August 3, 2011 - CBC Television received ringing industry endorsement this morning for its continued contribution to quality Canadian programming, garnering more than 150 nominations from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s 26th Annual Gemini Awards.

“CBC Television would like to extend our deepest congratulations to all of the nominees this year. This is a true celebration of the strength of our talent both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes,” said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice-President, English Services. “These nominations reinforce CBC Television’s commitment to providing high-quality Canadian programming that both develops and showcases Canada’s increasingly rich talent pool.”

Select Gemini Award nomination highlights received by CBC Television include:

BEST COMEDY PROGRAM OR SERIES · 22 Minutes · Rick Mercer Report · Halifax Comedy Fest 2010

BEST DRAMATIC SERIES · The Tudors

BEST MUSIC, VARIETY PROGRAM OR SERIES · Battle of the Blades

BEST REALITY PROGRAM OR SERIES · Dragons’ Den

BEST TALK SERIES · George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight · Mansbridge One on One

BEST INDIVUAL PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAM OR SERIES · Rick Mercer, Rick Mercer Report

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAM OR SERIES · Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford, Geri Hall, Cathy Jones, 22 Minutes · Peter Keleghan, Erin Agostino, Carl Alacchi, Angela Asher, Ellen David, Stacey Farber, Al Goulem, Tiio Horn, Jesse Rath, Michael Seater, Arielle Shiri, 18 To Life

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A CONTINUING LEADING COMEDIC ROLE · Peter Keleghan, 18 to Life

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A CONTINUING LEADING DRAMATIC ROLE · Michael Riley, Being Erica

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A CONTINUING LEADING COMEDIC ROLE · Angela Asher, 18 to Life · Grace Lynn Kung, InSecurity

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A CONTINUING LEADING DRAMATIC ROLE · Erin Karpluk, Being Erica · Krystin Pellerin, Republic of Doyle

BEST PERFORMANCE OR HOST IN A VARIETY PROGRAM OR SERIES (INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE) · Shae-Lynn Bourne, Patrice Brisebois, Battle of the Blades · Ron MacLean, Kurt Browning, Battle of the Blades

BEST HOST OR INTERVIEWER IN A GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST OR TALK PROGRAM OR SERIES · George Stroumboulopoulos, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight · Debbie Travis, All For One with Debbie Travis · Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld, Creative Block

BEST HOST OR INTERVIEWER IN A NEWS INFORMATION PROGRAM OR SERIES · Tom Harrington, Marketplace · Mark Kelley, Connect with Mark Kelley · Amanda Lang, The Lang & O’Leary Exchange · Linden MacIntyre, the fifth estate · Peter Mansbridge, CBC News The National

BEST HOST OR INTERVIEWER IN A SPORTS PROGRAM OR SPORTSCAST · Ron MacLean, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada · Scott Oake, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada - After Hours · Scott Russell, FIFA World Cup Soccer - South Africa

BEST NEWS ANCHOR · Heather Hiscox, CBC News Now with Heather Hiscox · Peter Mansbridge, CBC News The National

The 26th Annual Gemini Awards will be broadcast on CBC on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm, live from the CBC Broadcast Center in Toronto. For the complete list of the 2011 Gemini Award nominations, please visit: www.geminiawards.ca