Pete's Big TVs Project the Past at TV Land Awards

Tune in to the TV Land Awards 2011 and you're bound to be entertained by the reunions of old TV friends. Characters Alex P. Keaton (Michel J. Fox), Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta), Bill Huxtable (BIll Cosby) and more all return with much of their sitcom families to be honored in the ninth annual awards. Taped April 10 at New York's Jacob Javits Center, the TV Land Awards 2011 will air April 17 in a 90-minute telecast on its own network.

Pete's Big TVs/Performance Video was responsible for much of what made up the production: bringing the past back to life. The projection of classic sitcom footage and career highlights of the honorees served as the visual centerpiece of the night.

Production designer Anne Brahic designed a set piece looking like a half moon. This 110'' by 30' rear projected scenic piece made up the majority of the set. Behind it hid 12 projectors connected to six Catalyst media servers. Digital content included a cityscape and the TV Land logo, along with other graphics used for musical numbers starting with the show opener, Liza Minnelli's rousing rendition of "New York New York" complete with (real, not digital) Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.

A Lighthouse R6 6 mm LED screen (measuring 14' by 19') at center stage served as the main screen for displaying content of TV footage and other clips shown during cast/career highlights.

Scott Chmielewski programmed and operated the media servers, with Nicholas John as tech. The PBTV/PV team included Guy Benjamin with crew Matt Ellar, Brent Jones and Jody Lane as LED and projection techs.

Also on the creative team were LD Tom Kenny and artistic director Star Kahn.

"As a TV Land viewer," says Benjamin, "it's fun to be involved working with a ceremony honoring some of America's favorite sitcom casts and TV legends."