Producers Guild honors best in film, TV
“Little Miss Sunshine” was awarded the Darryl F. Zanuck producer of the year award for theatrical motion pictures.
The 2007 Producers Guild of America Awards were presented by Tom Cruise in a Saturday evening ceremony at the Century Plaza Hotel. Collecting the award on behalf of the dark, dysfunctional family comedy were producers Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, and Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa.
“Cars” was awarded the producer of the year award in animated film. The award went to Darla K. Anderson.
For a year that seemed all but locked up in late November, this awards season just becomes more and more intriguing. “Little Miss Sunshine,” a low-budget independent film acquired by Fox Searchlight at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2006, now stands to face down such Hollywood heavyweights as “Dreamgirls” and “The Departed” in the coming Academy Awards race. Nominations are announced Tuesday.
As well, “Sunshine,” with its five credited producers, stands to become something of a problem child for the academy, which allows only three producers to be included for best picture. Last year, the credits for best picture winner “Crash” became a point of contention.
HBO’s “Elizabeth I” was awarded the David L. Wolper producer of the year award in long-form television. Suzan Harrison, George Faber, Charles Pattinson and Barney Reisz were presented the award.
ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” won the Norman Felton producer of the year award in television drama, presented to Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, James Parriott, Peter Horton and Rob Corn. NBC’s “The Office” was the winner of the Danny Thomas producer of the year award in episodic television comedy. Greg Daniels and Kent Zbornak took the award.
HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” won the Johnny Carson producer of the year award for variety TV. The award went to Bill Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths and Dean Johnsen.
CBS’ “60 Minutes” won the producer of the year award in nonfiction TV for Jeff Fager.
