female announcer: This program is made possible, in part, by Easterseals, Claudia and Kevin Bright, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, The Walt Disney Company, Paramount, and The Murray/Reese Foundation.

[glassware clinking] [broom sweeping] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ We can make the world better ♪ ♪ if we come together ♪ ♪ You watch out for me, I watch ♪ ♪ out for you ♪ ♪ Know you got my back, you know ♪ ♪ I got your back too ♪ ♪ United we stand, ♪ ♪ divided we fall ♪ ♪ All for one, one for all ♪ ♪ Said, we can make the world ♪ ♪ better if we come together ♪ ♪ Right face, forward march ♪ ♪ Get the drums out ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ We can make the world better ♪ ♪ if we come together ♪ ♪ I said, we can make the world ♪ ♪ better if we come together ♪ male: Welcome to the 2024 Media Access Awards.

Let's go!

♪ We can make the world better ♪ ♪ if we come together ♪♪ announcer: This year's recipients include Eric Graise, Marion Dayre, Shoshannah Stern, Joshua Feldman, Maribeth Fox, Jillian Mercado, Michael J.

Fox, and Danny Kurtzman, with special tributes to Norman Lear, presented by Jimmy Kimmel; and Christopher Reeve, presented by Alexandra Reeve Givens.

Special performances by Gaelynn Lea and Natasha Ofili, with your host Daryl "Chill" Mitchell.

Welcome to the 2024 Media Access Awards.

Please welcome your host for this evening, actor, comedian, and activist Darryl "Chill" Mitchell.

♪♪♪ Daryl Mitchell: Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the 2024 Media Access Award.

First, let me acknowledge our opening act.

the amazing Samooka.

[applauding] Now, this, by the way, is the only TV show of its kind, whose sole purpose is to celebrate the achievement of disabled people in mainstream media.

And tonight, we have the largest TV audience ever.

[applauding] Now, like many people, I haven't always been disabled.

A disability can strike any person, any time, any age, regardless of race, religion, or economic status.

It's an equal opportunity offender, yeah.

In my case, I was pursuing an acting career, until the day in 2001 when I was riding my motorcycle down a mountain path.

I hit a rock, I landed in this chair, and I had to re-invent my life.

But soon, it struck me that chair or no chair, I'm still me, and that still me as an actor.

And I got right back in the game.

Next up, I'm doing a new comedy called "Shifting Gears" with Tim Allen, coming out in January.

About it--how about it?

Yes.

So tonight we're gonna meet an array of talent that defies every stereotype about living with disability.

So, let's get it going.

Our first presenter is here to recognize someone who helped start the movement for greater presence of disability in television.

Y'all, give it up for my main man Jimmy Kimmel.

♪♪♪ Jimmy Kimmel: Thank you, Daryl.

I feel--I didn't know I was your main man.

I had no idea, but I'm delighted and I'm gonna make this quick because I'm parked in one of your spots.

Back in 1979 Norman Lear, Fern Field, and other forward thinkers gathered to create this event, the Media Access Awards and at that time, they were next to no people with disabilities on TV or in film.

So they ended up giving the awards to each other and splitting the bill.

And the following year at the second Media Access Awards, a young stand up comedian with cerebral pausing named Jerry Jewel performed on stage and brought the house down so much so that Norman Lear immediately hired her to play a recurring character on his show, "Facts of Life."

Jerry was the first disabled actor in the history of television to get a role like that.

Norman Lear really was at the beginning of every forward trend in television through his characters and his shows, he tackled previously forbidden topics like racism, anti-Semitism, and misogyny themes.

We are still all too careful about addressing to this day and that's why the shows Norman made don't feel old and it's also one of the reasons why I partnered with Norman on our project live in front of a studio audience.

Jimmy: Tonight we go back to the late '70s and early '80s with the man who brought us "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons," "Good Times," Sanford & Son," "Maude," the shows we are bringing back to life tonight, and many more.

Please say hello to Norman Lear.

[audience applauding] ♪ Well, we're movin' on up, movin' on up ♪ ♪ To the East Side ♪♪ Lionel Jefferson: One taste of these lips and they'll follow the lead to Kid Dynamite!

