Chuck Lorre to be honored by the Producers Guild of America

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The Producers Guild of America announced Wednesday plans to honor prolific producer Chuck Lorre with the 2014 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television.

Lorre will receive the prize at the 25th annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony Jan. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

"Norman Lear is a legend in this business and one of comedy's true kings," Lorre said in a statement. "I have to admit that I've been tongue-tied and starstruck just standing in the same room with him. Needless to say, being associated with his artistry, much less to be honored in his name, is both humbling and inspiring -- and more than a little embarrassing. I'm deeply grateful to the Producers Guild for acknowledging my work in this extraordinary fashion."

"Chuck Lorre has produced some of the most iconic television shows of our time, including 'Dharma & Greg,' 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'Two and a Half Men,' just to mention a few. These series have impacted television on a level that we rarely see," PGA Awards Co-Chairs Lori McCreary and Michael De Luca said in a joint statement. "In a TV landscape that often feels saturated with homogenized, interchangeable series, his distinctive voice and commitment to vivid, one-of-a-kind characters have made him one of the true mainstays of our weekly television schedule. Lorre is the definition of an iconic comedy producer and we are so pleased to honor him this year with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television."

The 2013 recipient of the Norman Lear Award was J.J. Abrams.