Cris Abrego
That idea is at the heart of the Television Academy. We have a responsibility to preserve the history of our medium, to recognize excellence and, in doing both, to inspire the generations who will shape its future. For more than 40 years, the Hall of Fame, whose new class of inductees we celebrated just last month, has been one of the meaningful ways we fulfill that mission.
It was an occasion for us to honor seven pioneers whose contributions have driven indelible progress for our industry and for our culture. Ted Danson and Jean Smart have become part of our cultural heritage through their unforgettable performances and iconic characters. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have spent nearly three decades pushing boundaries through comedy while speaking truth to power across the political and cultural spectrum. Sheila Nevins raised the bar for documentaries with the depth and breadth of her storytelling, while the late Ed Bradley brought courage, humanity and truth to his journalism. And the visionary leadership of Ted Sarandos has transformed not only the television business but how audiences around the world experience our medium.
I am thankful to our esteemed industry leaders who gave their time and insight to serve on this year’s selection committee: WME co-founder and head of television Rick Rosen, who chaired the committee, as well as 20th Television president Karey Burke, Emmy-winning producer Marcy Carsey, Universal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe, former Warner Bros. and Fox chief exec Peter Roth and former CBS Entertainment chairperson Nina Tassler.
The 28th Hall of Fame ceremony kicked off a newer tradition at the Academy: our second-annual Televerse, which is quickly becoming the premier festival for those of us who make television and those of us who simply love it. This year we hosted more than 2,000 attendees at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE for a three-day lineup of over 60 sessions that captured the best of TV’s past, present and future, from reunions for Band of Brothers and My So-Called Life (the latter’s Wilson Cruz also played Ricky Ricardo for a live reading of I Love Lucy’s iconic “Vitameatavegamin” episode for the sitcom’s 75th anniversary) to buzzy conversations with reality casts including The Traitors and Summer House and thought-provoking panels about the new frontiers of television across digital platforms and beyond.
It was an action-packed way to end the summer, and I want to extend gratitude to my colleagues on the Board of Governors and the Academy staff, who worked tirelessly to make sure that this year’s event was even better than the first. And there could be no better way to lead us to the biggest celebration of all.
See you at the Emmys!
This chair letter originally appeared in emmy magazine, issue #11, 2026.
