Scripter > Press > Releases > February 24, 2003
Press Releases
For Immediate Release
February 24, 2003
Contact:
Toni Miller (213) 740-2328; scripter@usc.edu
Susan L. Wampler (213) 821-1639; wampler@usc.edu
John Ritter to Host 15th Annual USC Scripter® Award;
Hal Kanter Returns as Grand Master of Ceremonies
LOS ANGELES—Actor John Ritter has been tapped as master of ceremonies for the 15th Annual USC Scripter® Award ceremony to be held Saturday, March 15 on the University of Southern California campus. Hal Kanter, who has lent his humor to every Scripter event since the award's inception, returns for the third year as grand emcee.
An alumnus of the USC School of Theatre, Ritter came to national prominence as the star of television's long-running hit comedy Three's Company, for which he won Emmy, Golden Globe and People's Choice awards. For his critically acclaimed series Hooperman, he received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and won a People's Choice award. His series Hearts Afire ran from 1992-1995. Ritter returned to television this season starring in the new ABC hit 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, a winner of the People's Choice award for favorite new comedy series.
"As an actor I can really appreciate and attest to the value of good writing, and how words can be used to transform the reader or viewer's imagination through a magical literary experience," said Ritter. "It's a pleasure to be part of the Scripter Award at my alma mater, which honors writers who have reached this achievement."
Ritter has starred in more than 25 television movies, including Stephen King's It, The Dreamer of Oz, Unforgivable, A Child's Wish and his Emmy-nominated turn in Unnatural Causes. He has guest starred on numerous series, including Ally McBeal, which earned him an Emmy nomination. He also has received two Emmy nominations for voicing Clifford the Big Red Dog on the popular PBS animated series. His motion picture credits include Sling Blade, They All Laughed, Noises Off, Skin Deep and Problem Child. Most recently, he co-starred with Sigourney Weaver in Tadpole. Ritter has appeared in more than 50 plays and recently completed a nine-month starring role in the Broadway premiere of Neil Simon's The Dinner Party, which won a Theatre World Award and the 2001 Outer Critics Circle Award.
Flourishing in TV's Golden Age, Kanter was the head of the Emmy-winning writing team of The George Gobel Show. He also wrote scripts and special material for such comedy legends as Bob Hope, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Kanter made his film directorial debut with I Married a Woman, followed by Elvis Presley's first starring role, Loving You, in 1957, and Once Upon a Horse, a Western parody starring Dan Rowan and Dick Martin in 1958.
"For the past 14 years, I've been privileged to assist the Friends of the USC Libraries in presenting their Scripter Awards, and this year I am pleased to help John Ritter to present the accolade which honors the most treasured link between literature and film — other than money." Kanter was the creative force behind the popular 1968 sitcom Julia, a sociologically important effort in that it was the first weekly TV program to star a young black woman, Diahann Carroll, in a non-subservient role. During the 1970s, Kanter became executive producer of All in the Family.
In 1989, Kanter was honored by the Writers Guild of America with the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award; since that time, he has been a prolific on-camera interviewee in retrospective documentaries devoted to film and TV comedy, and he also has scripted 30 Academy Award® shows. His autobiography, So Far So Funny, was the subject of a USC Friends of the Libraries Literary Luncheon in 1999.
This year's Scripter awards for the best adaptation of a book or novella will be handed out to author Michael Cunningham and screenwriter David Hare, who collaborated on Paramount Pictures and Miramax Films' The Hours, starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Hare also has been nominated this year for an Academy Award® and Writers Guild Award for best adaptation. Scripter is the only award that recognizes both the author and screenwriter of a film adaptation.
The annual black-tie gala is held in the Los Angeles Times Reference Room of the Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library at USC. Proceeds benefit the Doheny Library Preservation Fund.
For additional information, please call (213) 740-2328, email scripter@usc.edu or visit http://scripter.usc.edu.