TV Land

The 10th Anniversary TV Land Awards were broadcast on Sunday, April 29, and as usual, they didn’t disappoint. With Kelly Ripa as host and numerous celebrity presenters and honorees, we were treated to warm moments, heartfelt speeches, jokes, crazy outfits, and dancing. Lots of dancing. In case you missed it, here are 10 highlights from the 2012 TV Land Awards, the ultimate awards show honoring classic television.


1. In a costume-tastic intro segment, host Kelly Ripa recruited fashion guru Carson Kressley to help her pick out the perfect outfit for the awards show. “I need something special … something classic, yet fashion forward,” she said. What followed was a dizzying array of wardrobe changes transforming Ripa into a “Star Trek” cadet, Daisy Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Tootie in “The Facts of Life,” Morticia Addams, Wonder Woman (“Too flashy — but let me wear this home for Mark”), Lucille Ball, Zooey Deschanel (“too adorkable”), Cher in full Native American garb, Velma in “Scooby-Doo,” Sue Sylvester in “Glee,” and finally, Catwoman from “Batman.” Meow!


2. What an entrance! To start the show, Ripa was lowered onto the stage in her skin-tight Catwoman outfit (and ears), talking a bit about each of the night’s honorees. She went on to introduce the night’s first presenter, “a first-rate broadcaster, a generous humanitarian, and my sister in perk-hood — and one hell of a cage fighter — Katie Couric.” There to present the Fan Favorite Award to “the original two broke girls,” Couric told the crowd, “Please don’t leave me hanging up here,” before launching into the “1, 2, 3, 4 …” chant of the “Laverne & Shirley” opening theme. The audience enthusiastically chanted along (Faith Ford was seen shouting out with gusto), and Couric even did her own knee-dip at “Schlemiel!”


3. Penny Marshall, David L. Lander, Michael McKean and Cindy Williams accepted the Fan Favorite Award for “Laverne & Shirley,” and all gave touching thanks to the fans and their fellow castmates. But naturally Lander (Squiggy) got the crowd’s biggest laugh with just one word: “Hello.” (He followed that with another classic Squiggism: “Thank you, you may be sitted now.”)


4. Whoopi Goldberg presented the Groundbreaking Award to “In Living Color” — “the ultimate watercooler show,” as she put it — and the large cast seemed clearly excited to be up on stage together, like an old group of friends. After Keenen Ivory Wayans joked that “We were just a bunch of … geniuses!” he stepped aside to let a thrilled Jim Carrey have a few words: “C’mon. This is a tsunami, a wave, a crest of talent, that I feel so incredibly lucky to have been sucked up into. It was bigger than us, and we all knew that. And we had every experience under the rainbow in this show. We laughed, we cried, we broke down walls, and eventually we elected a president!” (Well, who knows? Maybe they sort of did.)


5. No “In Living Color” reunion would have been complete without the Fly Girls. Carrie Ann Inaba, one of the original Fly Girls, said, beaming, “This was one of the only shows that truly gave credit to our dancers. It was RIDONKULOUS.” Marlon Wayans interjected, “I want to thank Keenen for having the Fly Girls because I got to look at their butts every day.” And of course, Shawn Wayans (who started on the show as a DJ) got in one last word: “And I got to play music to their butts.”


6. The “Murphy Brown” cast’s acceptance of the Impact Award contained moments both funny and poignant. Creator Diane English, acknowledging Murphy Brown’s debt to the legendary newscaster who passed away this month, said, “I often describe the character [Murphy] as Mike Wallace in a dress. He’s going to be very missed, and I’d like to dedicate this to Mike.” Faith Ford described auditioning for “Murphy Brown” and feeling she hadn’t done a good enough job, so, “I walked and came back in and said, ‘I know how Corky would dance.’ Y’all wanna see it?” She then proceeded to do a cheerful little two-step for the crowd. And Charles Kimbrough, channeling the laconic Jim Dial, gave his thanks entirely in character, saying only, “Thank you very much. I was really lucky to get the job.” Or at least we think he was in character.


7. John Legend said of Aretha Franklin, recipient of the Icon Award, “I am so thrilled to introduce true music royalty, and an undisputed icon, here to sing for her subjects — the queen herself, the one and only Aretha Franklin.” The Queen of Soul, dressed in regal white robes, showed her age not one bit as she busted out with “Respect,” getting the crowd on its feet in a lively call-and-response that could have just as easily taken place 40 years ago. “It’s the Icon Award,” Franklin said in accepting her honor, “but in Mr. Legend’s own words, we’re just ordinary people.” Now that’s paying respect.


8. Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Bertinelli, Mackenzie Phillips, Pat Harrington, Glenn Scarpelli and Richard Masur accepted the Innovator Award for “One Day at a Time” from Fran Drescher. Not surprisingly, Mackenzie Phillips, who grew up on the show amid much-publicized drug and family troubles, seemed most affected by the honor. “When I took the role on ‘One Day at a Time,’” she said tearfully, “I did not take the role with any expectations of getting a family … I didn’t know that I would be getting a mom who actually held me to a higher standard than my own mother did, ever; a sister who loves me to this day with unconditional kindness and acceptance; and [gesturing to Harrington] the best Dutch uncle a girl could ever ask for … And a little brother, my dear friend Glenn Scarpelli …. I’m just so honored to be here with my, maybe not my family of origin, but certainly one of my families of choice.”


9. A little older but still wearing his trademark gray suit and bow tie, Pee-Wee Herman accepted the Pop Culture Award from Mike Myers with a call-back to something any kid who watched “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” will remember. “We wanted you to laugh until you fell off the couch, and scream when you’d hear the secret word,” he said. “And today’s secret word — it’s slightly corny — but it’s ‘gratitude.’ … Thank you for visiting my playhouse for all these years, and please don’t forget this, my little monsters: If anyone ever makes fun of you, the best comeback is still, ‘I know you are, but what am I?’ And what am I? A person filled with gratitude.” With that, the word “gratitude” flashed on the overhead screens, and the crowd obligingly — what? — screeeeeaamed.


10. To close the show, Kelly Ripa appeared on stage one final time, surrounded by the Fly Girls from “In Living Color.” “Before we go, I have one more confession to make,” Ripa said. “Anybody that knows me knows that I always wanted to be a Fly Girl. Only two things held me back: rhythm and coordination. So, to teach me how are the Fly Girls.” Together with her new mentors, Ripa shimmied and bopped as house band the B-52s played “Rock Lobster” and the credits rolled. Now that’s a party.

Over the last decade of TV Land Awards ceremonies, there have been memorable performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches, joyful reunions and just plain plenty of hijinks. Take a look back at the history of the TV Land Awards, all the way back to the first ceremony in 2003, to relieve 10 of the show’s greatest moments. 


John Ritter livened up the 2003 TV Land Awards as the show’s first-ever host — just six months before the “Three’s Company” actor died of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect, at 54 years old.


Three historic Catwomen — Eartha Kitt and Julie Newmar, who played the feline villainess on TV’s “Batman,” and Lee Meriwether, who took over the role in the 1966 film — graced the stage at the 2004 TV Land Awards, with nary a claw in sight.

The “90210” gang of Jenni Garth, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling and Luke Perry — aka Kelly, Brandon, Donna and Dylan — hit the 2005 TV Land Awards to present the Pioneer Award to “90210” creator Aaron Spelling, alongside alumni from other Spelling-produced shows such as “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Love Boat” and “Dynasty.”


At the 2006 TV Land Awards, Kermit and Miss Piggy presented the award for Favorite TV Food — pork chops and applesauce — to Peter Brady, or rather to Christopher Knight, who played him on “The Brady Bunch.” And somehow Miss Piggy managed not to smother him.


When the musical variety show “Hee Haw” won the 2007 Entertainers Award,mother-and-daughter team Naomi Judd and Wynonna Judd reunited for a touching performance of “Mama, He’s Crazy,” the first song they ever performed on “Hee Haw.”


By 2008, Justin Timberlake had hosted “Saturday Night Live” twice, so we already knew he was funny — and hence the perfect choice to present the 2008 Lucille Ball Legacy of Laughter Award to his “The Love Guru” co-star Mike Myers, who has a few comic chops himself.


Lionel Richie performed a medley of his hits, including “Hello” and “All Night Long,” before accepting the 2008 Icon Award and joking of his oft-arrested daughter Nicole, “”Forget about surviving 40 years in the music business. Just surviving 27 years of Nicole Richie has been a struggle-and-a-half … I stand here as a survivor.”


