AMY SCHUMER TO RECEIVE "CRITICS' CHOICE MVP AWARD" AT THE "21ST ANNUAL CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS"

J.J. ABRAMS TO PRESENT INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC WITH THE "CRITICS' CHOICE GENIUS AWARD"

EMPIRE, FRIENDS, GAME OF THRONES, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, OUTLANDER, AND THE WALKING DEAD NOMINATED FOR "MOST BINGEWORTHY" FAN-VOTED AWARD

ACTOR AND COMEDIAN T.J. MILLER WILL HOST THE CEREMONY, BROADCAST LIVE ON A&E, LIFETIME AND LMN ON JANUARY 17TH AT 8PM ET/5PM PT

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 12, 2016) - The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced today that award-winning actress, writer and producer Amy Schumer will receive the "Critics' Choice MVP Award" at the "21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards". It was also announced that J.J. Abrams will present the "Critics' Choice Genius Award" to Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), which is being recognized for its 40 years of revolutionizing filmmaking. The "21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards" will be hosted by actor/comedian T.J. Miller and broadcast live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on A&E, Lifetime and LMN on Sunday, January 17 at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT. The "Critics' Choice Red Carpet Live" show will air on A&E at 7PM ET/4PM PT, just before the ceremony, and is hosted by Entertainment Tonight's Samantha Harris and Kevin Frazier, and Fandango's Dave Karger.

Amy Schumer is the creator, star, writer and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody Award winning Inside Amy Schumer, the popular Comedy Central television series which premiered in April 2013 to the network's highest season premiere ratings of the year. Schumer's provocative and hilariously wicked mind is on full display as she explores topics revolving around sex, relationships, and the general clusterf*ck that is life through a series of scripted vignettes, stand-up comedy, and man-on-the-street interviews. The show, which was recently picked up for a fifth season by Comedy Central, will be premiering in April 2016.

Last fall the show was honored with the first-ever Emmy Award for "Outstanding Sketch Variety Series" and Schumer also received honors for "Individual Achievement in Comedy" and "Outstanding Achievement in Comedy" from the Television Critics Association, the Critics' Choice Television Award for "Best Actress in a Comedy Series" and The Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for "Excellence in Comedy." Schumer also hosted the 2015 MTV Movie Awards.

Her one-hour HBO comedy special, "Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo," directed by Chris Rock premiered on October 17th. It was HBO's most watched Saturday night comedy special debut since December 2009.

Simon & Schuster's imprint Gallery Books recently purchased her book which is set to be released in late 2016.

The "Critics' Choice Genius Award" will be given to ILM in recognition of its 40 years of revolutionary moviemaking that changed entertainment forever. Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams will be on hand to present the honor. For four decades, ILM has set the standard for visual effects, creating some of the most stunning images in the history of film. At the forefront of the digital revolution, ILM continues to break new ground in visual effects. ILM has been awarded 15 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, received 26 Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards, and was presented with the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 2004. Founded in 1975 by George Lucas, ILM is the leading effects facility in the world, serving the motion picture, commercial production and attraction industries. ILM has created visual effects for over 250 feature films, including all seven Star Wars episodes, the Jurassic Park Franchise, the Harry Potter series, the Indiana Jones films, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Iron Man, Transformers, and The Martian.

"The BFCA and BTJA are thrilled to be honoring someone as wildly talented and multifaceted as Amy Schumer with our second MVP Award. With her work in both film and television Amy proves that she can make us laugh until it hurts whatever the platform," said BFCA/BTJA's President Joey Berlin. "For our Genius Award this year, there seemed no more deserving recipient than Industrial Light & Magic. For the last 40 years, George Lucas and his extraordinary team have changed the way we see film and the industry would not be the same without their groundbreaking work."

BTJA also announced the nominees for the "Most Bingeworthy Show" award, which include Empire, Friends, Game of Thrones, Orange Is The New Black, Outlander, and The Walking Dead. Beginning today, fans will be able to vote for their favorite on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by publicly posting #[Show Name]CCA or at http://www.aetv.com/shows/the-21st-annual-critics-choice-awards/exclusives/bingeworthy-poll. An awards show first, fans will also be able to vote by posting a tweet using the following emojis (along with the @CriticsChoice handle):

· #TheWalkingDeadCCA OR skull emoji @CriticsChoice

· #GameofThronesCCA OR crown emoji @CriticsChoice

· #FRIENDSCCA OR people holding hands emoji @CriticsChoice

· #EmpireCCA OR lion emoji @CriticsChoice

· #OITNBCCA OR orange emoji @CriticsChoice

· #OutlanderCCA OR crossed swords emoji @CriticsChoice

A&E has created a helpful tutorial so fans can learn how to play an active role in voting for their favorite shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QYLkUU5_Pc.

The winner will be announced live at the Critics' Choice Awards on January 17.

Follow the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards on Twitter (@CriticsChoice) and Instagram (@CriticsChoice), and on Facebook (Facebook.com/CriticsChoiceAwards).

About BFCA/BTJA

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 300 television, radio and online critics. The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) is a partner organization made up of TV, radio and Internet journalists who cover television on a regular basis. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com

About A&E

Now reaching more than 96 million homes, A&E is the home to quality original content that inspires and challenges audiences to BE ORIGINAL. A&E offers a diverse mix of uniquely immersive entertainment ranging from the network's original scripted series, including "Bates Motel" and "Damien" to signature non-fiction franchises, including "Duck Dynasty," "Wahlburgers" and "Storage Wars." The A&E website is located at aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.