TV’s socially conscious shows honored

After school specials no longer corner the market on socially conscious television. The Television Academy announced which eight programs would be honored for promoting social responsibility.

Honorees include episodes of CSI, Glee, and Private Practice. Maria Shriver’s HBO special on Alzheimer's disease called Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? will also be honored. Shriver’s father suffers from the disease, making the special a personal endeavor for her.

"Part of what we're trying to do is recognize how these programs fit into the jigsaw puzzle of our culture and of our business," TV Academy Chairman John Shaffner told Variety.

There were over 150 submissions, which the Academy weeded down to 25 finalists. As the search for the eight honorees narrowed, Shaffner said the debate intensified.

“This is an evening that makes us all really, really proud to be in the business we're in,” said Shaffner.