Star-Studded Unforgettable Gala “Aims to Inspire Younger Generations”
The Unforgettable Gala, an end-of-year award celebration that honors the API community’s brightest talents in entertainment, arts and culture, has announced several additions to its lineup ahead of Saturday’s awards gala.
The event, taking place this year on Dec. 14, is produced by GoldenTV and Character Media. GoldenTV founder and CEO Takashi Cheng tells The Hollywood Reporter that the gala has continuously brought visibility to talent who were underrepresented in mainstream media. “The greatest mission for us is to really bring its visibility to mainstream,” he says, adding that the production “aims to inspire younger generations by showcasing these role models.”
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The evening, hosted by Stephane Hsu, JR De Guzman and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, will feature several one-of-a-kind segments. Among them is a “very special AAPI timeline performance” that will bring the audience through the decades, including The Jets, who were the first AAPI group to get into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and 98 Degrees with a soon-to-be announced special guest, according to a release. Hawaiian-based boy band Party Foul, formerly known as Crossing Rain, will be making their worldwide debut by performing new music and collaborating with 98 Degrees.
Exploring the past, present and future is a big function of this year’s gala, Cheng explains. “The galas have really served as more of a reunion where all of the historical contributors got together and celebrated,” he says of previous years, looking ahead at what to expect at the 2024 gala. “We have a really past, present and future type of a mentality where let’s take a look at how we got here and let’s bring in the people that we can honor and celebrate and keep them involved.”
Cheng says the present part of the show manifests in “acknowledging all the new trailblazers.” Among some of the honors that will be presented Saturday is the global icon award, presented to Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada; the global groundbreaker award, presented to Japanese comedian and actress Naomi Watanabe; and the culture icon award, presented to Nepalese American fashion designer Prabal Gurung. The “Laker Legends” will be receiving the community impact award, to be “honored as allies of the Asian American community.” Former players are expected to attend.
As for the future, Cheng says it’s “a priority” for the Unforgettable Gala “to bring in a younger group of people that we think would be greatly influenced and inspired” by the night’s celebration. “It’s really important that people understand that Unfo is more than just one night,” GoldenTV’s head of growth and partnerships Queena Wei tells THR.
“We are in it for the long run and we’re in it together. It’s more than just Unfo,” she adds. “We want you to come back. We want you to be a part of this community because we’re a big family, one big, huge family, and it requires everyone’s participation.”
Founded by Character Media in 2002 and produced this year by GoldenTV and Character Media, the Unforgettable Gala will be co-chaired by writer and director Adele Lim and actor and producer Eugene Lee Yang. Members of the event’s selection committee include Apl.de.Ap, Awkwafina, Bing Chen, Destin Daniel Cretton, Manny Jacinto, Daniel Dae Kim, Lisa Ling, Simu Liu, Ramakrishnan and more. New partners for the 2024 event include Cadillac, Cartier, Fenty and Vizio.
The event will take place at the Beverly Hilton. It will air nationwide on Dec. 18 on ChimeTV, powered by GoldenTV and will stream online at GetGolden.TV.
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