News

Kcet topped the list of Los Angeles TV stations with the most wins,10, at the 76th local Emmy Awards handed out by the Television Academy Saturday. It was followed by Kvea and Spectrum News 1 with 4 each, ABC7 and CBS2/KCAL9 with 3 and KTLA5 and Spectrum SportsNet with two.

One of KTLA5’s two Emmys went to the station’s veteran Ktla entertainment reporter Sam Rubin, who died of a heart attack in May. He was recognized for his news coverage of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Three stations split the honors for Regularly Scheduled Newscast in the different day parts: Spectrum News 1 (morning), Kcal (Daytime) and Kvea (evening).

Here is a full list of winners:

Investigative News Story

Student Stabbed CBS2/KCAL9

(Kcal News At 11Pm)

Ross Palombo, Reporter, Writer

Angie Moriconi, Editor, Photographer

Feature Segment

Little Amal (Artbound) Kcet

Nic Cha Kim, Producer

Marley Lister, Associate Producer

Angela Boisvert,...

When Marlee Matlin began her career 35 years ago, she says there was “nothing” in terms of accessibility in the awards industry space. But that’s begun to change, especially following her film Coda’s best picture win in 2022, including at the 2023 Oscars, where she saw a “significant improvement.”

“I’ve seen changes in award shows and how they are perceived by people who attend them, by producers, by the people who make the decisions as to what to present on the air — all the little things,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Coda really was a game changer and made a huge impact in terms of equity, accessibility, and just how people are perceived in general.”

The Oscars, for which Matlin serves on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors, has in the last several years taken the lead among the major Hollywood award shows in its...

“Coda” stars and Oscar winners Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur have been chosen to host the 2023 Media Access Awards on November 7, marking the first time ever that two Deaf performers have presided as hosts over an awards show together. The awards were founded by Norman Lear in 1979 and annually honor artists and film and television projects that are inclusive of disabled characters and actors. This year’s ceremony will be held in Hollywood, airing December 3 at 9 p.m. Pt on Los Angeles public broadcaster Kcet and December 15 at 9 p.m. Pt over PBS SoCal.

Matlin won her Academy Award in 1987 as Best Actress for “Children of a Lesser God,” while Kotsur warned his as Best Supporting Actor in “Coda” starring alongside Matlin.

SEETroy Kotsur wins Best Supporting Actor Oscar for ‘Coda,’ makes history as first Deaf male champion

This year’s honorees were selected by the diversity committees of the...

Coda actors Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin will host the 2023 Media Access Awards next month, marking the first time that two Deaf performers will host an awards show together.

The Media Access Awards, presented by the Media Access Awards and nonprofit disability services provider Easterseals Southern California, honors artists and film and television projects that are inclusive of disabled characters and actors. This year’s awards ceremony is set for Tuesday, November 7 in Hollywood, and will air Sunday, December 3 at 9 p.m. Pt on Kcet, and Friday, December 15 at 8 p.m. Pt on PBS SoCal, with streaming on both websites and on the free PBS App.

“2023 has been another incredible year for on-screen diversity and inclusion for the disabled community,” said co-ceo’s of the Media Access Awards, Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker. “We can’t wait to celebrate these talented individuals once again for their strong efforts in furthering...

Last week Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen, and the first deaf actress to play a Marvel Superhero, Lauren Ridloff hosted the Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services provider Easterseals Southern California.

The virtual event, which was streamed Live on the Emmy Award-winning entertainment and pop culture news source, ExtraTV.com honored Selma Blair, Peter Farrelly, David Zimmerman, Allen Rucker, Sofia Sanchez, As We See It, Love on the Spectrum U.S, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and Only Murders in the Building.

Founded by Norman Lear in 1979, and now spearheaded by Executive Producer Deborah Calla, and writer Allen Rucker, the Media Access Awards is an annual celebration honoring those in film and TV who include disabled characters and actors in their work, the 2022 Media Access Awards paid tribute to those individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the...

The Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services provider Easterseals Southern California, has announced the honorees of the 2022 Media Access Awards which will stream Live on the Emmy Award-winning entertainment and pop culture news source, ExtraTV.com; on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 6pm Pt / 9pm Et.

