[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11474-S11475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Academy 
of Television Arts and Sciences as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  The television industry reflects so much of what we are as Americans. 
The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences--with its annual Emmy 
Award--recognizes the positive impact television makes on so much of 
our everyday life.
  I'm an avid channel surfer at home, so I watch a fair amount of 
television. I know how positive a messenger television can be--whether 
explaining the spread of a deadly disease, bringing us up-to-the-minute 
reports of world events, or simply making us laugh during a half-hour 
situation comedy when our day has ended and we're ready to take a 
break.
  The people and programs honored with the Emmy Award are a permanent 
part of our country's history.
  Just listen to some of the who's who's list of recipients of the 
acting awards in the comedy field alone: Lucille Ball--four time 
recipient--Red Skelton, Danny Thomas, Eve Arden, Jack Benny, Shirley 
Booth, Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Julie Andrews, 
and today's recent recipients Candace Bergen--five time recipient--
Kelsey Grammer, and Helen Hunt. The programs honored--``Dick Van 
Dyke'', ``The Odd Couple'', ``All in the Family'', ``Get Smart'', 
``Taxi'', and ``Barney Miller''--show just why the programming of 
``Nick at Nite'' is so popular with people trying to recapture the 
classic days of comedy.
  The drama programs honored over the years also give us a snapshot of 
American life at the time the programs aired: ``Studio One'', 
``Gunsmoke'', ``The Fugitive'', ``Mission Impossible'', ``Marcus Welby, 
M.D.'', ``Masterpiece Theatre'', ``The Waltons'', and the modern-day 
``Hill Street Blues'' and ``E.R.'' Who can forget the Waltons' powerful 
message of family persevering through the Depression or who can forget 
how ``Hill Street Blues'' showed us the life of a police officer like 
we had never seen it before.
  For all that is good, educational and powerful on television, I am 
pleased to pay a small part in honoring the academy and the entire 
television industry for its work.

[[Page S11475]]

  As the Senior Senator for California, I also know how vital the 
entertainment industry is to my home State, where more than 150,000 
people are employed in more than 1,000 entertainment-related companies.

  The academy, itself, was founded in 1946 by Syd Cassyd, and elected a 
year later Edgar Bergan as president. Under his direction, the academy 
first produced the Emmy Awards in 1948. The organization went national 
when it merged with the New York Academy in 1947 with Ed Sullivan as 
its first president.
  The academy continued to expand adding new chapters throughout the 
United States.
  Today, with 9,000 members, the academy is the largest organization in 
the television industry. In addition to the Emmys for which it is best 
known, the academy also runs an intern program for college students 
interested in film and holds student film competitions. In 1984, the 
academy formed its first steering committee on drug and alcohol abuse 
and began its work with a 2-day seminar in Washington, DC with First 
Lady Nancy Reagan. A decade later, the academy sponsored another 
meeting--this one focusing on the information superhighway--with our 
Vice President, Al Gore.
  Mr. President, it is an honor and a privilege to acknowledge the 
accomplishments of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as a 
leader in the entertainment industry. I commend the academy on its 
growth and creativity over the past 50 years and I look forward to the 
next 50.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask that I might be able to speak for 
about 10 minutes in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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