Emmys honor Alan Alda and Norman Lear

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**MUST COURTESY "THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES" / WITH NO ARCHIVE, WIRELESS OR RESALE

The International Emmy Awards paid special tribute to two television legends on Monday night.

Norman Lear, best known for ground-breaking comedy "All in the Family", took to the stage along with Alan Alda, star of the Korean war-set comedy MASH.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ALAN ALDA SAYING:

"That was a time where the door had been open for us by Norman Lear. Because now we could be funny about things that were serious and Norman opened that door for us and the whole country."

Lear's "All in the Family," tackled issues such as race and women's rights.

While Alda paid tribute on the night to the real-life combat doctors who inspired MASH.

Brushing off notions that the 1970s produced the best TV, Lear reeled off a list of current shows that he admired.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NORMAN LEAR SAYING:

"And if I hadn't mentioned your favorite show in all of that, that's exactly my point. This is the Golden Age of television."

The award ceremony itself was dominated by programming from South America, with Argentina and Brazil each winning two Emmys.