New Series KCETLink Presents Debuts with Exclusive Writers Bloc Production Featuring: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Actre/Activist Eva Longoria

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Presented exclusively on KCET and Link TV, program captures last weeks live sold-out Saban Theater event where Justice Sotomayor discussed with Eva Longoria her new memoir My Beloved World and her astonishing path to the Supreme Court.

BURBANK, CA--January 30, 2013--From her humble beginnings in the Bronx housing projects to her rise as the first Hispanic--and third woman--to sit on the United States Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor sat down with actress/activist Eva Longoria at a recent Writers Bloc event for a candid discussion about her new book, My Beloved World. To bring this inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime engagement to a national audience, KCETLink has produced the event as a special which premieres on KCET Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 at 8 p.m. PST and on Link TV, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST on DirecTV and DISH Networks.

The taped live event kicks off a new series, KCETLink Presents that will offer enlightening and unique specials to audiences on KCET and Link TV, co-produced with acclaimed organizations such as L.A. based Writers Bloc, a nonprofit literary series.

We are thrilled to be able to partner with Writers Bloc to debut the KCETLink Presents series with such an exciting production, said Bohdan Zachary, vice president, Broadcast, Syndication & Program Development for newly formed KCETLink. Extending the thoughtful and inspirational messages of influential leaders and role models such as Justice Sotomayor and Ms. Longoria is so important, and an integral part of our media mission.

During the sold-out Writers Bloc engagement at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills on Jan. 26, 2013, Justice Sotomayor spoke of her struggles to learn English and overcome financial hardships as well as her courageous choices and inspiring successes. She also encouraged audience members to open up dialogue rather than confrontation to help abolish stereotyping.

Justice Sotomayor, who often cites the classic television series, Perry Mason as a major inspiration for her desire to pursue a career in law, was surprised by a special guest in the audience, actress Barbara Hale, 90, who had starred in the show.

Longoria, whose tireless advocacy efforts help Latinas build better futures for themselves, was a perfect choice to moderate. In addition to establishing her own foundations, she works with leading minority rights organizations, such as MALDEF, to make a difference in the Latino community.

Following the riveting discussion with Longoria, Justice Sotomayor took questions from attendees, and then greeted the audience by shaking hands and offering words of encouragement. Not surprisingly, Hale was the first person she went to meet.

The executive producer for KCETLink Presents is Bohdan Zachary and this episode was co-produced by Writers Bloc founder Andrea Grossman, and in partnership with MALDEF, the nations leading Latino legal civil rights organization.

KCET airdates:

- Monday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

- Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Midnight

- Friday, Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and

- Sunday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.

Link TV airdates:

- Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST and

- Friday Feb. 8 at 8:30 p.m.PST/11:30 p.m. EST

A special preview of the show will air during KCETs award-winning hard-hitting nightly news program, So Cal Connected on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 at 5:30 and 10 p.m.

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ABOUT KCETLink

KCETLink is the new national independent public transmedia organization formed by the merger between KCET and Link Media. A viewer-supported 501c(3) organization, its content is distributed nationally via satellite on DirecTV and DISH Networks, in Southern and Central California via broadcast, as well as through various digital delivery systems. KCET and Link TV are services of KCETLink. For additional information about KCETLink productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and events, please visit kcet.org or linktv.org.

ABOUT WRITERS BLOC

Writers Bloc (writersblocpresents.com) is a nonprofit literary series, now in its 17th season, dedicated to bringing to Los Angeles our favorite writers, artists and critics who have made a significant impact on our cultural landscape. Andrea Grossman is the founder and executive producer.

ABOUT SONIA SOTOMAYOR

Sonia Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton in 1976 and from Yale Law School in 1979. She worked as an assistant district attorney in New York and then at the law firm of Pavia & Harcourt. From 1992 to 1998, she served as a judge of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and from 1998 to 2009 on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In May 2009, President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; she assumed this role on August 8, 2009.

ABOUT EVA LONGORIA

Producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Eva Longoria is founder of Evas Heroes, national spokesperson for Padres Contra el Cancer and founder of The Eva Longoria Foundation. Starring in several upcoming feature films, including THE DARK TRUTH, THE BAYTOWN OUTLAWS, LONG TIME GONE, FRONTERIA and set to film MARRIED & CHEATING in early 2013, Longoria is also executive producer of NBCs upcoming non-scripted Ready for Love, Lifetimes upcoming dramedy Devious Maids and Hulus animated series Mother Up. Additionally, Longoria recently signed a First-Look development deal with NBC Universal, which includes a non-writing, executive producer agreement with Longoria and her production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. Longoria is also executive producer and host for the NCLR ALMA Awards, executive producer of the documentary HARVEST, and writer/director for an upcoming short film project with Canon for their Project Imaginat10n.

LINK:	http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom/press-releases/new-series-kcetlink...
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