PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA HONORS AWARD-WINNING TELEVISION PRODUCER MARK BURNETT WITH THE 2010 NORMAN LEAR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Producers Guild of America (PGA), a national non-profit trade group committed to protecting the rights and credits of producers in film, television and new media, announced today that award-winning television producer Mark Burnett will receive the PGA's 2010 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. The Norman Lear Award will be presented to Burnett at the 21st Annual PGA Awards ceremony on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Hollywood Palladium. Burnett is the first producer of reality programming to be awarded the Norman Lear Achievement Award by the PGA.

"Mark Burnett is an extraordinarily gifted and prolific producer who has truly changed the television landscape with his award-winning reality programming," said PGA Awards Co-Chairs Laurence Mark and David Friendly. "Mark has made a tremendous impact on the television industry worldwide, and we look forward to honoring his remarkable achievements."

"It is a huge honor for me to receive the Norman Lear Achievement Award," said Mark Burnett. "Just to have my name mentioned in the same sentence as Norman Lear is truly a reward in itself."

Last year, the PGA Norman Lear Award was presented to David Chase. Previous recipients include Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, John Wells, Lorne Michaels, Bud Yorkin, Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, David L. Wolper, Don Hewitt, Garry K. Marshall, Aaron Spelling, Steven Bochco, David E. Kelley, and, of course, Norman Lear.

Burnett is a leading executive producer for primetime television, cable and the Internet, and has produced over 1,100 hours of television programming which regularly air in over 70 countries around the world. Burnett has revolutionized television with continuing hits such as "Survivor" (CBS), "The Apprentice" (NBC), the now syndicated "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (FOX), which is currently being produced in 55 countries, the daytime syndicated hit "Martha," and the new hit series "Shark Tank" (ABC); giving Burnett different series on each of the four major networks.

Burnett has garnered other current hit cable series in 2009 with "Bully Beatdown" (MTV), "StarMaker" (MTV), and "How'd You Get So Rich" (TV Land). In the summers of 2007, 2008, and 2009, Burnett entered the world of award shows, when he served as executive producer for the MTV Movie Awards. Additionally, Burnett is on board to produce the 36th annual People's Choice Awards, which will air on CBS in January of 2010. Since 2001, Burnett shows have garnered a total of 60 Emmy nominations including two wins for best reality series, along with four People's Choice Awards, also for favorite reality series. Burnett has been named one of the most influential people in the world by TIME magazine and named TV Guide's most valuable player. He has won BRANDWEEK'S Marketer of the Year Award, The Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, and the prestigious ROSE D'OR FRAPA Format Award. In 2007, Burnett was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. In July of 2009, Burnett was honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.