Paul Shaffer Announced as Host of the2012 Canada's Walk of Fame Awards

Awards Broadcast Airs on Sunday, October 14^th - 8pm ET/PT on Global and Slice^TM

Inductees Include:

Randy Bachman
Phil Hartman
Russ Jackson
Sarah McLachlan
Sonia Rodriguez
Team Canada 1972

Plus, JUNO and GRAMMY^® Award-Winning R&B Artist Melanie Fiona to Receive the 2012 Allan Slaight Award

For additional photography and inductee bios visit: www.shawmediatv.ca
To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/RYSJiJ

TORONTO, Aug. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Shaw Media and Canada's Walk of Fame are proud to announce Paul Shaffer (@paulshaffer) as Host of the 2012 Canada's Walk of Fame Awards. Shaffer, a 2006 inductee, will emcee the prestigious Awards ceremony that introduces and honours this year's roster of inductees from Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre on Saturday, September 22^nd.

"It's an honour to return home to Canada and host the Walk of Fame Awards. Like every other year, the lineup of 2012 inductees is outstanding and I look forward to learning their stories," said Paul Shaffer, Host of the 2012 Canada's Walk of Fame Awards.

Broadcast on Sunday, October 14^th - 8pm ET/PT on Global and Slice^TM, the annual star-studded gala event will showcase top tier talents being honoured by colleagues with inspirational performances and touching words. A list of presenters and performers featured in the show will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Paul Shaffer is a familiar face to so many Canadians and we couldn't be more excited to welcome this accomplished talent and past inductee as Host of this year's Canada's Walk of Fame Awards," said Barbara Williams, SVP, Content, Shaw Media. "Paul's musical genius and famous comedic timing will add volumes to the broadcast that's all about celebrating the accomplishments of Canadians."

Musician, actor, author, comedian, composer and Canadian, Paul Shaffer has enjoyed a robust and diverse career in entertainment. Before signing on as David Letterman's musical director and sidekick more than 30 years ago, Paul wrote and directed music for theatre and television including the Broadway production of The Magic Show and Saturday Night Live. In addition to recording his own albums, Coast to Coast (1989) and The World's Most Dangerous Party (1993),

Shaffer has worked with a myriad of artists including Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant's Honeydrippers. Shaffer composed the Late Show theme song and, with Paul Jabara, wrote the #1 1980s dance hit "It's Raining Men." In 2002, he received his first GRAMMY^® Award for Best Country Instrumental and four years later he was awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2008, Paul received the Order of Canada - Canada's highest civilian honor. Shaffer holds two honorary doctorate degrees and resides in the New York area with his wife and two children.

"Paul is a very proud Canadian and one of the great musical minds of our generation. He has also become a wonderful friend of Canada's Walk of Fame. We are looking forward to having him back on our show," said Peter Soumalias, Founding Director, Canada's Walk of Fame.

The two-hour 2012 Canada's Walk of Fame Awards honours a selection of internationally recognized Canadian luminaries for their lifetime achievements in the fields of music, sport, film, dance and television, as well as the literary, visual and performing arts, science and innovation. Tickets to the Awards show are available to the public and on sale now. To purchase tickets, go to www.ticketking.com or call 416-872-1212. Canada's Walk of Fame is produced by Insight Productions.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: 

Twitter:
Global TV @Global_TV
Global TV PR @GlobalTV_PR

Facebook:
Global TV facebook.com/globaltelevision

Global Television is a Shaw Media network.
Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About Canada's Walk of Fame
Established in 1998, Canada's Walk of Fame (CWOF) aims to educate, inform, and inspire through the permanent celebration of achievements in Canadian music, sport, film and television as well as the literary, visual and performing arts, and science and innovation.  In 2010, CWOF expanded to include a festival of music, comedy and film featuring some of Canada's most popular and iconic performers. The annual celebration culminates in a televised awards special that honours Canada's finest stars from the worlds of arts, entertainment and sports. Each inductee is immortalized, their names forever cemented into the sidewalks of Toronto's Entertainment District. For a complete list of inductees along with more information on Canada's Walk of Fame visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com.

About Insight Productions
Insight Production Company Ltd, headed by John Brunton & Barbara Bowlby has become an industry leader in the creative development, financing and production of highly rated television programs and cutting edge multiplatform content for the global market in every genre. Since 1979, it has been recognized for its reputation for quality as the recipient of numerous international awards, including multiple Gemini's. The company has created thousands of hours of groundbreaking television that continues to be broadcast over major networks worldwide. Broadcast Magazine International claims that "when it comes to adapting formats for Canadian audiences there is one producer who appears to have the Midas touch." Recent hits include Canada's Got Talent, the JUNO Awards, which plays a key role in the Canadian music industry; Insight's original formats Canada Sings & Battle of the Blades, and Intervention Canada recently launching its second season.  Along with Shaw Media, Insight is excited to be in production on the Canadian edition of the Big Brother format, Big Brother Canada, which will hit the airwaves in 2013.  For more information visit www.insighttv.com, www.twitter.com/insightprod, and www.facebook.com/insightproductions.

SOURCE: Global Television

Chris McDowall
Global Television
[phone]
[email protected]

Adrienne Kakoullis
Holmes Creative Communications
[phone]
[email protected]

Jaclyn Atwood
Slice^TM
[phone]
[email protected]