hill, Carl Reiner, Jo Anne Worley, Amy Aquino, Walter Koenig, Alex Trebek and more.
This year’s inductees join more than 100 individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the television medium and have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1984.
Founded by former Television Academy president John H. Mitchell, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame has honored on-camera legends and pioneering directors, producers, costume designers, writers, animators, executives, reporters and documentarians/explorers. Past honorees include Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Walter Cronkite, Walt Disney, Bob Hope, Mary Tyler Moore, Barbara Walters, Dan Rather, Oprah Winfrey, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Lorne Michaels, Carl Reiner, Katie Couric, Bob Mackie, Bob Barker, Bea Arthur, Bill Cosby, Regis Philbin and William Shatner.