Founded by Norman Lear in 1979 as an annual celebration honoring those in film and TV who include disabled characters and actors in their work, the 2022 Media Access Awards will pay tribute to those individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the portrayal and employment of people with disabilities in Hollywood.

“We are thrilled to again be celebrating the immensely talented people paving the way to a more inclusive world. We salute them all!” said the co-ceo’s of the Media Access Awards Deborah Calla, also the show’s Executive Producer, and Allen Rucker the show’s writer.

Deaf advocate, and actress Millicent Simmonds hosted last week’s Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services provider Easterseals.

The annual ceremony which aired virtually on ExtraTV.com/MediaAccessAwards and mediaaccessawards.com was founded by Norman Lear and now under the leadership of Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker since 2010, honors those in film and TV who include characters and actors with disabilities. The event pays tribute to individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the portrayal and employment of people with disabilities in Hollywood.

The evening’s honorees were selected by the diversity committees of their professional guilds with awards from the Casting Society of America (CSA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), and Writers Guild of America (WGA).

For the first time ever, IMDbPro, the essential resource for entertainment industry professionals, presented the IMDbPro | Media Access Award for Excellence in Directing,...

At the Media Access Awards on Wednesday, honoree Marlee Matlin summed up the mood by saying that when she came to Los Angeles in 1985, “words like equality and access were so far outside the mainstream of Hollywood, I had to make noise.” Receiving the Maa’s lifetime achievement award “pushes me to be even louder.”

The annual awards have long honored film and TV shows that offer positive portrayals of disabled people. Other honorees, which were announced in advance, included Selma Blair, Troy Kotsur, John Krasinski, Jamie Nieto, Ryan O’Connell, “Luca” producer Andrea Warren and Zeno Mountain Farm.

The Apple film “Coda” was the only winner of multiple awards, with Matlin, her co-star Troy Kotsur and the film’s casting directors Deborah Aquila, Tricia Wood and Lisa Zagoria honored. The trio received the casting society of America award, with the film’s writer-director Sian Heder praising them as partners.

The...

Exclusive: The selections for the 2020 Disability List were unveiled Thursday night at the Media Access Awards.

The Black List teamed with Easterseals Disability Services, the Writers Guild of America Writers with Disabilities Committee and Media Access Awards for the annual curated list of the most promising unproduced scripts featuring at least one lead character with a disability. The list opened submissions in August and from those, eight scripts from seven writers and one writing team were selected for the second annual edition of the Disability List.

“Our goal is to highlight authentic storytelling by, and about, people with disabilities,” said Mark Whitley, CEO of Easterseals Southern California. “Through realistic and entertaining stories that don’t rely on stereotypes of what it means to have a disability we can change dated perceptions and create a more inclusive society. Hollywood has an important role to play in making that happen. We thank...

The Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services organization Easterseals, has announced the honorees of the awards show, which include critically-acclaimed documentary “Crip Camp,” Netflix’s “Away” and Ramy Youssef.

The award show, which will be presented virtually Nov. 19 and hosted by model and actor Nyle Dimarco, aims to pay tribute to creatives, series and films that have holistically portrayed individuals with disabilities and advanced representation for the disability community both on and off-screen.

“One out of four American adults has a disability, but they rarely see their lives reflected in the stories told on film and television. The Media Access Awards is an ongoing campaign to change that reality. And it will change. People with disabilities will be seen and heard,” Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of Media Access Awards, said in a statement.

The evening will see special appearances from Selma Blair, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel,...

The Black List is partnering with The Media Access Awards, Easterseals Disability Services and the Writers Guild of America Writers with Disabilities Committee for the 2020 Disability List, a curated list of the most promising unproduced scripts featuring at least one lead character with a disability. Submissions will remain open from now until September 18.

Interested creators who want to submit can visit blcklst.com. Eligible writers may submit their scripts any time during that period, with an evaluations purchase deadline of August 18.

“With The Black List, and our fellow partners, we have the unique opportunity to bring powerful and engaging stories about people with disabilities to the attention of Hollywood,” said Mark Whitley, CEO of Easterseals Southern California. “Through these authentic voices we can change perceptions of the nation’s largest minority group and help create a more inclusive society.”

