Producers Guild honors Mark Burnett, 'Gossip Girl' books a new grown-up

Mark Burnett will become the first reality-TV producer to receive the Producers Guild of America's Norman Lear Achievement Award next year.

Burnett, the executive producer of "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "Shark Tank," among other shows, will receive the honor at the guild's annual awards on Jan. 24. He joins a list of Norman Lear Award honorees that includes David Chase, Steven Bochco, Dick Wolf, John Wells and Carsey-Werner-Mandabach.

"Just to have my name mentioned in the same sentence as Norman Lear is truly a reward in itself," Burnett says. The guild cites his "tremendous impact on the television industry worldwide" among its reasons for honoring him.

- "Gossip Girl" will make room for another grown-up later this season with the casting of Sherri Saum in a guest arc.

Saum ("Rescue Me," "In Treatment") will have a recurring part as a "powerful business executive-turned-Upper East Side trophy wife" on The CW's drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Her character, Holland Kemble, will cross paths with Rufus (Matthew Settle) and Lily (Kelly Rutherford) and potentially cause trouble for the couple.

There's no word yet on when Saum will make her first appearance.

- The cast of "Glee" and "Heroes" star Masi Oka will be among the honorees at the 17th annual Diversity Awards.

The awards, sponsored by the Multicultural Motion Picture Association, will take place Nov. 22 in Beverly Hills. "Glee" is getting the award for favorite new TV ensemble; NBC's "Parks and Recreation" and CBS' "NCIS: Los Angeles" are being honored for TV comedy and drama ensemble, respectively. Oka has been chosen as best actor in a TV drama.

Other honorees include actress Taraji P. Henson ("I Can Do Bad All by Myself") and the cast of ABC Family's "Lincoln Heights."

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