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The Paley Center for Media Announces Inaugural Season

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Exploring Media's Impact on our Lives and World

  • NYT Columnist Frank Rich Talks TV and the Iraq War
  • Actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna on Mexico's New World View
  • Bloggers and iReporters on the Rise of Citizen Journalism

Celebrating Comedy, Creativity, and Content

  • Evenings with Carol Burnett, Glenn Close, and Mary Tyler Moore
  • Milestone Celebrations for ER, Scrubs, and Two and a Half Men
  • International Buzz at the Eighth Annual Documentary Festival

New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA—The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio) today released details of its inaugural fall season, Media as Lens, a rich and diverse event series that explores the media's power to inform and entertain through an ever-expanding range of platforms and genres—from online news programming to prime-time sketch comedy.  

This fall season, the Paley Center also examines the creative process behind great entertainment offering a range of star-studded events that give fans and media enthusiasts unprecedented access to the cast, creators, and executives behind the great dramas and comedies of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Also this fall, the Paley Center presents its celebrated annual documentary festival, DocFest07, a salute to the art and creativity of the documentary form.  

Fall 2007 is The Paley Center for Media's inaugural season—one that reflects a renewed commitment to exploring the rapidly changing landscape of news and entertainment media. The thirty-one-year-old institution, formerly known as MTR, was renamed The Paley Center for Media effective June 5, 2007, to better reflect the organization's evolution to a center that explores and illuminates the immense and growing impact of all media on our lives, culture, and society. 

"Media is a part of nearly every conversation we have today; it's the lens through which we view ourselves and others; and it's changing and evolving with increasing rapidity," said Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of The Paley Center for Media. "The Paley Center is media's public square—a place where industry executives and media enthusiasts alike can convene and participate in thought-provoking and entertaining events. Our fall season offers an outstanding roster of events featuring newsmakers, journalists, writers, directors, actors, and producers, as we continue to examine and celebrate the creativity, innovations, personalities, and leaders who are shaping media—and the world—today."  

The Paley Center for Media: New York Events

The Media as News & Views event series brings together journalists, experts, and media executives to explore diverse aspects of the evolving global media landscape. Frank Rich, Dan Rather, and others will examine network coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; NBC's Andrea Mitchell will interview the extraordinary women honored by the International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism awards; and Merrill Brown, chairman of nowpublic.com, and Max Lugavere and Jason Silva of Current TV will lead a discussion with citizen journalists who are transforming news gathering from the bottom up.  

On the entertainment side, events include evenings with Dave Brubeck, Glenn Close, and Mary Tyler Moore; a conversation with the Upright Citizens Brigade with Saturday Night Live star Amy Poehler and Matt Besser; and a discussion with the writing team of the Late Show with David Letterman. Kicking off the fall season are the third annual TV Preview Parties, a series of free public screenings that offer a sneak peek at the hottest new shows of the fall season before their broadcast premieres.

The fall schedule also includes two cutting-edge film festivals: the popular DocFest07, now in its eighth year and Art on Screen. DocFest07 highlights include the US premiere of Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who, with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend scheduled to attend. Art on Screen, presented in collaboration with MUSE Film and Television, is a three-day festival screening award-winning productions from the Montreal International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA).

The Paley Center for Media: Los Angeles Events

In Los Angeles, the Paley Center focuses its Media as Lens series on the growing market of Latino Media, offering two unique events; a look at Mexico's new world view with Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, and Pablo Cruz, and an evening with the cast and creators of the new serial drama Cane.  

A host of dynamic entertainment events include in-person appearances by Carol Burnett, world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsey, and Tom Selleck. Also on the roster are evenings with the cast and creators of Mad Men, Robot Chicken (produced by Seth Green) and Las Vegas starring James Caan, as well as celebrations of milestone events with the stars of some of television's top-rated shows; the 300th episode of ER, the 100th episode of Two and Half Men, and a farewell salute to Scrubs. The season kicks off with its third annual TV Preview Parties, a series of free public screenings that offer a sneak peek at the hottest new shows of the fall season before their broadcast premieres.

Also this fall, the Paley Center continues Media as News & Views in a unique gallery exhibit featuring Middle Eastern programming not readily available in the United States; visitors will see excerpts from comedies, soap operas, dramas, and a special series called Ramadan Primetime. A complete fall schedule for The Paley Center for Media is attached.

The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center examines the intersections between media and society. The general public can access the collection and participate in programs that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information, please visit www.paleycenter.org.

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA NEW YORK: FALL SCHEDULE 2007

For more details and updates, visit www.paleycenter.org

Media as News & Views Series

  • BEYOND THE ANCHOR DESK: THE RISE OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Tuesday, October 9; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

  • EXTRAORDINARY WORK: A CONVERSATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MEDIA FOUNDATION COURAGE IN JOURNALISM HONOREES

Moderated by NBC's Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Andrea Mitchell

Tuesday, October 23; 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Part of the Paley Center's ongoing initiative, She Made It, recognizing groundbreaking women in media

  • TRUTH AND THE IRAQ WAR: FRANK RICH CONVERSES WITH TELEVISION JOURNALISTS

With Dan Rather, Tom Yellin, and others

Tuesday, November 27; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: All 3 events: $60, $35 for Paley Center Members.