[audience cheering] James Evans: Where you been?

Florida Evans: Oh, out.

James: Out where?

Florida: Oh, you know, the usual places.

You know, the market, the bakery, the five and dime, Jim Pearson's rally, the drugstore, and um-- James: Oh, oh, wait a minute!

Back up there a minute.

Where'd you say you were?

Florida: Drugstore.

James: No, baby.

Go back a little bit more.

Florida: Five and dime.

James: Back a little bit more.

Florida: Market.

James: No, baby, not come forward just a wee taste.

Florida: Bakery.

James: No, no, no, not the bakery.

Florida: Jim Pearson's rally.

James: Ah, bingo!

♪ Five golden rings ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a-- ♪ ♪ Four calling birds, three French hens ♪♪ Willis Jackson: I got nowhere to go to think my deep thoughts!

Arnold Jackson: What you talking about, Willis?

[audience cheering] ♪♪♪ ♪ You the good, you take the bad ♪ ♪ You take them both and there you have the facts of life ♪ ♪ The facts of life ♪ ♪ There's a time you gotta go, show you're growing ♪ ♪ Now you know about the facts of life ♪ ♪ The facts of life ♪♪ Norman Lear: So all you people at the Media Access Awards, thank you for watching this.

I'm pleased to think you consider me still a part of it all.

[audience cheering] Jimmy: Thank you, Norman.

You are still very much a part of it all.

As I said on my own show, after his death, Norman was one of the most important and impressive people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

We miss him every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday at around noon.

And now, let's give out our first award of the night.

To present it, please welcome one of the stars of the number one scripted show of last season, from "Tracker," Fiona Rene.

[audience applauding] Fiona Rene: Well, hi, y'all.

Hello and thank you, Jimmy Kimmel.

It is an honor to be here and present this year's winner of the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award.

Now, Harold Russell, a double amputee, starred in the 1944 classic, "The Best Years of Our Lives" and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

His legacy is truly remarkable.

Now, this year's recipient of this award, Eric Graise, is also an amputee.

Eric initially studied music, then opera, then dance.

Okay, leave some for the rest of us.

And then he danced his way into prominence in the series "Step Up: High Water."

He then turned to acting in series like "Lock & Key" and "Queer as Folk," and now stars as Bobby, the computer genius on "Tracker."

Everybody could use a little bit of Eric in their life, so let's all take a moment to appreciate some of Eric's incredible work.

[phone vibrating] Bobby Exley: What up, Steve?

Colter Shaw: Looks like Sun was trying to repay a loan she'd taken out.

Bobby: Who was she borrowing money from?

Colter: Well, sure as hell wasn't JP Morgan Chase.

Bobby: Loan sharks.

Colter: Yep.

That scumbag Prine lured her into an alley, meet the money guys.

She fought back.

They took her.

Bobby: Okay.

So where would they take her and why?

Colter: Dunno.

I got a partial plate of a van.

Bobby: Give me five minutes.

Reenie Greene: Has he talked to you at all about his family?

Bobby: No.

Reenie: It's a lot to unpack there.

Bobby: All right, you can't just drop that and then not tell me.

Reenie: Well, all this time and you haven't snooped?

Bobby: No, strict code, no snooping on friends.

Reenie: Good on you.

If you had, you'd know that his dad died when he was young.

I mean, circumstances are complicated to say the least, and it is not my story to tell, but if I was a bettin' gal, which I am, I'd say that loner thing that he does has something to do with that.

Bobby: Ooh, he would 100% hate this conversation.

Fiona: It is my great privilege to present the 2024 SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award to my dear friend and very talented Eric Graise.

[audience applauding] Eric Graise: Oh, excuse me.

I was back there trying to keep it together.

[laughs] First off, I would like to thank the National PWD SAG-AFTRA Committee that nominated me for this.

It's amazing.

Oh, I would also like to thank my good friend Fiona Rene, like, my absolute rock on this show, and my family, my mother, my sister, and my father for supporting me.

I'm sorry.

[audience applauding] I was almost afraid to receive this award.

I always tell people I'm not an advocate for disability, I advocate.

