Whitney Friedlander/Variety:
Recognizing her nearly 20-year career in television, the Producers Guild of America announced Thursday that it is honoring prolific showrunner-producer Shonda Rhimes with the 2016 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television.
“Shonda Rhimes is one of the most passionate and insightful storytellers in entertainment today. Her pioneering work on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Scandal,’ and ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ has redefined the role of women in media and spurred the debate about diversity in television,” said Producers Guild Awards co-chairs Michael DeLuca and Jennifer Todd. “Like the intelligent, strong, and fearless characters she creates, Shonda is a true force to be reckoned with and we are privileged to honor her with this year’s Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television.”
Rhimes will receive the award at the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony, which will be held on January 23 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Past recipients of the honor include Mark Gordon, Chuck Lorre, J.J. Abrams, Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, Lorne Michaels, David L. Wolper, Aaron Spelling, Carsey/Werner/Mandabach, Steven Bochco, David E. Kelley, Mark Burnett and Lear himself.
“To be the recipient of an award bestowed upon me by my peers in the PGA is truly an honor. The fact that the award is named after a legendary producer whose work has had such an inspiring effect on my growth as a writer is genuinely gratifying. I couldn’t be more grateful for this special recognition,” said Rhimes.
In addition to her work in television, Rhimes will soon be a newly-published author. Her memoir, “Year of Yes” is released this month.
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