TV NEWS
ABC's 50th Anniversary
| ABC WILL CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN A SPECTACULAR, THREE-HOUR TELECAST FEATURING A STELLAR ARRAY OF STARS FROM THE PAST AND PRESENT |
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Hollywood Event Will Bring Alive 50
Years of Television History
The ABC Television Network will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special, three-hour telecast set to air this spring, featuring five decades of television history as seen through the prism of the ABC Television Network. The telecast will include entertaining, dramatic and thrilling moments from all aspects of the past 50 years of ABC television, including news, sports, drama, comedy, music and events. The event will tape at the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday, March 16, and is set to air in May 2003. Award-winning executive producer Don Mischer (Opening Ceremonies of the Salt Lake Olympics and Barbra Streisand’s Millennium Concert) will create and executive produce the special. When it began broadcasting on February 9, 1953, ABC was the third national television network to hit the airwaves. However it went on to many firsts: ABC was the first network to air a series starring an African-American; the first network to feature a female news anchor; the first network to air a series starring an openly gay lead; the first network to air a police drama in primetime, and many more. The 50th Anniversary special will commemorate the network’s rich history as a forerunner in the evolution of television programming, making bold, innovative decisions and taking risks. “Television has an extraordinary impact on our lives, and the role of the ABC Television Network in entertaining and informing the American people over the past half-century is an amazing story that we look forward to sharing with our viewers,” said Alex Wallau, president, ABC Television Network. “ABC’s role in the history of television is very significant - in sports, news and entertainment, ABC led the way and set the bar very high. We hope to give viewers a chance to relive some of the most memorable moments in television, with humor, poignancy and emotion,” said executive producer Don Mischer. Celebrating entertainment, sports and news, the following is a brief list of the featured programs and highlights that will be a part of the 50th Anniversary Special: ABC Primetime: * ABC's landmark series - from "Ozzie & Harriet"
to "Happy Days" to "NYPD Blue" ABC Sports: * Olympics coverage - including stunning events
such as Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10 score ABC Daytime: * Drama series - “General Hospital,” “Dark Shadows,” “One Life to Live,” “Ryan’s Hope,” “All My Children,” “Port Charles,” etc. ABC News: * ABC News’ stellar cast of news anchors and
correspondents - John Daly, Howard K. Smith, Harry Reasoner, Frank
Reynolds, Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel, Diane Sawyer, etc.
It was taped last night (Sunday, March 16th, 2003) with many stars on hand and will air in May on ABC, I'll name a FEW who attended from some classic series: Three's Company: John Ritter, Jenilee Harrison, Priscilla Barnes Happy Days: Henry Winkler, Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Don Most, Erin Moran Leave it to Beaver: Jerry Mathers and Ken Osmond Brady Bunch: Barry Williams, Florence Henderson, Ann B. Davis, Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen, Christopher Knight Soap: Robert Guillaume and Katherine Helmond Barney Miller: Hal Linden, Ron Glass Family Matters: Jaleel White, Telma Hopkins Welcome Back, Kotter: Robert Hegyes, Marcia Strassman Some other notable stars: Alan Thicke, Tracy Gold, Amy Davisdon, Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Danielle Fishel, Emmanuel Lewis, Joan Collins, John Stamos, Lee Majors, LeVar Burton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Roseanne, Tim Allen, Debbe Dunning, Susan Lucci, Stefanie Powers, Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Bernie Kopell, Jennifer Garner and SO many more! This will be a MUST see this May on ABC! |