Individual event: $25, $15 Paley Center Members

Media as Entertainment Series

  • AN EVENING WITH MARY TYLER MOORE

Thursday, October 11; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Part of the Paley Center's ongoing initiative, She Made It, recognizing groundbreaking women in media.

  • AN EVENING WITH GLENN CLOSE

Tuesday, November 6; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

  • AN EVENING WITH ANGELA LANSBURY

Wednesday, November 14; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

  • AN EVENING WITH KYRA SEDGWICK AND THE CLOSER

Wednesday, December 5; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: All 4 events: $100, $85 for Paley Center Members.

Individual event: $30, $25 Paley Center Members

Comedy Week at the Paley Center

  • UPRIGHT CITIZEN BRIGADE

Thursday, November 8; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

  • THE WRITERS OF THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN

Friday, November 9; 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

  • SCRUBS: THE FAREWELL TOUR

Saturday, November 10; 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: All 3 events: $60, $35 for Paley Center Members.

Individual event: $25, $15 Paley Center Members

Individual Events

  • A SALUTE TO ETHEL MERMAN (Members Only)

Monday, November 5; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

  • TWENTY YEARS OF ALL-SPORTS RADIO: A SALUTE TO WFAN

Monday, November 12; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

  • AN EVENING WITH DAVE BRUBECK

Wednesday, November 28; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS: Individual event $30, $25 Paley Center Members

DOCFEST07

October 24 to November 1, 2007

The Paley Center for Media's annual salute to the art, craft, and history of the documentary form presents an exciting selection of new and noteworthy docs followed by the lively filmmaker Q&As that have become a hallmark of the Festival.

TICKETS: Ticket prices vary; discounts available when purchasing multiple event tickets

ART ON SCREEN

November 30 to December 2, 2007

The Paley Center in collaboration with MUSE Film and Television, will screen award-winning productions from the Montreal International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA). This unique three-day series, Art on Screen, gives New Yorkers the opportunity to see the best of the Festival, as well as meet and interact with the filmmakers themselves, many of whom will be on hand to introduce their work.

TICKETS: 1-day Festival pass $20, $15 Paley Center Members; 2-day Festival pass $30, $25 Paley Center Members; 3-day Festival pass $40, $30 Paley Center Members

NOTE: All New York events take place at The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio), 25 West 52 Street, New York, NY, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA LOS ANGELES: FALL SCHEDULE 2007

For more details and updates, visit www.paleycenter.org

Media as Entertainment—Series # 1

  • TWO AND A HALF MEN: 100th EPISODE CELEBRATION

Wednesday, October 3; 7:00 p.m.

  • American Masters PREMIERE: Carol Burnett

Thursday, October 25; 7:00 p.m.

  • Inside the Creative Process: Tom Selleck on Jesse Stone

Tuesday, November 6; 7:00 p.m.

  • ER CELEBRATES THE BIG 300!

Monday, December 3; 7:00 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: All 4 events: $85, $50 for Paley Center Members. Individual event: $25, $15 Paley Center Members. Tickets on sale beginning September 10, 2007.

Media as Entertainment—Series # 2

  • Inside Robot Chicken

Monday, October 1; 7:00 p.m.

  • Lovin' Las Vegas

Monday, November 5; 7:00p.m.

  • A Night in Hell's Kitchen

Tuesday, November 20; 7:00 p.m.

  • SCRUBS: THE FAREWELL TOUR

Thursday, December 13; 7:00 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: All 4 events: $85, $50 for Paley Center Members.

Individual event: $25, $15 Paley Center Members. Tickets on sale beginning September 10, 2007.

The Subject Is Media

  • Smoke and Sympathy: A Toast to Mad Men

Wednesday, October 10; 7:00 pm

  • Back in Circulation: A Lou Grant Reunion

Friday, November 16; 7:00 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: All 2 events: $43, $25 for Paley Center Members.

Individual event: $25, $15 Paley Center Members. Tickets on sale beginning September 10, 2007.

Latino Media

  • A Conversation with Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna & Pablo Cruz: Cinema, Politics and Mexico's New World View

Date to be announced.

  • Raising Cane: Behind the Scenes

Monday, October 29; 7:00 pm

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: Both events: $43, $25 for Paley Center Members.

Individual event: $25, $15 Paley Center Members. Tickets on sale beginning September 10, 2007.

Gallery Exhibit: Window to the Middle East

Media as News & Views

Exhibit Opens October 10

This unique media exhibit will showcase programming from the Middle East not readily available in this country, to give visitors a window into the region's cultures, beliefs, attitudes, and entertainment. Sources include Al Jazeera, Link TV, Mosaic, as well as material from Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.

NOTE: All Los Angeles events take place at The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio), 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.