Why the SAG Awards are Unique

Lauded by critics for its style, simplicity and genuine warmth, the Screen Actors Guild Awards®, which made its debut in 1995, has become one of the industry’s most prized honors. The only televised awards shows to exclusively honor performers, it presents thirteen awards for acting in film and television in a fast moving two hour show which airs live on TNT and TBS. The awards focus on both individual performances as well as on the work of the entire ensemble of a drama series and comedy series, and the cast of a motion picture. These honors are fundamental to the spirit of the Screen Actors Guild Awards because they recognize what all actors know – that acting is a collaborative art.

In that same spirit, the SAG Awards® also commends the outstanding performances by film and television stunt ensembles. These accolades are announced from the SAG Awards red carpet during TNT and TBS’ pre-show webcasts.

Other highlights of the Screen Actors Guild Awards include the Life Achievement Award, presented to an established performer for fostering the highest ideals of the acting profession and tributes to the varied talents within the Guild’s membership. SAG’s 46th Life Achievement Award was presented this year to Betty White. The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards’ salute to the SAG membership honored our comedic actors. In previous years, the SAG Awards have acknowledged stunt performers, background singers, dancers, background performers, character actors, regional actors, stunt women, animation voice-over performers, commercial actors, and child actors.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards are also unique in the size of its voting body. Two randomly selected panels of 2100 SAG members each from across the United States choose the nominees for television and motion pictures. The final ballot then goes out to the full guild membership -- approximately 100,000 members -- who select the outstanding performances of the year.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards is the only national network television show to acknowledge the work of union members. Screen Actors Guild is affiliated with the AFL-CIO through the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (the Four A's).

The Screen Actors Guild Awards also benefits the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, which provides a meaningful way for SAG members to contribute to the literacy of children in their communities through BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools), its online component, Storyline and the We The Children family-heritage book-writing project. SAG Foundation programs provide emergency relief to members in economic distress, video and audio preservation of the creative legacy of SAG members, scholarships for performers and their children and emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses.

PEOPLE magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) will host the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala for the 15th consecutive year.  This exclusive event honors the philanthropic causes and good works of the members of the Screen Actors Guild.  The gala, benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, will immediately follow the SAG Awards on the backlot of the Shrine Exposition Center.

SAG Awards Facts

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS January 30, 2011.  Nominations will be announced December 16, 2010.  For our other key dates, please see our full calendar.

The 17^th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be produced by Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. Jeff Margolis is the executive producer and director. Kathy Connell is the producer. JoBeth Williams, Daryl Anderson, Scott Bakula, Shelley Fabares and Paul Napier are producers for SAG. Gloria Fujita O’Brien and Mick McCullough are supervising producers. Benn Fleishman is executive in charge of production.  Rosalind Jarrett is the Executive in Charge of Publicity.  Jon Brockett is the Awards Coordinating Producer.

Screen Actors Guild is the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists’ rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents more than 125,000 actors who work in film and digital theatrical motion pictures and television programs, commercials, video games, industrials, Internet and all new media formats.  The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

TNT, one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama. Seen in 99.6 million households, the network is home to such original series as "The Closer," starring Kyra Sedgwick; "Leverage," starring Timothy Hutton; “Memphis Beat,” with Jason Lee; “Rizzoli & Isles,” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; “Men of a Certain Age,” with Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula; “Dark Blue,” starring Dylan McDermott; and “Southland,” from Emmy®-winning producer John Wells (“ER”). TNT also presents such powerful dramas as "Bones," “Supernatural,” “Las Vegas,” "Law & Order," “CSI: NY” "Cold Case" and “Numb3rs;” broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the “Screen Actors Guild Awards®”; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament will appear on TNT beginning in 2011. TNT is available in high-definition.

TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's top-rated comedy network and is available in 100.1 million households.  It serves as home to such original comedy series as "My Boys," "Are We There Yet?” and Tyler Perry's “House of Payne" and “Meet the Browns;” the late-night hit “Lopez Tonight,” starring George Lopez, and the upcoming late-night series starring Conan O’Brien; hot contemporary comedies like "Family Guy” and "The Office;" " specials like "Funniest Commercials of the Year"; special events, including star-studded comedy festivals in Chicago; blockbuster movies; hosted movie showcases and championship sports.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.