American Cinematheque on National Television Tonight!


Tonight's the Night Folks! Strange as it may sound, American Cinematheque employees, members and supporters are being encouraged to sit around their television sets at home tonight around 9pm. Yep, tonight is the premiere broadcast of the American Cinematheque Award presentation to Matt Damon on ABC. Tune in and make the ratings sky-rocket.

The Cinematheque gave out its 24th annual award back on March 27 in front of a live audience at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Now the nation will have a chance to witness this
momentous occasion on national television tonight, Thursday, May 27 at 9 PM on ABC (that is channel 7 in Los Angeles).

Here are the details:
Award-winning actor Matt Damon was the recipient of the 24th American
Cinematheque Award at a gala held this past March at the Beverly Hilton. The presentation and celebration will be televised in the hour-long special, Hollywood Salutes Matt Damon: An American Cinematheque Tribute, airing THURSDAY, MAY 27 (check local listings) on the ABC Television Network. The stellar list of guests who paid tribute to Damon when he received the award from longtime friend and co-star Ben Affleck are Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, Clint Eastwood, Jennifer Garner, Jimmy Kimmel, Greg Kinnear, Sarah Silverman, Charlize Theron and Robin Williams. In addition, George Clooney and Ben Stiller paid tribute by partaking in individual pre-taped comedy sketches, while President William Jefferson Clinton appeared in and narrated a piece about Damon's humanitarian efforts. Damon's efforts include work with Water.org and as an ambassador with onexone.com

Read a post by the show's writer David Wild on the Huffington Post blog.

For information about the American Cinematheque Awards click here.

Top photo: Courtesy of ABC
All other photos: Eric Charbonneau/Le Studio Photography

Jim Henson Studios Family Day: Fraggles and Doozers and Gorgs OH MY!

It's Jim Henson Family day at the Egyptian Theatre on May 22 at 10 AM. The kids are in for a treat with the appearance of Sid the Science Kid, Buddy the T-Rex from Dinosaur Train, Red Fraggle from The Fraggles and more! A program of films on the Egyptian's giant screen, including a sneak of something new from the Jim Henson Studios and fun, fun, fun activities in the Egyptian's Courtyard for kids of all ages. The Henson Studio gave us the Muppets on "Sesame Street" back in 1969 and they continue to delight new generations with their creative puppet wizardry!

In attendance will be Buddy the T-rex from "Dinosaur Train," the new hit series on PBS KIDS®. Additional special guests include Red Fraggle, star of the hit series "Fraggle Rock," with world-renowned puppeteer Karen Prell; Paul Rugg, star of the PBSKIDS GO! Web destination "Wilson & Ditch: Digging America," who will demonstrate the Emmy ® Award winning Henson Digital Puppetry Studio; and creative Guru Courtney Watkins, star of the online creativity destination "The Possibility Shop" featured on Disney Online’s FamilyFun.com*

The event is co-produced by the Producers Guild of America/ New Media Council as part of the Saturday 2.0 series: JIM HENSON FAMILY DAY: One of the world's most visionary puppetry artists, Jim Henson brought an original combination of playful fun and artful sophistication to his groundbreaking film and television works that widely appeal to children and adults alike. Henson gave us such icons as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and a host of other memorable Muppets, not to mention the Fraggles and various Sesame Street characters. Join us for a special program of shorts from The Jim Henson Legacy and some new material from The Henson Company.
Saturday, May 22 – 10:00 AM at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood

A BETTER WORLD: LIVING IN HARMONY from world-touring series Muppets™, Music & Magic: Jim Henson's Legacy (90 min). Included in this wonderful, environmentally-oriented program of shorts from the beloved Henson studio is a 1983 rare episode from the "Fraggle Rock" TV show that contrasts three different communities (the musical Fraggles, the industrious Doozers and the giant Gorgs!) living in harmony in a carefully balanced underground world far below those mysterious silly creatures (the humans) who live above ground, and the short "The Song of the Cloud Forest," (1989) a beautifully colorful evocation of the rain forest and the adventures of a lovable golden toad, directed by Jim Henson. It features a blend of music, puppetry and animation resulting in a vibrant landscape of color that echoes the natural beauty found in the real world's rain forest. Starring a brightly colored cast of puppet animals, the show celebrates the beauty of this natural environment while educating the audience of the real dangers threatening the survival of both the rain forest and its inhabitants. (c) The Muppets Studio, LLC 2010, (c)The Jim Henson Company, 2010. After the shorts program, the Henson Company will showcase exciting sneak peeks in the Rigler Theatre, and host lots of fun activities in the Egyptian courtyard until 2:30 PM. Free for ticket-holders!

The Jim Henson Company's Family Day at the Egyptian Theatre will feature an exciting line up of children's favorite characters and activities including Sid from "Sid the Science Kid," Buddy from "Dinosaur Train," Red Fraggle from "Fraggle Rock," Ditch from "Wilson & Ditch Digging America" and Courtney Watkins from "The Possibility Shop." To celebrate the June 21 premiere of Sid's "No School Singalong Special!" Sid himself will be on hand to meet with kids and parents, and welcome them to a dynamic and interactive investigation station hosted by local PBS affiliate KCET/Los Angeles where kids can investigate, explore and discover!

11:30 AM: Premiere of "Sid the Science Kid:" "No School Singalong Special!"

12:00 PM: Premiere of "Dinosaur Train:" "Pteranodon Family World Tour," "Gilbert the Conductor"

12:30 PM: "Wilson & Ditch: Digging America:" Two comical gopher brothers explore America

12:45 PM: "The Possibility Shop:" Creative Guru Courtney Watkins demonstrates how to turn ordinary afternoons into extraordinary creative adventures for the whole family

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