I think the people who deserve the title of advocate are the ones who dedicate their lives to this and their careers.

People like Christine Bruno, Gregg Mozgala, Nic Novicki, Douglas Scott, Anita Hollander are just a few names of the many people with disabilities who have helped me get here and be standing here today, been talking with you guys.

So I dedicate this award to the artists who have had to struggle with being seen for their creativity and not just the way they look.

I dedicate this award to the writers and the directors and the producers who take a chance to writing a well-rounded disabled character who's not just there for representation.

And I dedicate this award to all you guys who are celebrating these artists, so thank you.

[audience applauding] announcer: Please welcome Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin.

[audience applauding] Marlee Matlin: Thank you.

I'm so happy to be here tonight to present the Writers Guild of America West Evan Somers Award.

When Disney Plus and the Marvel Cinematic Universe decided to launch the mini series "Echo," they knew that they had a unique opportunity.

Echo, the central character, is deaf and the actress portraying her, Alaqua Cox, is deaf, an amputee, and Native American.

[audience applauding] They chose as head writer a woman, Marion Dayre, skilled at writing rich, offbeat characters as she has done as executive story editor and writer on the acclaimed series "Better Call Saul."

But she wasn't deaf and knew that to represent an authentic deaf character she needed deaf writers.

So, she brought in two exceptional deaf writers, Shoshanna Stern and Josh Feldman, both of whom had created their own deaf-centered series for Sundance Now.

The show was called "This Close."

In the end, "Echo" was in good hands.

Let's watch some clips from "Echo."

♪♪♪ [clasp unlocking] [clasp unlocking] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ [audience applauding] Marlee: So this year's winners of the Writers Guild of America West Evan Somers Memorial Award are Marion Dayre, Shoshanna Stern, and Josh Feldman.

♪♪♪ [audience applauding] Josh Feldman: I would like to thank the Media Access Awards for hosting this evening.

And many thanks also go to Marvel for green-lighting a show about a deaf amputee anti-hero and female and Native.

So, thanks also to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, who are great collaborators.

This award means a lot to me because I know it's from the WGA Disabled Writers Committee, and they know exactly the kind of people to try and be in a writer's room and you have to advocate for something that you're almost sure that no one else in the room understands the value of.

So on "Echo" I got to work next to a deaf writer and an indigenous writer, which was awesome to be in the room full of people advocating for each other and storytelling.

And also for tonight.

It's for people few and far in between, but I will treasure it for a long time.

Thank you so much.

[audience applauding] Shoshanna Stern: As a little girl, I always dreamed of seeing a deaf superhero on screen one day.

I never thought it would become a reality.

But maybe that's why even after Marvel hired me to write and develop "Echo" I didn't quite believe it, until the premiere.

When I saw Maya's deaf mom signing to her, the signing machine Fisk uses, Maya turning the music up to disable her enemies in the roller rink, and even the simple fact that her relatives in Tahoma signed while nobody in New York City did, I cried.

I cried because all these instances would never have come to life if they were not born out of lived experience.

And that is exactly why you need to hire deaf and disabled writers.

[audience applauding] I really wanna thank Marvel and our showrunner Marion for recognizing and validating that.

But most of all, thank you.

Because you all watched "Echo," it went to number one on Disney Plus and Hulu.

[audience applauding] And because of that, we now have unarguable proof that hiring authentically on both sides of the screen, in front of and behind, pays off, literally.

And now my daughter and other children like her are growing up in a world where a female, deaf, indigenous amputee superhero is not a dream but a simple truth.

[audience applauding] Heres to more authentic and three-dimensional representation.

Thank you.

[audience applauding] announcer: Now please welcome documentary filmmaker Alexander Freeman.

[audience applauding] Alexander Freeman: Good evening, I just finished a film about my life called "My Own Normal," which I produced, directed, and starred in.

Tonight, I am here to introduce our next entertainer.

She plays the violin beautifully and sings beautifully.

She will be performing her original composition, "Someday We'll Linger in the Sun."

The winner of NPR's "Tiny Desk Contest," she has also collaborated with Michael Stipe and original the original score for "Macbeth" on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga.

