Primetime TV’s longest-running comedy, Fox’s "The Simpsons," will be the sole honoree at the Paley Center for Media’s annual gala in Los Angeles in December.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the award-winning animated series, the Paley Center honor also recognizes the ground-breaking toon’s impact on TV and pop culture.
It’s the first time the L.A. Paley gala, an annual fundraising event, has just one honoree, according to a Paley representative.
"Under the direction of James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Al Jean, ["The Simpsons"] continues to push television in new directions by presenting bold and innovative animated programming that appeals to many generations,” said Pat Mitchell, Paley Center president-CEO.
“With its unconventional depiction of the American nuclear family, ‘The Simpsons’ has had a tremendous impact on the television sitcom over the last 20 years and continues to influence and redefine the medium,” she added.
The gala will be held Dec. 8 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Previous honorees include Alan Alda and Steven Bochco, newsmen David Brinkley and Dan Rather, executives Howard Stringer and Peter Chernin and the cast and writers of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Saturday Night Live."
