Englewood Producer Todd Ehrlich Nominated for 20th Emmy Award

We are in unprecedented times as the New York area, the United States and much of the world are in a shelter in place mode while trying to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It has shut down all forms of entertainment. However, the news media are considered essential workers. Their quest is to keep the public informed as we all try to stay healthy.

The New York Emmy awards gala, originally scheduled for April 18th at the Marriott Marquis was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and replaced with a live stream show to unveil this year’s winners. It will be streamed live starting at 7 pm on the Emmy website https://www.nyemmys.org/.

One person watching in great anticipation is Englewood native Todd Ehrlich, a TV producer and Emmy Board member, who has spent his career working in the New York media market. He received two nominations for the Tunnel to Towers special. That marks the 19th and 20th Emmy nominations during his illustrious career.

Ehrlich was nominated as the Executive Producer in the category of Outstanding News Special for the show Tunnel to Towers. The show aired originally on WCBS TV in New York. It also airs on the CBS Owned & Operated stations around the country. Ehrlich also received an Emmy Nomination as the writer of the special, in the category of Outstanding Writer: Program.

Ehrlich has now received 20 nominations over his career for sports specials, news specials, health science specials, features, writing and as a cameraman. He is a three-time Emmy winner. Ehrlich was just elected to his second term on the New York Emmys Board of Governors under the Production banner. https://www.nyemmys.org/board-of-governors/

“I am honored that CBS and Tunnel to Towers have allowed me to tell their story yearly since 2008,” Ehrlich said. “They have raised millions of dollars and helped thousands of critically injured veterans, gold star families, and families of fallen first responders with small children. Today they are helping health care workers. We were honored with two Emmy nominations to help spread the word for all the good that the foundation is doing yearly. I am proud to a part of the best team in TV at WCBS and honored to receive a nomination for Best News Special alongside of them. I am humbled to be recognized with a nomination for writing the special.”

This year marks the 63rd Annual New York Emmy Awards and the first time the awards will not be given in person. The awards will be announced via live stream. The envelopes will be opened by WABC’s NJ Burkett, WPIX’s Marvin Scott, WCBS’s Jessica Moore, WNBC’s David Ushery and more. Each of the presenters was recorded in different locations, at different times, to ensure social distancing was maintained. The show will include graphics for each nominee, in each category, and a video from the winning entry. To view the show log onto the New York Emmy’s website https://www.nyemmys.org/ and winners will encouraged to share their own acceptance speeches on social media using the hashtag: #NYEmmys2020.

The Tunnel to Towers special was nominated for two Emmy Awards, best News Special and the show’s Executive Producer, Todd Ehrlich, was nominated for writing the show. Tunnel to Towers is a charity that has raised over 100 million dollars to support first responders starting with 9/11. They have built smart homes for catastrophically injured military men returning from the war as triple and quadruple amputees. The foundation has also supported our firefighters and policemen, who died in the line of duty, with small children by paying off the mortgage on their homes. They have just pledged 4 million dollars to help front line health care workers and their families.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Tunnel to Towers pledged 4 million dollars in meal assistance, personal protective equipment and temporary mortgage payments for families of fallen frontline health care workers. Their efforts can be supported with an 11 dollar a month donation by logging onto https://tunnel2towers.org/covid-19-heroes/. Click on this link to view their national PSA, airing on CBS, FOX, OAN and A & E https://vimeo.com/405081821.

The Tunnel to Towers Charity run has been covered by WCBS TV since its first race in 2002. The news special covered every facet of the live event as well sharing all the live changing work that has been done by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during the year. The special was shot during the New York City 5K run plays homage to firefighter Stephen Stiller who perished on 9/11. The race literally follows in the footsteps that Stephen took that day on the way to participate in the rescue effort that saved thousands. 25,000 people annually participate in the event, raising funds and hopes for the future.

On September 11, 2001 Stephen was off duty, and on his way to meet his brothers to play golf, when his scanner alerted him to the attacks on the World Trade Towers. He turned around and grabbed his turnout gear instead of his golf clubs and raced to the burning towers. His truck was stopped at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, undaunted he strapped on 60 pounds of gear, and ran through the tunnel and into history. Sadly he gave up is life when the towers came down. The charity has taken one of the darkest days in American history and turned it into a foundation that continues to give back to those who protect and serve our country.

The foundation has raised millions of dollars and payed off the mortgages for Gold Star Families and families of fallen first responders with young children. They have also built smart homes for critically injured service members. These smart homes are operated by an iPad and allow these fiercely independent service members to be able to live independently at home.

For more Information:

· To View the Emmy Live Stream - https://www.nyemmys.org/

· About WCBS - https://newyork.cbslocal.com/

· About Tunnel to Towers - https://tunnel2towers.org/

· About Todd Ehrlich and T-LINE TV – www.tlinetv.com