Ladies and gentlemen, a truly wondrous performer, Gaelynn Lea, accompanied by Dave Miller.

♪♪♪ ♪ Our love's a complex vintage wine ♪ ♪ All rotted leaves and lemon rind ♪ ♪ I'd spit you out but now you're mine ♪ ♪ We bit the fruit, it seemed a lie ♪ ♪ I'll never know which way was right ♪ ♪ Now side by side we face the night ♪ ♪ And I love you And I love you ♪ ♪ And I love you And I love you ♪ ♪ We walked the pier and back again ♪ ♪ It was the most scared I've ever been ♪ ♪ You held my hand until the end ♪ ♪ And I love you And I love you ♪ ♪ And I love you ♪ ♪ Don't tell me we've got time ♪ ♪ The subtle thief of life ♪ ♪ It slips away when we pay no mind ♪ ♪ We pull the weeds out till the dawn ♪ ♪ Nearly too tired to carry on ♪ ♪ Someday we'll linger in the sun ♪ ♪ And I love you ♪ ♪ And I love you And I love you ♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ [audience applauding] Gaelynn Lea: Thank you.

[audience applauding] Daryl: Our next presenter, he's a remarkable guy.

He's an actor, stand up comedian, fierce disability advocate, and he's the creator of the annual filmmaker competition called the Easterseal Disability Film Challenge.

This is my man, too, y'all.

Give it up for Nic Novicki.

[audience applauding] Nic Novicki: Thanks, Chill.

Daryl "Chill" Mitchell!

I am excited to be here.

It's been an exciting year for me.

I've been touring a lot, which is awesome.

I was just in Hawaii performing and that was amazing because my favorite thing to do is snorkel.

Like, I'm such a fan of snorkeling, I bring a snorkel with me everywhere I go in case there's a pool there.

So when I got to Hawaii, I was in the ocean snorkeling within a half hour, and I noticed that there's a guy fishing.

So just very casual, I go up to him.

I was like, "Hey, did you catch anything?"

He's like, "Yeah, I got a shark earlier but, you know, 4 footer.

No big deal."

I was like, "I'm 3 foot 10.

That is a very big deal.

That is my Great White and we are gonna need a bigger boat."

Thank you so much.

I am here to present the Easterseals Impact Award.

As the largest disability services organization in the country, Easterseals has been providing life-changing programs for over a century.

In order to help change the way the world defines disability, Easterseals created the Impact Award, honoring an individual who through their work, activism, and public discourse has advanced the effort of disability acceptance and inclusion, yes.

This year's recipient is actress, fashion model, and disability activist Jillian Mercado, yes.

Jillian has appeared in campaigns for Nordstrom's, Target, and all kinds of big brands.

As an actress, she's been seen in "The L Word: Generation Q" and in an upcoming film "The Paper Bag Plan," which has hit in the film festival circuit, yes.

So let's take a look at some of her work.

Maribel: Hey!

Micah Lee: Hey.

Micah Lee: You look good.

You look good.

Maribel: Thanks.

Oh!

Oh, wow.

It smells terrible in here.

Micah: Yeah, sorry.

I kind of almost burned the kitchen down earlier.

Maribel: Oh God!

Micah: No, no, don't worry about it, it's okay.

Look, okay, I know the last time we saw each other things didn't end well, but it doesn't have to be the end, right?

Like, I don't want it to be the end.

Maribel: Okay.

Micah: I've watched "Love & Basketball," I dunno, six times since I last saw you and I think we're as good as them.

Maribel: No, we're not, nobody is.

Micah: Maribel...

I love you and I know you love me too.

Maribel: Would you bet on it?

Micah: I would bet my whole heart.

[audience applauding] Nic: So please give a warm round of applause for the one, the only, Jillian Mercado.

[audience applauding] Jillian Mercado: Okay, off to a great start.

Gracias, Nick.

I am truly honored to accept the Easterseals Impact Award.

This recognition of my work in advocacy for disability acceptance and inclusion in the entertainment industry is profoundly meaningful to me.

My journey has been one of resilience, determination, and a commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are authentically represented and valued in media and entertainment.

