Gets a TV Land Expert Award, Watch the TV Land Awards March 17 9-11pm on TV Land

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A recap of what happened at the taping last night at the TV Land Awards includes a tribute to the late John Ritter, expert awards, and viewers choice awards. So read only if you want to know, if not watch the TV Land Awards on March 17 at 9-11pm ET/PT on TV Land and Nick@Nite. Here is the recap:





It's a Star-Studded Extravaganza as TV Land Honors The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Andy Griffith Show and Gilligan's Island During Second Annual TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV

Liza Minnelli, Sharon Stone, Ben Stiller, Billy Bob Thornton, Eric McCormack, Freddie Prinze Jr., Danny DeVito and Farrah Fawcett Among Dozens of Stars Saluting Classic TV

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 7 -- With the help of over 70 stars
from television and film, TV Land bestowed special tribute awards tonight to some of television's most celebrated series and stars during the second annual TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV. TV Land presented awards to the casts of several shows including The Mary Tyler Moore Show (Groundbreaking
Award), The Andy Griffith Show (Legend Award), Gilligan's Island (Pop Culture Award) and FOX's Arrested Development (Future Classic Award). The TV Land Awards was taped at The Hollywood Palladium and will air on TV Land and Nick at Nite on Wednesday, March 17 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/PT).

The full-blown homage to classic television featured unforgettable moments such as when acclaimed comedic actor Ben Stiller presented the cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show with the "Groundbreaking Award" for one of television's earliest depictions of a single, successful career woman. Academy Award-winner Billy Bob Thornton presented the cast of The Andy Griffith Show with the "Legend Award" honoring the show's timeless and enduring appeal of life in a small North Carolina town. Cast members from Gilligan's Island accepted TV Land's "Pop Culture" Award for the popular sitcom's enduring comedy about castaways on a deserted island. The award was presented by CBS' Survivor All Stars. Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress Liza Minnelli presented Mitch Hurwitz, David Nevins and the cast of Arrested Development with the "Future Classic Award," which is presented to the one new show from the past calendar year which best exemplifies the qualities of an emerging television phenomenon.

Other memorable moments included Golden Globe-winning actress Sharon Stone presenting the "Bossiest Boss Award" to Danny Devito (Taxi); Emmy Award-winning actor Eric McCormack of Will and Grace performing a tribute song to Mary Tyler Moore and an opening medley which featured Cybill Shepherd singing the theme song to Moonlighting; Tony Orlando and Dawn singing "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" and Charlotte Rae and Lisa Whelchel singing the theme song to The Facts of Life. Classic TV stars Bea Arthur, Sally Struthers, Katherine Helmond and Charlotte Rae appeared in a hilarious spoof of Sex and the City;
Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden of I Dream of Jeannie were reunited onstage to present actress Patty Duke with the Award for "Favorite Dual-Role" (The Patty Duke Show), and the original "Catwomen" -- Lee Meriwether, Julie Newmar and
Eartha Kitt presented Marlo Thomas (That Girl) with the "Favorite Fashion Plate --Female Award." The musical performances also featured the first-ever live performance of "Love American Style", the title song to the hit 1970's comedy series by the legendary singing family, The Cowsills.

Comedian George Lopez paid tribute to the late John Ritter, beloved star of the enduring hit sitcom Three's Company and 8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter. Ritter also hosted last year's first TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV. The salute featured a clip package of Ritter's vast television work, including appearances on The Cosby Show and Wings with
actress Amy Yasbeck, whom he later married.


The tribute awards presented included the following:

GROUNDBREAKING AWARD
This award is presented to a show whose characters and stories changed the course of television history and reflected contemporary social issues. TV Land honored The Mary Tyler Moore Show as this year's recipient. Acclaimed comedic actor Ben Stiller presented the award to Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Cloris Leachman, Ed Asner, Gavin McLeod, John Amos and Valerie Harper.

LEGEND AWARD
This award is presented to a television series that has withstood the test of time and ranks among the most memorable and celebrated shows in TV history. This year's honoree is The Andy Griffith Show. Academy Award-winner Billy Bob Thornton presented the award to Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors, Aaron Ruben, Betty Lynn, Earle Hagen, Elinor Donahue, George Lindsey, Harvey Bullock, Howard Morris and Maggie Peterson.

POP CULTURE AWARD
This award is presented to a show that has crossed the line from television series to pop culture phenomenon. TV Land acknowledges Gilligan's Island as this year's recipient. CBS Survivor All Stars Rudy Boesch, Tina Wesson, Jenna Morasca and Rob Cesternino presented the cast with this award. Bob Denver,
Dawn Wells, Tina Louise, Sherwood Schwartz, Lloyd Schwartz and Russell Johnson accepted on behalf of the show.

VISIONARY AWARD
In 1974, mainstream television went to the barrio for the first time with a situation comedy that saw the growing importance and relevance of Latino culture. In Chico and the Man, set in East L.A., an enterprising young Latino mechanic forges an unlikely partnership and eventually, friendship, with an older surly, white garage owner. The show starred Emmy-winning legend Jack
Albertson and the charismatic young Freddie Prinze as his cohort and antagonist. TV Land honors Chico and the Man for bringing a multicultural neighborhood to life and into the homes and neighborhoods all over America.
It was an important step forward. It was also the pinnacle of the
all-too-short career of Freddie Prinze. George Lopez presented this award to Freddie Prinze Jr., who accepted this award on behalf of his father, the late Freddie Prinze.

FUTURE CLASSIC AWARD
This award goes to the one show that TV Land feels best exemplifies the qualities of an emerging classic series that would one day fit its broad mix of award-winning line-up. This is the sixth consecutive year that TV Land has presented this award. (The series must have debuted during the past calendar
year.) Oscar and Emmy-winner Liza Minnelli presented this award to the cast and crew of Arrested Development - Jason Bateman, Portia DeRossi, David Cross, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat and executive producers Mitch Hurwitz and David Nevins accepted on behalf of the show.


Also tonight, the network announced the winners of its viewers' choice poll for a variety of fun categories. Among the triumphant victors who picked up the precious TV Land statuette included:

Bossiest Boss
Danny DeVito, Taxi

Favorite Dual Role Character
Patty Duke, The Patty Duke Show

Favorite "Fan"-tastic Phenomenon
Farrah Fawcett, Charlie's Angels

Favorite Cantankerous Couple
Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford as George and Louise Jefferson, The Jeffersons

Favorite Fashion Plate - Female
Marlo Thomas, That Girl

Superest Super Hero
Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman


In addition to Revlon, other major sponsors include Mitsubishi, Sears, Orbitz, Ambien and Walgreens.

Michael Levitt (TV Land Awards 2003, Billboard Music Awards) serves as Executive Producer, Emmy-award winning Glenn Weiss as Director (2003 Tony Awards, Christmas in Washington, Star Search), Greg Sills as Supervising Producer (VH1 Divas, Billboard Music Awards), Michael Dempsey as Producer (Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, mtvICON), and Sal Maniaci and
Larry W. Jones also serve as Executive Producers.

Now seen in over 82 million U.S. homes, TV Land's program mix features popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials(R) and a TV-referential interstitial environment, all programmed with a specific audience in mind -- the first generation of Americans to grow up watching television, and features all time classic hits like All In The Family, The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.