Oklahoma’s 2009 Gracie Allen Award winners: Dr. Phil, Bob Dotson
Two media men with Oklahoma connections will receive Gracie Allen Awards from The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television.
Dr. Phil McGraw, who was born in Vinita, and Bob Dotson, director of special projects for WKY-TV (now KFOR) from 1969-75, are among the 54 national winners who were announced Tuesday (Feb. 24). “The Dr. Phil Show” was named outstanding interactive web site for the second consecutive year, while the “Today” show segment “American Story with Bob Dotson” won outstanding hard news program for its feature titled “Section 60.”
The 34th Annual Gracie Awards, presented to recognize and encourage positive and realistic portrayals of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other 
programs, will be formally bestowed at a black-tie Manhattan gala on June 3.
One of the judge’s comments on Dotson’s winning entry was this: “Bob Dotson has made an effort — all of his career — to look behind the media mirror that reflects the powerful and find tales of women who are practically invisible, the ones who quietly change our lives, but don’t send out press releases.”
“Section 60″ tells the story of mothers who gather at Arlington National Cemetery to watch over their sons and daughters who died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The piece, a little over four minutes long, originally aired on NBC on Veteran’s Day 2008. It can be viewed online at www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27578185/.
Local market, public and student winners of 2009 Gracie Awards will be announced later this week. So there could be more recipients from Oklahoma.
Last year’s winners with state ties numbered six. “Saving Grace” creator Nancy Miller from Oklahoma City was named outstanding producer of an entertainment series, while “Saving Grace” star Holly Hunter, who plays an Oklahoma City police detective, was outstanding female lead in a drama series.
“Pushing Daisies,” the ABC series starring Lee Pace (born in Chickasha) and Kristin Chenoweth (born in Broken Arrow) won for outstanding comedy. “The Dr. Phil Show” won its first web site award. And KFOR in Oklahoma City collected awards for outstanding hard news feature (”Jane Jayroe’s Battle”) and outstanding soft news feature (”The Paris Twins”).
–Penny TV
Here is a list of national winners for The 34th Annual Gracie Awards (for a list of past winners, as well as tickets to this year’s gala, go to www.TheGracies.org).
••Alexandra Wallace, Outstanding Producer – News Series or Special (NBC News)
••All My Children, Outstanding Daytime Drama (ABC)
••America’s Dirty Little Secret, Outstanding Investigative Program (CNN)
••Barbara Walters, Outstanding Host – Information or Entertainment (Sirius/XM Radio)
••Brian Ross Investigates: Raped in Iraq, Outstanding Investigative Program (ABC News)
••Candy Crowley Reports on Hillary Clinton’s Bid for the White House, Outstanding Feature – Hard News Program (CNN)
••Child Soldiers, D.R. Congo, Outstanding Documentary – Short Format (NBC News)
••China’s Devastating Quake, Outstanding Series (CBS News)
••CNN Heroes 2008, Outstanding Special (CNN)
••CNN Presents: Sarah Palin Revealed, Outstanding Documentary – Mid-Length Format (CNN)
••Corny Koehl, Outstanding Producer – Entertainment Series (Harpo Radio)
••Debbi Morgan in All My Children, Outstanding Female Lead – Daytime Drama (ABC)
••Designing Women – Alba Colon, Outstanding Feature – Soft News Program (ESPN)
••Dianne Wiest in In Treatment, Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series (HBO)
••Dr. Maya Angelou Show, Outstanding Talk Show (Harpo Radio)
••Dr. Phil, Outstanding Interactive Web site (The Dr. Phil Show)
••E! True Hollywood Story: Mariska Hargitay, Outstanding Portrait/Biography (E!)
••Every Woman Counts Campaign, Outstanding Public Service Announcement – Campaign (Lifetime Television)
••Half of Us — Cutters, Outstanding Public Service Announcement – Single Entry (MTV On-Air Promos)
••Healthcare ‘08: Search for Solutions, Outstanding Public Affairs Program (Retirement Living TV)
••High School Confidential, Outstanding Reality Show (WEtv)
••I Am American Business, Outstanding Commercial – Campaign (CNBC)
••Kathy Griffin in My Life on the D List, Outstanding Female Lead – Comedy Series (Bravo)
••Katie Couric, Outstanding Anchor News or News Magazine (CBS News)
••Lady Mechanics, Outstanding Feature – Soft News (World Vision Report)
••Laura Linney in John Adams, Outstanding Female Lead – Drama Special (HBO)
••Live in Concert, Outstanding Special (Pineapple Producations)
••Maria Hinojosa, Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent (NOW on PBS)
••Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: SVU, Outstanding Female Lead – Drama Series (NBC)
••Mighty Macs, Outstanding Sports Program (ESPN)
••Miley Cyrus, Outstanding Female Lead – Comedy Series, Children/Adolescent (Disney Channel)
••Molly Solomon, Outstanding Producer – Entertainment Series or Special (NBC Sports)
••Muslim Polygamy in America, Outstanding Series (National Public Radio)
••Picking Up the Pieces, Outstanding Documentary – Mid-Length Format (AARP – Primetime Radio)
••Polygamy: A World Apart – Segments: Escape & the Reunion, Outstanding Magazine (CBS News)
••President Musharraf, Outstanding Interview Program (CBS News)
••Rachel Maddow, Outstanding Host – News Program (MSNBC)
••Ramona & the Unruly Dog, Outstanding Comedy (Greater Media)
••Ruby, Outstanding Reality Show (Style Network)
••Samantha Who?, Outstanding Comedy (ABC)
••Section 60, Outstanding Feature — Hard News Program (NBC News)
••Sharon Liese, Outstanding Director – News Series or Special (WEtv)
••Susanna White, Outstanding Director – Entertainment Series or Special (HBO)
••Suze Orman in The Suze Orman Show, Outstanding Host – Information or Entertainment (CNBC)
••The Bonnie Hunt Show, Outstanding Talk Show (Telepictures)
••The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo, Outstanding Documentary – Long Format (HBO)
••The Satellite Sisters, Outstanding Podcast (Satellite Sisters/Mudbath Productions)
••The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Outstanding Drama (ABC Family)
••Till Fear Do Us Part, Outstanding Public Affairs Program (Voice of Our World)
••Traylor Howard in Monk, Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy Series (USA Network)
••True Jackson, VP, Outstanding For Adolescent Program (Nickelodeon)
••Unsung . . . Family Voices on Mental Illness, Outstanding Public Service Announcement – Campaign (Mennonite Media)
••Who Cares About Girls: Sex Workers or Victims (Outstanding Documentary – Mid-Length Format (Oxygen)
••WordGirl, Outstanding For Children Program (Scholastic Media)
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Please put Dr. Phil back on in Houston Texas give him time slot!