Oprah Winfrey Honors Shonda Rhimes at Sesame Workshop Gala
variety.comElizabeth Taylor Shonda Rhimes’ showrunner reign in Hollywood has seen many sunny days. The smash hit return of “Bridgerton” and her visionary career were celebrated during Sesame Workshop’s annual benefit in New York City last night where she was presented with the Joan Ganz Cooney Award. “Stories should not look like the gatekeepers.
Stories should look like the world,” Rhimes said from the stage while being honored at the gala which benefited the nonprofit media and educational organization behind “Sesame Street.” After accepting the award from presenter Oprah Winfrey, Rhimes reflected to the audience at Cipriani 42nd Street on how the children’s program influenced her life and established her advocacy for inclusivity. “I spend a lot of time talking about how the best storytelling acts as both a window and a mirror.
A window to view into somebody else’s life and a mirror to reflect your own. That window and mirror allow for empathy and insights.” The starry crowd including Martha Stewart and Lucy Liu along with president and interim CEO of Sesame Workshop, Sherrie Westin, listened as Rhimes spoke: “The sponge in me absorbed it.
And now it’s so ingrained in how I experience the world without even having to think about it. I’ve made sure that the window and mirror are part of every show I write.” Winfrey also spent time speaking from the podium about the role the showrunner has had over the years in the industry. “Both Shonda and ‘Sesame Street’ understand the impact that reflection can have for television audiences whether young or old.
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