Emmys are expanding ‘In Memoriam’ segment

Cory Monteith at the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at Nokia Theatre, L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, California. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/MCT)
Cory Monteith at the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at Nokia Theatre, L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, California. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/MCT)
By Yvonne Villarreal
Los Angeles Times via McClatchy-Tribune

LOS ANGELES — The “In Memoriam” segment at this year’s Emmys will be extended, with several actors and a producer receiving special recognition.

Among those to be spotlighted are James Gandolfini, whose “Sopranos” costar Edie Falco will speak; “Glee” star Cory Monteith will be paid tribute by costar Jane Lynch; Robin Williams will remember his “Mork and Mindy” friend Jonathan Winters; Rob Reiner will say some words about his “All in the Family” mother-in-law Jean Stapleton; and Michael J. Fox will pay tribute to “Family Ties” producer Gary David Goldberg.

“The ‘In Memoriam’ is a very emotional and evocative segment for the Emmys, or any annual awards program,” said the ceremony’s executive producer Ken Ehrlich. “These five individuals brought us such great entertainment and joy, so having their close friends share personal remembrances is something that will be very meaningful for television audiences across the country and across the generations. And our traditional ‘In Memoriam’ segment will be presented in a unique new format that will give added importance to an already much anticipated segment of the Emmy show.”

The ceremony will take place Sunday at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, with the broadcast airing on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. EDT.