Flacks & Hacks Celebrated at Annual Showmanship Awards

[Warren Cowan, 1921-2008, honored at the ICG Publicists Awards; Photo from a profile in the Los Angeles Times]

Chuck Lorre on entertainment publicists: “dream weavers who spin our personal shit into gold.”

The above quote from Hollywood producer Chuck Lorre captures the tenor of the 46th Annual Showmanship Awards (yes, since 1963). The awards brought the big entertainment publicists together with the media for a congenial luncheon to celebrate the best in the business yesterday. Lorre was on hand as the winner of Television Showman of the Year.

Warner Brothers snagged both Showmanships for film and TV publicity for The Dark Knight and Gossip Girls. Lance Volland and Kristi Strupinsky accepted on behalf of each respectively.

According to Variety: “Rogers & Cowan co-chairman Paul Bloch got the proceedings under way by honoring Warren Cowan, who died last year. Bloch asked praisers who had worked under Cowan’s wing to rise, and there were many.”

The recently retired PR legend Pat Kingsley picked up the Les Mason Award for career achievement.

Like many other TV people lately, Lorre took a jab at the tough times and lack of revenue sharing for digital content:

“Lorre said looking down into the Beverly Hilton ballroom crowd put him in mind of “the ballroom scene in ‘Titanic.’ ” Citing the tough economic times, the producer of CBS’ comedy “Two and a Half Men” added, “Hopefully, CBS won’t go bankrupt, forcing me to do one of those four-minute Web site pieces of … .”

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