Our unique perspective not only enrich storytelling but are essential to the industry's evolution.

A heartfelt thank you to Easterseals and the Media Access Awards, to my familia and friends.

Where are you?

Where are you?

Where are you?

There you are.

Hi!

Your support has been my guiding star.

To the disability community, God, do I love us.

This award is for all of us, highlighting the vital role we play in shaping inclusive narratives.

Thank you.

[audience applauding] announcer: Here to present our next award, the star of "Wonderstruck," "A Quiet Place," and the upcoming "Ballerina Overdrive," Millicent Simmonds.

Millicent Simmonds: Hello.

Maribeth Fox, the recipient of this year's Casting Society Award, has a pretty big fan club, but there's no bigger fan than me.

I was a 12-year-old theater kid who had no idea becoming an actor was possible for someone like me.

And that's because I had never seen anyone like me or my language on screen before.

I had very little experience when Maribeth believed in me and cast me in a beautiful film called "Wonderstruck."

And the rest is history.

As I say at every opportunity, Maribeth Fox discovered me, and I owe my career to her.

[applauding] But I am not alone.

She has cast wonderful actors in wonderfully diverse movies such as "Olive Kitteridge," "Mildred Pierce," and the just released, "A Different Man."

[audience applauding] She sees authentic casting as a professional obligation and has been at the forefront for years.

She is clearly one of the best.

Let's hear from another fan, the star of "A Different Man," Adam Pearson.

Adam Pearson: Hi, I'm Adam Pearson.

You might recognize me from the movie, "A Different Man," written and directed by Aaron Schimberg and also starring Sebastian Stan.

Now, enough about me.

Tonight, the Casting Society honors the continued work of Maribeth.

She's made great strides in the authentic representation of disability, and I humbly agree and support this award.

It is not before time.

So, Hollywood, get a look at greatness, learn a lot from greatness, and I will see you all real soon.

Take care, PBS.

[audience applauding] Millicent: Thank you, Adam.

Now let's take a look at some of Maribeth's work.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ [creaking] [ceiling crashing-in] ♪♪♪ Oswald: Your friend plays a man with a disfigured face.

Named Edward.

male: Disfigured face?

Oswald: And he dons a very convincing mask.

Edward: Well, it's still being perfected.

It's a prototype.

Oswald: It's a sort of "Beauty and the Beast" kind of role.

Edward: I love "Beauty and the Beast"!

Oswald: It's called just "Edward."

[audience applauding] Millicent: It is my true honor to present the 2024 Casting Society Award to my friend and mentor Maribeth Fox.

[audience applauding] Maribeth Fox: I am so touched that Millie is here today to have the privilege of being inspired by her grit and talent.

To know the magical human that she is, is one of the many reasons that I'm so lucky to be a casting director.

She is really the reason I stand here today.

Thank you to the Media Access Awards and the Casting Society of America for honoring "A Different Man."

I'd like to thank Christine Vachon and Killer Films, A24, Aaron Schimberg, and Vanessa McDonnell for being amazing collaborators, Adam Pearson, Sebastian Stan, and Renate Reinsve for committing to bold, brave, authentic storytelling.

To Joe, Jonah, and Charlie for being my whole world, and to my mentor of 16 years, Laura Rosenthal, for always encouraging us not only to think outside of the box but to acknowledge that there really is no box if your imagination is wild enough.

[audience applauding] And as if those years couldn't get any better, I got Jody and Kim as coworkers and the dearest friends.

I'd like to offer one really big thank-you to PBS for airing these awards.

My religious mother cannot watch a lot of the indies that I cast due to language, sexual content, and time conflicts with "The Price is Right" and "Wheel of Fortune," but she can watch me receive this, and I hope she and my dad are proud.

Thank you so much.

[audience applauding] ♪♪♪ Daryl: Nice, nice, nice.

Is everybody enjoying the show?

All right.

Now, our next performer is a young actor who recently collaborated with Chris Martin and the band Coldplay for a unique deaf interpretation of their new Grammy-nominated song, "feellikeimfallinginlove."

Now, for this to work, I need you guys to take your cell phones out, because I need your lights.

