Six Emmys awarded to KET productions
From the Underground Railroad to a Lexington man who races and photographs pedigree pigeons, six KET productions telling the stories of the people, history, and heritage of the Commonwealth received Regional Emmy Awards Saturday night.
Click any of the links below to watch these programs online now.
Kentucky Veterans of the Vietnam War: In Their Own Words, produced by Tom Bickel, was recognized in the Military Program category. Narrated by Kentuckian Nick Clooney and rich in archival photographs and home movies, it focuses on the intimate, ground-level experiences of Kentucky troops in Vietnam.
Forgotten Fame: The Marion Miley Story was honored in the Documentary-Historical category. Produced by Beth Kirchner, Craig Cornwell, and Shae Hopkins, it reveals the nearly forgotten story of the Lexington golfer who was tragically murdered while at the height of her career in the 1930s.
“Haunted Louisville,” a program in the Kentucky Life series, received an Emmy in the Magazine Program category. Produced by Frank Simkonis, it investigates Old Louisville’s haunted histories and re-enacts several of the eerie happenings lurking behind the exteriors of its elegant mansions.
”The Pigeon Photographer,” produced by Steve Shaffer, was honored in the the Magazine Feature/Segment category. The Kentucky Life segment spotlights Lexington photojournalist David Stephenson, and reveals the beauty and endurance of the birds, as well as the stunning pictures Stephenson creates.
Kentucky Life’s “Underground Railroad in Boone County,” produced by Simkonis, received an Emmy Award in the Magazine Feature/Segment category. Here, viewers learn about the county’s role in efforts to help escaped slaves cross the nearby Ohio River toward freedom in the North.
The Hilltoppers, produced by Tom Thurman, Teresa Day, and Shae Hopkins, was recognized in the Nostalgia Program category. It tells the story of the unassuming quartet from Bowling Green who made the astonishing rise from college singers to national fame — culminating in 21 songs on the Top 40 charts.
“I’m incredibly proud of our staff and their work” said KET executive director and CEO Shae Hopkins. “These Emmy awards are a testament to KET’s high-quality productions and our dedication to serving the people of the Commonwealth.”
The awards are bestowed by the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). Recognizing excellence in local news, programming and individual achievement, they are one of the industry’s highest honors.