Vanessa Williams to Host Sixth Annual 'TV Land Awards'

NEW YORK (Map) - NEW YORK, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Land today announced that Vanessa Williams, multi-talented actress, singer and star of the current comedy hit "Ugly Betty" has been tapped as host of this year's sixth annual "TV Land Awards." The network also announced that this year's show will honor Mike Myers, Garry Marshall, "Roseanne," "The Golden Girls" and

The "TV Land Awards" is the network's annual salute to the best and brightest in the world of entertainment. This year, the show will feature reunions of some of the most iconic casts from TV, showcase rousing musical performances and the always-popular television show parody, and for the first time ever, honor favorites in movies. Additional honorees will be announced shortly.

"We are thrilled to have Vanessa Williams as the host of this year's 'TV Land Awards'," states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. "Her amazing talent has earned her international recognition and her charm and energy are sure to resonate with TV Land's audience."

All of this year's honorees are pop culture icons representing a cross-section of television and film that people in their 40s continue to love. Among the honorees are:

THE LEGACY OF LAUGHTER AWARD

This is presented to performers who are funny and then funny and then funny again. They create timeless comedy by mixing the strange and the familiar, bringing to life characters, stories and moments that are both comically absurd, and, at some level, completely real. This year's recipient is Mike Myers. Last year, this award was presented to Lucille Ball for her awe-inspiring work, which continues to serve as an inspiration and a guiding force.

THE LEGEND AWARD

This award is presented to an entertainer who has stood the test of time and ranks among the most memorable and celebrated in TV and movie history. TV Land will honor Garry Marshall as this year's recipient.

THE PIONEER AWARD

Given to performers who have distinguished themselves by pushing back the frontiers of the media and bringing true originality to the world of entertainment, this year's Pioneer award is bestowed upon Jonathan Winters.

INNOVATOR AWARD

This award is presented to a series whose influence is still felt and evident in television today; a show that carved our new territory, redefining elements of the genre and opening new pathways for others to follow. TV Land will honor "Roseanne" as this year's recipient.

THE POP CULTURE AWARD

This award is presented to a show that has crossed the line from television series to pop culture phenomenon. This year's honoree is "The Golden Girls."

About Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams has maintained a reputation as one of the most respected and multi-faceted entertainers in the world, amassing accomplishments and accolades, one after another. She has conquered the musical charts, Broadway, music videos, television and motion pictures. She has sold over four million albums worldwide and her skills as an actress on stage, in film and on television have earned praise from the most seasoned of critics.

Her role as the deliciously wicked Wilhelmina Slater on ABC's critically-acclaimed hit series, "Ugly Betty" has taken her career to even new heights and further establishing her as a pop culture icon. Williams, her co-stars and the show have won or been nominated for numerous individual and ensemble awards, including the Emmy, SAG Award, Golden Globe and NAACP Image Awards.

In addition to her successful television career, Williams has earned multiple Grammy nominations, has starred in Tony Award-winning Broadway shows including "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and firmly established her as a well-rounded, multi-talented triple-threat, dazzling audiences nightly with her acting, singing and dancing. In 2002, Vanessa starred in "Into the Woods," where earned her first Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

Vanessa won the NAACP Image Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress for her starring role in the 20th Century Fox 1997 release, "Soul Food," with Nia Long and Vivica A. Fox. The film was a box-office success, winning the Image Award for Best Motion Picture.

Michael Levitt ("TV Land Awards," "Billboard Music Awards," "Producers Guild Awards") is executive producer, Emmy-award winning Jeff Margolis as director ("Academy Awards," "American Music Awards," "Screen Actors Guild Awards"), Greg Sills serves as supervising producer ("VH1 Rock Honors," "The Teen Choice Awards," "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards") and TV Land's Sal Maniaci and Larry W. Jones are executive producers.

Online press registration is open now and accessible at www.tvlandpress.com (click on the TV Land Awards icon at the bottom of the home page).

About TV Land:

TV Land is dedicated to presenting the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Armed with a slate of original programming, acquired classic shows, hit movies and full-service web site, TV Land is now seen in over 90 million U.S. homes. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, please visit TV Land's press-only web site at www.tvlandpress.com.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM

MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.