Quinta Brunson to Receive 3rd Annual Mary Tyler Moore Visionary Award at TV FYC Fest

Variety, along with Mary Tyler Moore’s husband Dr. S. Robert Levine, will present Quinta Brunson with the third annual Mary Tyler Moore Visionary Award at TV FYC Fest on May 6 in Los Angeles. In addition to the awards presentation, the day features genre-focused discussions featuring the creators and talent behind the year’s most talked-about Emmy-contending series.

Brunson, the multiple award-winning actress who made history as the first Black woman to receive three Emmy nominations, is the star, creator, showrunner, head writer and executive producer of the acclaimed mockumentary series “Abbott Elementary.” She is a trailblazer in comedy who successfully transitioned from short-form videos to network television showrunner.

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The multi-hyphenate actor and series creator will be introduced by Moore’s husband, Dr. Levine, Founder and CEO of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative, which is a non-profit that advances research to preserve and restore vision in people with diabetes.

The award, named in honor of the legendary actor, recognizes groundbreaking achievements in storytelling. Both Brunson and Moore have not only entertained but have also paved the way for future generations of creators, particularly women, to be lead players in the television industry.

“Just as Mary Tyler Moore fundamentally changed society’s perception of women’s roles by showing an independent working woman navigating her life and career with grace, humor, and real friendships, Quinta Brunson is doing the same for a new generation,” said Dr. Levine, Moore’s husband of 33 years. “With ‘Abbott Elementary,’ Brunson has brought that same ego-less, ensemble-driven genius of the ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ back to broadcast television, proving that a hopeful, smart workplace comedy can still change the world,” he added.

Brunson will be joined by previously announced speakers Octavia Spencer, Josh Charles and Billy Magnussen, among others at Variety’s FYC TV Fest. Partners include Fox Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, Investigation Discovery, FX Networks, Peacock, and AMC. Request an invite at variety.com/tvweek.