PRODUCTION TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE "69TH PRIMETIME EMMY(R) AWARDS," TO BE BROADCAST SUNDAY, SEPT. 17 ON CBS

CBS and The Television Academy announced today the production team for the 69TH PRIMETIME EMMY(R) AWARDS, to be broadcast LIVE from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 17 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/5:00-8:00 PM live PT) on the CBS Television Network. White Cherry founders Glenn Weiss (executive producer/director) and Ricky Kirshner (executive producer) will be joined by industry leaders Steve Bass, Dave Boone, Bob Dickinson, Sarah Levine Hall, Danette Herman, Rickey Minor and Rob Paine to produce the telecast. As previously announced, Chris Licht, executive producer of THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, is a producer.

Emmy Award winner Stephen Colbert, the multi-talented host of THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, is set to host, marking his first time as master of ceremonies for the event.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning production designer Steve Bass has designed some of the most prestigious shows on television, including the "Academy Awards(R)," the "GRAMMY(R) Awards," the "Tony Awards(R)" and multiple "Emmy(R) Awards" productions. His company, Hasbas Entertainment, also provides design and creative direction for live productions.

Head writer Dave Boone has won two Emmy Awards for his work on the 63rd and 64th "Tony Awards" and has been nominated 11 times, including this year for the "70th Annual Tony Awards." Also, Boone has written for 11 "Academy Awards" telecasts, the "Kennedy Center Honors," "The Golden Globe(R) Awards," "The Academy of Country Music Awards," "The Screen Actors Guild Awards," "The Television Academy Honors" and "The Television Academy Hall of Fame."

During an accomplished career that spans decades, lighting designer Bob Dickinson has earned 20 Emmy Awards and is among the most recognized and respected lighting designers in the entertainment industry. Dickinson's credits include the "Academy Awards," the "Tony Awards," the "Golden Globe Awards" and the "GRAMMY(R) Awards." He has worked on numerous television shows, including "Conan" and "Duets," music specials for the Eagles, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Celine Dion, U2, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, the television musicals "The Sound of Music Live!" and "Peter Pan Live!," and the "Super Bowl Halftime Show" a dozen times.

Sarah Levine Hall joins the Emmy Awards production team as coordinating producer for the first time. Hall has worked on multiple projects with White Cherry Entertainment, including the last 12 Tony Awards telecasts and the "Kennedy Center Honors." Also, her credits include the "Super Bowl Halftime Show," the "Democratic National Convention," "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony," "Night of Too Many Stars" and many other televised events and specials.

An invaluable member of the Emmy Awards production team, Danette Herman serves as talent producer for the 28th year. Herman's credits include the "Kennedy Center Honors," "Academy Awards," "Tony Awards," "Producers Guild Awards," "The Peabody Awards" and "Hollywood Film Awards."

Rickey Minor is a composer and music director who has worked with such renowned recording artists as Whitney Houston, Adele, Keith Urban, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Usher and Beyoncé. His numerous television credits include "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "American Idol" and the "Kennedy Center Honors." Additionally, he has worked on several major live events and award shows, including some of the most memorable Super Bowl and GRAMMY Awards performances. He has received seven Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Music Direction for his work on "Genius: A Night for Ray Charles," "An Evening of Stars: A Tribute to Chaka Khan," "The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards," "The 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards," "Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House," "Stayin' Alive: A GRAMMY Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees" and "Taking The Stage: African American Music."

Supervising producer Rob Paine has more than 200 television credits to his name, earning six Emmy Award nominations and a 2012 Peabody Award. For more than 20 years, Paine has specialized in live, large-scale television events, including the "Academy Awards," the "Super Bowl Halftime Show," the "Kennedy Center Honors," political conventions, concerts and comedy specials.

About White Cherry Entertainment

Since partnering in 1999 to form White Cherry Entertainment, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner have become one of the most sought-after and award-winning television producing teams in the world. White Cherry Entertainment specializes in creating compelling live events and translating that same energy to broadcast viewers at home. The company's wide-ranging credits include some of the most critically acclaimed and highest-rated television specials, stadium spectaculars, and events in recent memory. They are well known for producing the perennial award-winning "Tony Awards(R)" for the last 13 consecutive years, and also for producing the "Kennedy Center Honors," "NFL Opening Kickoff" specials and "Super Bowl Halftime Shows," the "Democratic National Convention," "The Daytime Emmy Awards," Presidential Inaugural Galas, the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular," and numerous others. In addition to the many shows they produce together, they have individually been involved as producer or director on many other big event programs, such as the "Academy Awards(R)," "Peter Pan Live!" and "Live from Lincoln Center," among others. To date, White Cherry Entertainment has won eight Emmy Awards, while Kirshner and Weiss have individually received an additional four Emmy Awards, seven Directors Guild Awards, a Peabody Award, and 36 Emmy Award nominations.

About the Television Academy

The Television Academy seeks to expand the horizons of television excellence. It strives to empower storytellers who shape the evolving television space through the programs, publications and events of the Academy and its Foundation. And it celebrates those who have led excellence by recording their stories and recognizing their achievements through accolades and awards, including television's most coveted prize, the Primetime Emmy Award. For more information, please visit Emmys.com. For more information and updates on the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, visit Emmys.com and follow @TelevisionAcad on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.