“The WGA Writers with Disabilities Committee sees The Disability List as...

The Black List and the Writers Guild of America have partnered with Easterseals — a nonprofit organization which provides resources for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs — to create the Disability List, it was announced Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton during the 40th Annual Media Access Awards.

"Inclusion in Hollywood and authenticity in storytelling, starts in the writers' room," said Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of the Media Access Awards and members of the WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee. "We are honored to work with the Black List to spotlight these incredible ...

The Black List and the Writers Guild of America have partnered with Easterseals — a nonprofit organization which provides resources for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs — to create the Disability List, it was announced Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton during the 40th Annual Media Access Awards.

"Inclusion in Hollywood and authenticity in storytelling, starts in the writers' room," said Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of the Media Access Awards and members of the WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee. "We are honored to work with the Black List to spotlight these incredible ...

Exclusive: As the needle of diversity and inclusion continues to make a slow and steady progression in Hollywood, the disabled community strive to make themselves known in the industry. In an effort to move the needle, Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, members of the WGA Writers with Disabilities Committee and Chairs of the Media Access Awards have released “Employing Writers with Disabilities: A Best Practices Guide”.

The guide not only reiterates the importance of representation in film and television but it also informs why writers with disabilities are essential to telling authentic stories. It covers the do’s and don’ts of the interview process, how to make the work environment accessible, and the benefits of casting actors with disabilities.

“On-screen representation helps make positive change by normalizing the existence and relationships of characters with disabilities,” said Calla and Rucker in a joint statement. “Creating these stories and characters that...

Amid the ongoing call to hire inclusively, prospective employees with disabilities may face added skepticism in the workplace.

To combat these misconceptions, the Media Access Awards has published "Employing Writers with Disabilities: A Best Practices Guide."

The manual, penned by WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee members Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, reminds readers that the Americans With Disabilities Act obliges employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" to qualified applicants and employees who have disabilities.

On the set, these accommodations are fairly simple, notes the guide, and in some cases already in place. Sets already have ramps for wheeled dollies,...

Amid the ongoing call to hire inclusively, prospective employees with disabilities may face added skepticism in the workplace.

To combat these misconceptions, the Media Access Awards has published "Employing Writers with Disabilities: A Best Practices Guide."

The manual, penned by WGA Writers with Disabilities Committee members Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, reminds readers that the American with Disabilities Act obliges employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" to qualified applicants and employees who have disabilities.

On the set, these accommodations are fairly simple, notes the guide, and in some cases already in place. Sets already have ramps for wheeled dollies,...

Several prominent documentary producers lauded the fact that the medium has seen a major resurgence in recent years during Variety’s TV Summit on Wednesday.

“People are starving for the truth,” said Lance Bass, former Nsync member and producer of the documentary “The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story.” “It’s crazy how all of our stories are all about lying and people are gravitating to this lie they want to believe. If you give them any excuse, they are going to believe it wholeheartedly. It’s a weird time right now. You can prove that this is wrong but they still won’t believe it, so it’s important for us to tell our stories just to combat that any way we can.”

The panel, moderated by Variety‘s Daniel Holloway, also featured Leah Remini, executive producer and host of the A&e docuseries “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath;” Danny Gabai,...

Carl Hansen’s “Check Mate” won the award for best film at the fifth annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge awards Thursday night.

Actor-comic Nic Novicki, founder-director of the Film Challenge, said the goal is to “show stories that haven’t been seen” and to remind the disabled community that they may feel invisible to Hollywood but things are changing. “The people are ready to see us,” he said, drawing cheers and applause from the enthusiastic audience.

There were four honorees for the short films, including best filmmaker, Day Daniells, with “Hit On,” a seriocomic romance she co-wrote with the film’s star, Adam Nelson; awareness campaign award, David Tenenbaum, “Footloose”; and best actor, J.B. Abajian, “Visibility.”

Clips from each of the nominated works were shown, and the four winners were screened in their entirety.

Entrants were given 55 hours to complete their film, of three-to-five minutes in length, depicting disabilities in its many forms.