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

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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

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

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

nation's 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.

-         

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 KCET's award-winning hard-hitting

nightly news program, So Cal Connected on Thursday,

Jan. 31, 2013 at 5:30 and 10 p.m.

###

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.

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.

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.

Producer,

director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Eva Longoria is founder of Eva's

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

NBC's upcoming non-scripted "Ready for Love," Lifetime's upcoming dramedy

"Devious Maids" and Hulu's 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." Selected as a National Co-Chair for

the Reelect Obama Campaign and Inauguration Committee, Longoria is also

involved with MALDEF, the United Farm Workers and the Dolores Huerta

Foundation. Named "Philanthropist of the Year" by The Hollywood Reporter,

honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Variety's annual Power of Women

Luncheon, Longoria was selected by President Obama as commissioner for the

National Museum of the American Latino Commission. A special Ambassador for

L'Oreal Paris, Longoria owns BESO and SHe restaurants, her own production

company, UnbeliEVAble Productions, two fragrances "EVA, by Eva Longoria" and

"EVAmore," and also has a New York Times bestselling cookbook EVA's KITCHEN:

COOKING WITH LOVE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.