Come on, now.

Get them lights out.

That's what I'm talking about.

I wanna introduce you this girl, she's bad.

Y'all gonna really enjoy this.

Please welcome Natasha Ofili.

[audience applauding] ♪♪♪ ♪ I know that this could hurt me bad ♪ ♪ I know that this could feel like that ♪ ♪ But I just can't stop ♪ ♪ Let my defences drop ♪ ♪ I know that I was born to kill ♪ ♪ Any angel on my windowsill ♪ ♪ But it's so dark inside I throw ♪ ♪ the windows wide ♪ ♪ I know, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪ ♪ I know, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪ ♪ Still, I don't let go ♪ ♪ And fields of flowers grow ♪ ♪ Oh, it feels like I'm fallin' in love ♪ ♪ Maybe for the first time ♪ ♪ Baby, it's my mind you blow ♪ ♪ It feels like I'm fallin' in love ♪ ♪ You're throwin' me a lifeline ♪ ♪ And this is for a lifetime, I know ♪ ♪ I know that in this kind of scene ♪ ♪ Of two people, there's a spark between ♪ ♪ One gets torn apart ♪ ♪ One gets a broken heart I know, ♪ ♪ la-la-la-la-la- la-la-la-la ♪ ♪ I know, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪ ♪ Still, I don't let go ♪ ♪ And fields of flowers grow ♪ ♪ Oh, it feels like I'm fallin' in love ♪ ♪ Maybe for the first time ♪ ♪ Baby, it's my mind you blow ♪ ♪ It feels like I'm fallin' in love ♪ ♪ You're throwin' me a lifeline ♪ ♪ And this is for a lifetime, I know ♪♪ [audience applauding] announcer: Welcome actor, writer, and advocate Selma Blair.

[audience applauding] Selma Blair: Thank you so much.

Even before my diagnosis of MS in 2018, I reached out to Michael J.

Fox, trusting him with my secret of some movement disorders and a constant twitching of my pinky finger for a whole year before that.

I had recalled some of the details of his own early days with Parkinson's and there was comfort in knowing there was a great human being and fellow actor who could offer some wisdom.

Not long after he reached back, I did manage to get an MRI and the life-altering diagnosis I had advancing MS for many years already.

Not only did this hero write me back, he actually made the most caring gesture.

He came to my house, which was not very accessible, by the way, and--many stairs--and he buoyed my spirits and faith in carrying on with life.

He instilled determination and the invaluable comfort and strength that comes from the generosity of another human spirit like Michael's.

I wasn't alone.

From the moment he publicly announced his own Parkinson's disease in 1998, Michael has been a tireless crusader for advancing a cure for Parkinson's and raising awareness and visibility of this devastating disease.

His foundation, the Michael J.

Fox Foundation, has raised billions of dollars for research.

In a "Time" magazine accolade, he was identified as someone whose power, talent, or moral example is transforming the world.

He transformed so many lives of my generation and beyond with his obvious star power and comedic brilliance.

And then as a human being, he proved his worth a billion times over.

And he does it all with easy charm, disarming humor, and his trademark sparkle and wit as we saw in last year's Davis Guggenheim's incredible documentary, "Still: A Michael J.

Fox Movie."

Let's watch some of Michael's extensive work.

boy: But I'm gonna blow it.

Look at all those people looking at me.

male: You're gonna make history, kid.

Michael J.

Fox: Laughter is-- you can't help it.

Alex P. Keaton: Aha!

Good, good, good, good!

[audience laughing] Michael: I just found something, a way to communicate with you.

You have no answer for it except to make a noise.

Alex: This could affect his entire life.

[audience laughing] Alex: Yeah, well, let me tell you something.

You are about the most unfriendly, self-righteous person I have ever met.

Alex P. Keaton, sophomore hospitality committee.

Alex: What has become of me?

Everything's fine.

The sleeping is going A-okay.

Marty McFly: Jesus Christ, Doc!

You disintegrated Einstein!

Dr. Emmett Brown: Calm down, Marty!

I didn't disintegrate anything.

Dr. Brown: In about 30 years?