Anyone who watched “H.R. Pufnstuf” remembers that the children’s puppet show was fun, smart, innovative … and weird. (In a good way.) When Sid and Marty Krofft were awarded the 2009 Pop Culture Award, performers from “H.R. Pufnstuf” gave them a tribute that was as lively and surreal — and yes, weird — as the groundbreaking show deserved.


The old (no offense, guys) paid tribute to the new when David Hasselhoff and the TV Land Choir — including veteran actors Todd Bridges, Joyce DeWitt, Jamie Farr, Shirley Jones, Marion Ross, Jimmie Walker and Fred Willard — sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” to honor 2010 Future Classic Award winner “Glee.”


When “The Facts of Life” received the Pop Culture Award at the 2011 ceremony, Charlotte Rae exclaimed proudly of her “girls,” “They all turned out to be straight. Straight!” Though Rae undoubtedly meant that the actors had grown up admirably, Meredith Baxter — who came out as a lesbian in 2009 — had the last laugh when she later accepted the Fan Favorite Award with the rest of her “Family Ties” cast, saying wryly, “”Although we didn’t all come out as straight as apparently ‘The Facts of Life’ cast, we’re doing pretty well.”

Murphy Brown,” the winner of this year’s Impact Award, centered its show around a female 40-something, hard-hitting news anchor, or as creator Diane English put it, “Mike Wallace in a skirt.” Acerbic, still likable, and often controversial, she certainly didn’t resemble other sitcom characters at the time. In the pilot, Murphy (played by Candice Bergen, who won five Emmys in the role), a recovering alcoholic, returns to journalism after a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic. With the help of her co-workers on the news show “FYI” — stoic Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough), perky Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), neurotic Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) and green-behind-the-ears producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud), Murphy weathers the ups and downs of the news cycle, network politics and her personal life. As a role model, the character made an indelible impression on pop culture, the headlines of the day and journalism itself … even if she wasn’t actually real.

Relive the show with us as we look at 10 storylines from “Murphy Brown,” then see the cast reunite at the TV Land Awards, which TV Land will broadcast nationwide on April 29 at 9PM/8C.

“Murphy Kills a Judge
While questioning a corrupt — and suddenly silent — judge on “FYI,” Murphy continues to grill him mercilessly even though, as it turns out, he’s suffered a heart attack and died. (Season 1, Episode 18 - “The Unshrinkable Murphy Brown”)




Murphy’s Secretaries
A running gag throughout the series was Murphy’s inability to retain a decent secretary. For some reason, every secretary sent to her by HR turns out to be skittish, impertinent, not fluent in English or just plain incompetent. And then there was the one who talked to Satan.



Murphy’s Cameo
The “FYI” cast is thrilled the network creates a sitcom based on Murphy’s life, and a famous actress (played by Morgan Fairchild) is signed to play Murphy’s character, “Kelly Green.” But Murphy isn’t so thrilled, especially when she’s asked to make a cameo appearance on the show. CBS anchor Connie Chung appears briefly as herself. (Season 2, Episode 4 - “TV or Not TV”)




Eldin
When Murphy hires Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli) to repaint her house, she never imagines that he’ll stick around for years. But the painter with grand ambitions is there as Murphy’s constant muse, philosopher, friend and confidant, developing a crush on Corky and getting sidetracked with his penchant for elaborate murals. Pastorelli, who died of an overdose in 2004, was a regular for only six of the show’s ten seasons, but returned to make an appearance in the series finale.




Corky Gets Married
Corky reunites with former high school classmate Will Forrest — once a geek, now a lawyer — and, after a whirlwind courtship agrees to marry him, even after she realizes that her new name will be “Corky Sherwood-Forrest.” A highlight of the wedding: Murphy as a bridesmaid, wearing a frilly Southern belle dress with hoops. Corky later divorces Will and elopes with Miles. (Season 2, Episodes 26 and 27 - “Going to the Chapel”)




Single Motherhood
When Murphy gets pregnant, the father of the baby, her ex-husband Jake Lowenstein (Robin Thomas), tells her he can’t give up his lifestyle as a political radical to become a parent. Murphy decides to have the baby on her own, and she goes into labor while on the air, giving birth to a son and singing softly to him, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” (Season 4, Episode 26 - “Birth 101”)




