USA NETWORK TO PRESENT MOVING IMAGE SALUTE HONORING JOHN TRAVOLTA
Star-studded Black-tie Gala to Air on December 12, 2004
Oprah Winfrey to Present Award
Special Guests include Kathy Bates, James Gandolfini and Kelly Preston
NEW YORK -- November 9, 2004 -- John Travolta will be the 20th honoree saluted by the Museum of the Moving Image at its black-tie gala to be held this year on Sunday, December 5, 2004, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Oprah Winfrey will present the award to Travolta. USA Network will once again tape the festivities for a subsequent telecast. Moving Image Salutes John Travolta will air on Sunday, December 12, at 10 pm ET/PT.
"John's stardom is based not only upon his enormous talent, but an irresistible combination of unpretentious appeal, innate skill, intensity, humor and grace," states Museum Director Rochelle Slovin. "We are delighted to salute and pay tribute to this terrific actor."
Bonnie Hammer, president of USA Network and Sci Fi Channel, added, "We're thrilled to be back in business with Moving Image, particularly to honor an incredible talent like John Travolta."
The highlight of the evening is always the screening of moments from our honoree's vast and diverse career, presented by a stellar group of friends and colleagues. In addition to Ms. Winfrey, Kathy Bates, James Gandolfini, Kelly Preston will be on hand to salute John.
Co-chairmen for the dinner are Matthew C. Blank, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Sherry Lansing, Michael Lynne, Jane Rosenthal and Bonnie Hammer. The Museum's Board Chairman Herbert S. Schlosser will present John Travolta with the museum's salute, with Director Rochelle Slovin introducing the festivities.
Charlie Haykel ("2004 Democratic National Convention," HBO's"Madonna's Drowned World Tour") and Emmy?-winning producer Robert Dalrymple ("The Screen Actors Guild Awards," "Baby Brokers") will serve as executive producers. Alan Carter ("In Search of the Patridge Family," "Miss America") will direct.
John Travolta has been a superstar since 1975, when he made his television debut as the charmingly overconfident Vinnie Barbarino in the sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter." By the time he had his first major film role in "Saturday Night Fever" two years later, Travolta was a full-fledged cultural phenomenon. Since then, he has shown his versatility and his enduring appeal in such acclaimed and successful movies as "Grease," "Pulp Fiction," "Get Shorty," "Face/Off," "Blow Out," "Primary Colors," "Swordfish," "Ladder 49," the upcoming "A Love Story for Bobby Long" and the long-awaited sequel to "Get Shorty," "Be Cool."
As the 20th Salutee, John Travolta joins an exceptional group of past-honorees, including Sidney Lumet, Elia Kazan, James Stewart, Sidney Poitier, Mike Nichols, Robert De Niro, Barbara Walters, Al Pacino, Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, Martin Scorsese, Goldie Hawn, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson, Billy Crystal and Richard Gere.
The Museum of the Moving Image is the only institution of its kind in the United States. It houses the world's most important film, television, and digital media collection ? more than one hundred thousand objects. Four hundred films are screened each year, many accompanied by conversation with directors, actors, scholars, and other moving image professionals. Education programs offer intermediate and high school student's fresh perspectives on their study of history, social studies, literature, and science. World-renowned exhibitions engage visitors in the Museum's distinctive approach to screen culture. The Salute raises vital funds for the Museum's programs.
USA Network
USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is available in 82% of all U.S. homes and is seen in over 88 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com.
USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.
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