The 49th Annual New York Emmy® Awards Gala Celebration

By Jacqueline J. Gonzalez

This year The New York Emmy® Awards took over Times Square on Sunday, March 12th.

The black-tie gala held at the Marriott Marquis began with an exciting reception where nominees and revelers enjoyed conversation and cocktails. Conviviality reigned supreme!

Dinner immediately followed and our esteemed guests continued celebrating as they anxiously awaited the Awards presentation.

The ceremony opened with a rousing performance with the cast of Broadway’s new musical “The Wedding Singer.”

New York Chapter President Jane Hanson had hosting honors and picked up an Emmy® in Environmental Programming for Jane’s New York: On the Highline.

This year, Connie Chung presented the Governors’ Award to Maury Povich, Host of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution’s “Maury,” and co-host of MSNBC’s “Weekends with Maury and Connie,” for his distinguished service to the Academy and his exceptional contributions to the television industry spanning his 40 year career.

KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler, the act the New York Times called “ferociously entertaining,” joined us at half-time with a song from their cabaret show “A Swell Party – RSVP Cole Porter.”

Our amazing line-up of presenters included the many familiar faces from New York’s broadcast stations and some notable luminaries from The Sopranos, Law & Order, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Guiding Light, The New York Giants, and Dick Wolf’s new show, Conviction.
We thank all of our presenters: Ernie Anastos, Co-Anchor, FOX 5 News (WNYW); Sade Baderinwa, Co-Anchor, Eyewitness News at 5 (WABC); Tiki Barber, Running Back, New York Giants; Brenda Blackmon, Co-Anchor, WWOR 9 News; Jordan Bridges, Actor, Conviction (NBC); Dominic Chianese, Actor, The Sopranos (HBO); Fyvush Finkel, Emmy® Award winning Actor (Picket Fences); Lloyd Grove, Columnist, New York Daily News; A.J. Hammer, Entertainment Anchor, Headline News’ Showbiz Tonight (CNN); Richard Huff, TV Editor, New York Daily News; Harry Martin, Co-Anchor, WWOR 9 News; Denisse Oller, Co-Anchor, Noticias 41 Univision (WXTV); Dr. Mehmet Oz, Host, YOU The Owner's Manual (Discovery Health Channel); Rafael Pineda, Co-Anchor, Noticias 41 Univision (WXTV); Randall Pinkston, Correspondent, CBS Weekend News; Michelle Ray Smith, Actress, Guiding Light (CBS-TV); Jai Rodriguez, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Bravo); Al Roker, The Today Show (NBC); Neil Rosen, Movie Critic, NY1; Jill Scott, Reporter, NY1 News; Marvin Scott, Anchor & Senior Correspondent, WPIX-TV; Rosanna Scotto, Co-Anchor, FOX 5 News (WNYW); Linda Stasi, Entertainment Columnist, New York Post; Kaity Tong, Co-Anchor, WB11 News at 10; Tamara Tunie, Actress, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Jim Watkins, Co-Anchor, WB 11 News at 10; Diana Williams, Co-Anchor, Eyewitness News at 5 (WABC); George Whipple, Society Reporter, NY1.

Memorable Moments:

Presenter Fyvush Finkel flirting with Emmy^® winner Thalia Patillo as she accepted her award for Home For Father's Day (WPIX) in the category of Coverage of An Anticipated News Story.

Meteorologist Bill Evans (WABC-TV) kissing his Emmy^® for On-Camera Achievement (News): Weather Reporting

Diana Williams and Sade Baderinwa (WABC-TV Eyewitness News Co-Anchors) presenting.

Merijoel Duran, Reporter from WXTV Univision 41flanked by colleagues after her emotional acceptance of the Multi-Part Hard News Story Emmy^® for De Papá a Mamá.

Dominic Chianese, from HBO’s hit series The Sopranos, made sure everyone was well-behaved!

Dr. Mehmet Oz and Tamara Tunie waiting to hand off the golden lady.

Multiple Emmy^® Award winners George Motz (Thirteen/WNET) and Michael DelGiudice (News 12 Long Island) shared a moment off stage. George picked up TWO – Michael was awarded EIGHT – more than any other nominee!

Hank Wasiak (NYC TV) accepted the Emmy® for On-Camera Achievement Programming: Host

Michelle Ray Smith (Guiding Light), Tiki Barber (New York Giants) Jacqueline J. Gonzalez (Executive Director, The Emmy^® Awards New York), Marvin Scott, (Anchor & Senior Correspondent, WPIX), and Roberto Casey (Official Head Make-Up Artist, The New York Emmy^® Awards) shared a backstage moment before the paparazzi arrived!

Sukanya Krishnan, Co-Anchor WB 11 Morning News, triumphantly picking up her Emmy®.

A behind the scenes secret about this year’s New York Emmy® Awards – we had a professional team of hair stylists and make-up artists on hand to make sure our presenters were picture perfect! Our hair team was provided by Redken 5th Avenue NYC (a division of L’Oreal USA) and our make-up team was lead by celebrity make-up artist Roberto Casey.
Redken stylists working the locks on the lovely anchors: Rosanna Scotto (WNYW FOX 5) and Sade Baderinwa (WABC-TV).