Dan Quayle Feud
In 1992, then Vice President Dan Quayle was criticized (and praised) for giving a speech on family values in which he charged that it “doesn’t help matters when primetime TV has Murphy Brown … mocking the importance of fathers, by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another ‘lifestyle choice.’” In response, “Murphy Brown” aired an episode with a special “FYI” segment celebrating the diversity of different types of families — and ended with a prank in which they dumped a truckload of potatoes on the vice president’s lawn, alluding to a gaffe in which Quayle, at an elementary school spelling bee, had corrected a student’s spelling of “potato” to “potatoe.” (Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2 - “You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato”)




The Staff Resigns
When the network pulls Jim’s expose on the tobacco industry, the anchor resigns in protest — and the rest of the staff ends up quitting to support him, until Miles stands up to the network and gets the story aired. (Season 8, Episode 17 - “Aftermath”)




Breast Cancer
Murphy develops breast cancer and spends the final season of the show getting treatment, which includes smoking medical marijuana — supplied by Jim — to relieve the effects of chemotherapy (an episode that drew conservative protests) and shopping for prosthetic breasts. Bergen was given an award by the American Cancer Society for her part in increasing breast cancer awareness. (Season 10)




Series Finale
While undergoing an operation for a tumor that might be malignant, Murphy has an anesthesia-induced hallucination in which she interviews God (Alan King) — contentiously, of course. Upon learning she is cancer-free, Murphy follows God’s advice not to retire and returns to her house to find Eldin, who has returned from Spain do some some more “touch-up” on her townhouse. Murphy’s last secretary was played by the divine Bette Midler. (Season 10, Episode 22 - “Never Can Say Goodbye, Part 2”)

It’s always a great time at the TV Land Awards, but the big draw is the reunions, in which former castmates come together (sometimes after a span of decades) to reminisce about making the shows beloved by so many — including the stars themselves. Even actors like Tom Hanks and John Travolta have happily hit the stage to reunite with their small-screen families. Think of it like your high school reunion, except everyone’s well, famous and better looking. We look back at a decade’s worth of the TV Land Awards’ most star-studded cast reunions.

Tune in Sunday April 29 at 9PM/8C to see which casts reunite for the 10th Annual TV Land Awards!

2003: “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

The first TV Land Awards started its reunion tradition with a bang, bestowing the Legend Award to “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” In fact, series creator Carl Reiner was so inspired by the good vibes on stage that he suggested the cast get together again for a reunion episode — which later became the 2004 TV movie “The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited.”




2004: “The Andy Griffith Show”

The actors from “The Andy Griffith Show” (sans Ron Howard, though he’s a little busy these days) returned to Mayberry when the show received the Legend Award in 2004. Billy Bob Thornton, who presented the award to the cast of his “all-time favorite show,” reminisced, “‘The Andy Griffith Show’ got me through my childhood. Every time I was down, I would just dream I was in Mayberry.”




2005: “The Bob Newhart Show”

“Hi Bob!” One year after immortalizing Bob Newhart with a Chicago statue of his “Bob Newhart Show” character Robert Hartley, TV Land recognized the show’s iconic status — not with more statues, but with the easier-to-carry 2005 Icon Award. After all, what was Bob without his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette)?




2006: “Dallas”

Any show that had the entire country — the world, really — discussing “Who shot J.R.?” deserves the Pop Culture Award, which “Dallas” won in 2006. John Schneider and Tom Wopat, who can claim their own slice of pop cultural history as Bo and Luke Duke, presented the award to the reunited cast, though sadly, only Hagman wore a cowboy hat.




2007: “The Brady Bunch”

We knew it was much more than a hunch that this group called “The Brady Bunch” would someday win the Pop Culture Award. When the lovely ladies and the men named Brady met up at the 2007 show, Susan Olsen (Cindy) thanked “all of you who enjoyed my childhood — I enjoyed it, too”; and Barry Williams (Greg) explained, “Some people are blessed with one wonderful family, and some are blessed with two, like me.”




2008: “Roseanne”

A gaggle of Conners — including two different Beckys (Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke) — converged upon the 2008 TV Land Awards to accept the Innovator Award for their landmark show. Roseanne Barr, whom presenter Teri Hatcher deemed the original “desperate housewife,” expressed gratitude toward her TV family for giving her “the most fun you could ever hope to have in the world, for ten years.”




2009: “M*A*S*H”

Accepting the Impact Award at the 2009 TV Land Awards, the cast of “M*A*S*H” proved they still had chemistry when Alan Alda grabbed Loretta Swit to re-create the kind of lingering smooch their characters enjoyed three decades before. Who says you can’t still have hot lips in your 70s?




