Los Angeles, 11th September 2016
American Idol has been awarded the Governors Award at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday night in Los Angeles. Simon Fuller was joined on stage by Fox Television Group Chairman and CEO Dana Walden and Cecile Frot Coutaz from FremantleMedia Group CEO. In the 15 years American Idol has been running it has been nominated 67 times in total, and in its final year won the Governors Award.
Find below Simon’s full speech from the night.
It’s been 15 years but this is the first Emmy we actually won for the show. Can you believe that?
There are so many people to thank. To start from the beginning with the contestants so much unbelievable talent. The judges. We’ve had so many judges, thank you to all of them. The producers and all the people behind the scenes that make the show, which is complicated.
I’d like to mention a few people by name: Jeff Frasco and CAA who sold the show from the beginning. Mike Darnell and everyone at FOX whose always supported us, thank you. And three English gentlemen who are very dear to me, Simon Cowell, my old buddy, Kenny Warwick the brilliant producer and Nigel Lythgoe one of my very best friends, who is an awesome producer, awesome guy. The co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance. I love you Nigel, I think you are out there.
Cecile, one of my partners from the very beginning, we’ve worked together from the good times and bad, and here we are friends forever. And to Trish who is the future of American Idol. A beautiful lovely lady.
And to Dana. Thank you for bringing the show back in 2018. We can’t wait.
And finally Ryan Seacrest who without a doubt American Idol’s best host. See you in 2018.
Ends