Marty: I hope so.

Marty: I got all the time I want.

I got a time machine.

I can just go back early and warn him.

Okay, ten minutes ought to do it.

Engine running.

All right.

Michael: I should have seen it coming.

The cosmic price I had to pay for all my success.

The story of me.

Take two.

Yeah, you're bigger than me.

You'll beat me up.

But I'll hit you once and you'll hurt.

I wanted to be in the world and not take this and retreat from the world and realize what I still have to give.

Michael: I find it extremely moving, no pun intended, to be here today-- [audience laughing] male: The Fox Foundation has revolutionized scientific philanthropy, mobilized the Parkinson's community, and raised nearly $2 billion.

Michael: When I'm with with my family, there's no, "Poor baby!

I feel your pain.

I feel so bad for you."

That would be the worst thing they could do to me.

I couldn't be still in my life, I couldn't be present in my life, until this thing happened to me that made me present in every moment of my life, because it was shaking me awake.

[audience applauding] Selma: I am so honored to present my friend Michael J.

Fox with the distinguished Norman Lear-Geri Jewell Lifetime Achievement Award.

Unfortunately, Michael can't be here in person tonight, but we have the next best thing.

From New York, it's Michael J.

Fox.

[audience applauding] Michael: Thank you, Selma.

I'm very grateful for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

I'm especially grateful that I'm associated with Norman Lear and Geri Jewell.

Two amazing people.

I actually know them both.

I worked with Norman in the late '70s and early '80s, and hard to believe I was an adult how long ago, but he was an amazing guy, clearly.

And taught me so much.

Talk about learning at the feet of the master, just an amazing human being.

Very funny, very generous.

And he, oh, he saved democracy, did I mention that?

And he had so much to teach us, even still about humor and about acceptance, about everyone having a story and those stories all being important.

And as we'll tell you about those with disabilities and challenges, Norman included them in our world.

And it's important because we are part of the world and we have a lot to offer.

I wanna also mention that I knew Geri, was part of the NBC sitcom family in the '80s.

And so, we'd meet at events and functions and promotional activities, and she would always struck me as so brave.

But more than that, more than that, funny, so funny.

So like, and she had such a strong point of view.

If you didn't like it, kiss her-- She didn't take care.

And so, I'm so grateful to, again, be associated with those two and receiving this award.

I also wanna say, I saw a sign in England when I was over there this summer, huge sign that said "Optimism is a political act."

We all should remember that optimism is a political act.

It means a lot to be optimistic and be grateful, and with gratitude, optimism is sustainable.

Thank you all very much.

[audience applauding] Daryl: Here tonight to honor the remarkable life and work of her father and my dear friend Christopher Reeve, please welcome his daughter, Alexandra Reeve Givens.

♪♪♪ [audience applauding] Alexandra Reeve Givens: Thank you so much, Chill.

I am so thrilled to be here at this wonderful event which celebrates disability and media.

And this year, my dad.

When the movie "Superman" came out in 1978, the tagline was, "You'll believe a man can fly."

But beyond the special effects, my dad took a comic book hero and made him human.

When he became paralyzed from a horse accident in 1995, he challenged, again, what it means to be a hero.

Unable to breathe on his own or move his body below the neck, he showed that strength can be measured by a person's determination and by their character.

He used his platform to advance disability research, awareness, and acceptance, work that continues today through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

He wrote soul-baring books about his experience, testified before Congress, and not only returned to the screen as a disabled actor but achieved his lifelong dream of directing too.

In the last few months, 20 years since we lost him, a documentary about my dad's extraordinary life has been released in theaters nationwide.

It's a story of a man whose life was tragically transformed, but who turned his personal circumstances into a crusade for social justice.

Let's watch some clips from "Super/ Man: The Christopher Reeve Story."

[audience applauding] [screaming] [screaming] male: What the hell's that?

♪♪♪ Superman: Easy, miss.

I've got you.

Lois Lane: You--you've got me?

Who's got you?

Christopher Reeve: I lay on my back frozen, unable to avoid thinking the darkest thoughts.

I won't be able to ski.

I won't be able to sail.

I won't be able to make love to Dana.

