On Feb. 27 stars from “Glee,” “American Horror Story” and “The New Normal” gathered at the Paley Center to support showrunner extraordinaire, Ryan Murphy, as he received the first ever Icon Award.
“Glee’s” real life sweethearts, Lea Michele (Rachel) and Cory Monteith (Finn) attended the event together and Michele tweeted the following message of praise for Ryan Murphy last night:
“A beautiful night honoring the amazing @MrRPMurphy:) So happy for him. What a joy to be in such an amazing room with such incredible people.”
Lea Michele and Cory Monteith attended the ceremony along with “Glee” co-stars Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Naya Rivera, Jayma Mays and Chord Overstreet.
“American Horror Story” attendees included Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe and Dylan McDermott. “The New Normal” stars present included NeNe Leakes, Georgia King, Justin Bartha, and BeBe Wood.
NeNe Leakes affectionately referred to Murphy as her “Fairy God Mother” in her message to Twitter fans earlier today She said:
“Here’s me & my girl @NayaRivera supporting our fairy God Mother @MrRPMurphy http://lockerz.com/s/285551264”
Leakes also tweeted a photo of herself with Chris Colfer and her “New Normal” co-star Georgia King, a girls time photo laughing with Lea Michele and a group photo with her “Glee” family Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chord Overstreet. Leakes plays Roz on “Glee” and Rocky on “The New Normal.”
Earlier today, Feb. 28, Murphy tweeted his thanks to all of his Icon Award supporters, along with the video compilation of his work that was featured. He said:
“Some of my career in under 5 min! Thx to all who supported me at the Paley Center’s Icon Awards. So proud & blessed! http://youtu.be/EvQkEKqm-PI”
Murphy was honored as the first ever Paley Center for Media Icon Award recipient, for his outstanding and groundbreaking contribution to the television landscape. Murphy is lauded by many as a pioneer in terms of creating socially conscious television that promotes inclusion and celebrates all forms of diversity in race, sexual orientation, religion and disability.
“Glee” has been instrumental in promoting a strong anti-bullying message and featuring same sex male and female teen couples in Klaine and Brittana.
The first kiss between “Glee” characters Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) and the young couple subsequently losing their virginity to each other became landmark events in television, for “Glee” fans at large, and particularly for members of the LGBT community, who thanked Murphy profusely via Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites for giving them a gay teen couple they could relate to in Klaine.
“The New Normal” is the first series to feature a male gay couple as the main characters and Bryan Collins (played by Andrew Rannells) is based on Ryan Murphy.
Pat Mitchell, Paley Center President & CEO addressed Murphy’s prolific television career and contribution in a statement on Paley Center’s website saying:
“Ryan Murphy is a true innovator and one of the most original creators working in television today. Each of his series has been a game changer in the medium, and continues to inform the cultural conversation. We can’t imagine a more fitting PaleyFest Icon for the Festival’s 30th anniversary.”
The Icon Award ceremony kicked off PaleyFest 2013. “The New Normal” PaleyFest panel will appear on Mar. 6 and the “American Horror Story” panel will appear on Mar. 15.
Click here to visit the PaleyFest website for more information on the entire lineup.
“Glee” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on Fox. “The New Normal” airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. EST on NBC. “American Horror Story” returns this fall on FX.