2009: “Married … With Children”

Dr. Phil presented the 2009 Innovator Award to the cast of “Married … With Children,” saying that the  Bundys were “strongest argument I’ve ever seen for mandatory birth control … the Cosbys they were not.” Taking her turn at the microphone, proud Bundy daughter Christina Applegate said, “We don’t get to see each other all that often … Thank you for giving us the opportunity to hang out at a table and be dysfunctional together one more time.”




2010: “Bosom Buddies”

Once upon a time — way back in 1980 — a young actor named Tom Hanks landed the lead on a sitcom called “Bosom Buddies.” Hanks doesn’t dress up in drag anymore (that we know of), but the Oscar winner demonstrated his loyalty to the show that gave him his break by accepting the 30th Anniversary Award, alongside Peter Scolari and the rest of their “Bosom” castmates. “For 39 measly episodes,” Hanks recalled fondly of the show’s two-season run, “all we did was laugh.”




2011: “Welcome Back, Kotter”

Before “Saturday Night Fever,” before “Grease,” before “Wild Hogs,” John Travolta was just Vinnie Barbarino, a kid with awesome hair on “Welcome Back, Kotter.” Travolta proved you can go home again — or back to school, anyway — when he reunited with his fellow Sweathogs to accept the 35th Anniversary Award, saying, “After 35 years, I wondered what Barbarino would be doing, and he’s standing here tonight very proud to be here.” Up your nose with a rubber hose right back atcha, Vinnie.

Half the fun (heck, maybe even 85% of the fun) of any awards show is seeing the celebrities hit the red carpet, decked out in all their finery. The TV Land Awards are no exception — plus there’s the added bonus appeal of spotting stars from your favorite TV shows of the past, celebrating their legacies with one more night in the spotlight. We’ve combed through the past decade of TV Land Awards to bring you 10 photos of honorees and presenters, looking red-carpet hot. 

Tune in to the 10th Anniversary TV Land Awards on Sunday, April 29 at 9PM/8C!

Barbara Eden

“I Dream of Jeannie” star Barbara Eden struck a pose — a genie pose, of course — at the 2003 TV Land Awards. Yes, master.

Marlo Thomas

It’s That Girl! Marlo Thomas hit the 2004 red carpet with herself (or rather, a doll replica of famed sitcom character) as her plus-one.

Eva Longoria

Far from desperate, Eva Longoria sparkled at the 2005 TV Land Awards, where she picked up the Future Classic Award along with her fellow “Desperate Housewives” castmates.

Kate Walsh

She plays a doctor on TV, but Kate Walsh was a candy striper on the 2006 red carpet when she and the rest of the “Grey’s Anatomy” cast arrived to accept the Future Classic Award.

John Amos, LeVar Burton and Ben Vereen

Their “Roots” go back 30 years, and John Amos, LeVar Burton and Ben Vereen showed they’re still (friendly) fighters in 2007 when they accepted the 30th Anniversary Award for their landmark TV miniseries.

Cast of “Golden Girls”

Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Betty White will always be golden, and they accepted the 2008 Pop Culture Award for “Golden Girls” just one month before the death of fourth castmate Estelle Getty.

Sarah Chalke

She played Dr. Elliot Reid on “Scrubs” for nine seasons, but Sarah Chalke was on hand at the 2008 TV Land Awards as part of her first TV family: the cast of “Roseanne,” which won the Innovator Award. Yes, in some circles, Chalke will always be known as “Becky 2.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

2009 Lucille Ball Legacy of Laughter honoree Julia Louis-Dreyfus — then starring in “The New Adventures of Old Christine” — showed up on the red carpet looking slim, stunning and yadda yadda yadda.

Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith

Good morning, angels! Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith reunited in 2010 to accept the Pop Culture Award for “Charlie’s Angels” and to pay tribute to fallen angel Farrah Fawcett, who passed away after a four-year battle with cancer in 2009.

“Family Ties” Cast

Once a Keaton, always a Keaton. The cast of “Family Ties” — Michael Gross (with wife Elza Bergeron, left), Meredith Baxter, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan — felt the family spirit when they accepted the 2011 Fan Favorite Award alongside Tina Yothers and Justine Bateman. Sha-la-la-la …