I won't be able to throw a ball to Will.

I won't be able to do a thing.

male: He was in and out of consciousness.

Alexandra: He was having clearly what were horrible hallucinations.

Christopher: I'm in prison.

Somebody please let me out.

For some reason I didn't get my hands down and break my fall.

Dr. Steven Kirshblum: Chris had just started to wean himself off the ventilator, and there was this one young boy who had tried to wean but failed.

And Chris went and spoke to him, and the boy simply said, "Christopher Reeve spoke to me, I'm gonna wean."

It just showed you the quality of the individual, that it wasn't all about him.

And I wonder if a case like that made him think, I can probably do more in helping other people with spinal cord injury.

male: There is no question that Christopher Reeve has become a quite stunning icon for the paralyzed community and for the disabled community in general.

male: Chris and Dana, they've made a difference.

They are making a difference in the continuation of the foundation.

Dr. Kirshblum: Both Chris and Dana did a really good job, clearly, because now these children aren't children anymore, and look at what they're doing.

Alexandra: Fifty-six and a half million Americans living with disabilities.

Matthew Reeve: Over $130 million in funding to labs around the globe.

Will Reeve: What's happening right now is the beginning of the end of paralysis.

[audience applauding] Alexandra: Now here to present the annual Christopher Reeve Acting Award, please welcome Molly Burke.

[audience applauding] Molly Burke: Thank you so much, Alexandra.

It is such an honor to be presenting this award alongside you.

Your father and the documentary were both absolutely incredible.

Following his accident, Christopher Reeve understood better than anyone the plight that all disabled performers experience and he established a cash award to support young disabled actors in pursuing their dreams and making it in Hollywood.

Tonight, the honoree receiving the Christopher Reeve Acting Award is a true talent: Danny Kurtzman.

He recently starred in an independent film called "Good Bad Things," which, in many ways, mirrors his own experience living with muscular dystrophy.

And when his childhood friend, writer, and director Shane Stanger approached him with the idea, together they decided to write a story about love, disability, and self-acceptance.

And incredibly, this is his first feature role, which you will not believe when you see these clips from "Good Bad Things."

[audience applauding] ♪♪♪ [audience applauding] Alexandra: It's my honor to announce this year's winner of the Christopher Reeve Acting Award, the very talented Danny Kurtzman.

[audience applauding] Danny Kurtzman: Oh, what a night.

Thank you, Media Access and the Reeve family, for this amazing award, especially honoring me as a first-time actor.

Doing "Good Bad Things" is a dream come true.

I love this art and I can't wait to make more of it.

I had the privilege of watching the Chris Reeve documentary in theaters a couple weeks ago and my favorite story from it was Christopher's relationship with his best friend Robin Williams and their unique, deep love that they had for each other, and how much Robin meant to Christopher, and how much Christopher meant to Robin.

I'm very grateful to have a best friend like that in my life.

Shane, thanking you for believing in me and telling my disabled story in our beautiful film, "Good Bad Things."

It has already impacted so many people.

For so much of my life I accepted stories as my truth, that because I'm disabled life's just gonna be hard.

I'm lucky if I find love, I'm a defect of the society we lived in.

Until recently, I found this amazing coach who's now one of my closest friends, Carson Tueller, who taught me to start listening to my own feelings.

And the moment I started listening to my own feelings, I realized none of those stories are my stories, none of those were true.

So I wrote my own story, that I'm perfect, that I love being disabled, that my disability is my superpower.

And I truly believe that if we as a community can listen to our own feelings and write our own story about what it means to be disabled, it will unleash the power where anything is possible.

[audience applauding] I dedicate this award to my brother Drew.

I love you.

I miss you every single day.

Thank you so much for having me.

[applauding] Daryl: Well, that's our show.

Quite an amazing group, huh?

[audience applauding] I hope you guys had as much fun as I did.

Y'all ain't gotta go home, but y'all know what y'all got to do.

Good night!

[audience applauding] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ announcer: This program is made possible, in part, by Easterseals, Claudia and Kevin Bright, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, The Walt Disney Company, Paramount, and The Murray/Reese Foundation.

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