"Happy Valley to Hollywood"
By: Patrick Schurr
Updated: October 26, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, CENTRE COUNTY - Four famous Penn State alumni who went on to successful careers producing TV shows and movies will return to their roots.
Gerald Abrams, Don Bellisario, Carmen Finestra and James P. Jimirro are set to take center stage this afternoon in an informal conversation called "Happy Valley to Hollywood."
The 75-minute program is sponsored by the College of Communications and the College of Arts & Architecture. It begins at 3 p.m. in the Playhouse Theatre, next to the Forum Building. It's free, open to the public and tickets are not required.
Each panelist has been honored as a distinguished alumni by Penn State.
Among them, they have won or have been nominated for 15 Emmy Awards.
Abrams graduated in 1961. His credits include producing the Emmy-winning mini-series "Nuremberg," FX's "44 Minutes" and ESPN's "Four Minutes."
Bellisario also graduated in 1961. He created classic TV shows like "Magnum, P.I.," "JAG" and "NCIS."
Finestra graduated in 1971. He was a writer for "The Cosby Show" and later co-executive producer of Tim Allen's sitcom, "Home Improvement."
Jimirro is a 1958 graduate. He created and was founding president of The Disney Channel and Walt Disney Home Video.
For more information: "Happy Valley to Hollywood"
