The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television and Sciences (NATAS) announced that it has secured the very talented Michael Airington—best known for his comedic acting and celebrity impersonations—as the host for the 40th annual Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards. The event will take place on Saturday, October 14 at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix.
Airington has always had the knack for creating and inhabiting a number of memorable characters and his versatility and quick wit have given him the ability to evoke beloved stars of the past. In 2004, Airington began performing as the legendary comic Paul Lynde and went on to portray Lynde in two films, “Get Serious” and “An Evening with Paul Lynde.” He also starred in “The Paul Lynde Show” at Bally’s Las Vegas and played Lynde as the Magic Mirror for two seasons on Disney’s “The Suite Life on Deck.”
Today, Airington continues to entertain audiences with his impressive assortment of wild characters, one of which he played for 62 episodes on The Weekly Wrap as well as on a successful podcast on Blogtalk Radio called Showbiz Schmooze.
“Every year, we strive to make the Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards a night to remember. This year is no exception,” said Suzanne Guery, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter second vice president and event chairman. “We are thrilled to have the extraordinarily talented Michael Airington host our Emmy Award Gala this year. Part comic, part impersonator, he loves to interact with audiences and make people laugh. You never know who he might bring to the party, but it’s certain to be entertaining.”
“What an honor and privilege to host the 2017 Emmy Awards Gala for the
Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of NATAS,” said Airington. “I can’t wait to bring some laughs and intro the audience to some of my crazy characters. Get ready Phoenix!”
The full list of 2017 nominees will be announced live in late August, coinciding with the Rocky Mountain Emmy nominations parties in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Tucson, Ariz. and Flagstaff, Ariz. The nominations list will also be posted on the Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards’ website.
“This is an incredibly exciting year for the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter as we embark on our 40th Annual Gala to honor excellence in our field. This year’s event will celebrate both new and old, but more importantly, gives us the opportunity to spend an evening together with the top professionals in our field,” said Theresa Maher, president of the Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of NATAS.
To kick off the 40th annual Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards Gala, the chapter will present the Student Production Award, which span across a number of categories, to high school and college student who have produced outstanding videos as part of a class for which school credit was received.
The chapter will also induct new members into the Silver Circle Society during the evening. The Silver Circle was established by the chapter in 1992. To be eligible for the Silver Circle honor, individuals must have served in the broadcast industry for a minimum of 25 years with the majority of that time in the Southwest region. These professionals are the true shining stars of our community, exemplifying community service, mentorship, leadership and excellence both in their personal lives and within their careers.
The 2017 Silver Circle recipients being honored are:
Bob Adlhoch, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix
Catherine Anaya, AZTV, Phoenix
Troy Hayden, Fox 10, Phoenix
Lupita Murillo, KVOA-TV, Tucson
Dr. Barry Ramo, KOAT-TV, Albuquerque
Ted Simons, Arizona PBS, Phoenix
To round out the evening, the chapter will also recognize an entity for going above and beyond its telecommunications mission with the Governor’s Award. In addition to this, the event’s celebrity host and lavish venue at Chateau Luxe, this year’s Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards will be featuring special exhibits and guests to honor four decades of broadcasting in the region.
For more information about the Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards or to purchase tickets, please visit RockyMountainEmmy.org.
