WILL Press Room
WILL-TV Documentaries Win Emmy Nominations
Monday, August 24, 2009
The WILL-TV documentaries Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency and Memorial Stadium: True Illini Spirit have been nominated for four Mid-America Emmy Awards.
The Lincoln program, which focused on Abraham Lincoln’s experiences as a lawyer on the circuit in central Illinois, was nominated for best historical documentary. Alison Davis Wood produced the program, and Tim Hartin and Colin Hartin were co-producers.
Wood was also nominated in the program writing category, and Tim Hartin and Colin Hartin were nominated along with Julius Bolton for program photography, all for the Lincoln documentary.
Memorial Stadium: True Illini Spirit, produced by Denise La Grassa and John Paul, was also nominated as best historical documentary. It told the surprising history of the University of Illinois football stadium, from the Galloping Ghost who emerged on dedication day, to crucial wins and losses, to the feats of players with names like Butkus, Grabowski, and Halas.
“We’re thrilled and honored that the Mid-American Emmy Awards recognized these two programs with nominations,” said Illinois Public Media general manager Mark Leonard. “Both were well-received by our viewers, and viewers at other public broadcasting stations. We’re glad the Emmy judges recognized their excellence as well.”
The Memorial Stadium program aired on WILL-TV and other Illinois PBS stations in September 2008, and the Lincoln documentary aired last February on PBS stations across the country during Lincoln’s Bicentennial.