Courtesy/ABC

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) will present the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Geddie, executive producer of The View, for his contributions as writer, producer and director in his more than 30-year television career.

This announcement was made today, live on The View”by creator/executive producer/co-host and former NATAS Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Barbara Walters. The award will be presented at the Daytime Emmy Awards gala on June 23, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

“Bill Geddie is an icon in the television industry,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman, NATAS. “When he and Barbara Walters created ‘The View’ 15 years ago, they introduced a new and innovative daytime television talk show format. We at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences are proud to have Bill receive our 2012 Daytime Lifetime Achievement Award.”  

Bill Geddie, along with Barbara Walters, serves as executive producer of  The View ABC’s critically acclaimed live talk and entertainment program produced by ABC and Ms. Walters’ Barwall Productions.  Mr. Geddie has also partnered with Ms. Walters for the past 25 years as the executive producer of “The Barbara Walters Specials” and “The 10 Most Fascinating People,” which he also co-writes and directs.

Mr. Geddie and Ms. Walters joined creative forces over 15 years ago for The View and have watched their original idea of women of different ages, experiences and backgrounds discussing the most exciting events of the day evolve into one of Daytime’s most popular and talked-about programs.  The View received the 2003 Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Talk Show” and is the recipient of numerous Daytime Emmy Award Nominations, including 12 nominations for Outstanding Talk Show. In 2009 The View hosts Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd were named Outstanding Talk Show Host. It was the first time in the 39-year history of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences that multiple talk show hosts were bestowed this honor.

So how do you feel about Bill Geddie receiving this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award?  Good choice? Or, if you had the opportunity to pick a recipient, who would it be and why?  Let us know!