The Mary Hanson Show

Home Biography Archive & Gallery Community Awards & Feedback Demographics Contact

Awards & Feedback

The Mary Hanson Show is celebrating its 28th anniversary on television this year (2008), making it the longest-running cable show in the United States. The show has won the top media awards from the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), the Minnesota Psychiatrists’ Society and the Minnesota Educational Association. It recently received the first annual “Living the Vision” award from the Metropolitan Churches for “making the community a better place.”

The Mary Hanson Show has won recognition at the local, state and national level. Some of the awards it has received include:

  • Minnesota Medical Association Media Award for Excellence in Medical Journalism (3 years)
  • Minnesota Psychiatrists Society’s award for Excellence in the Media
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
  • C.A.R.E. Award, Mental Health Association in Hennepin County (given annually to one individual recognized for efforts in promoting mental health in the Twin Cities community)
  • Metropolitan Community Churches first annual Ivy Award for "Making the Community a Better Place"
  • Minnesota Education Association School Bell Award for Best In-depth Television Program
  • Best Talk Show, Minneapolis Television Network
  • Teddy Award for Excellence, Rogers Cable systems
  • National Federation of Local Cable Programmers competition finalist
  • Minnesota State Cable Communications Board Award for Excellence
  • Minnesota Council on Health Certificate of Achievement

What guests and the press have said about The Mary Hanson Show

"The Mary Hanson Show is the longest running community show in the state as well as one of the most influential." (Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine)

"Mary Hanson is one of the best interviewers in the country." (Richard Leider, author of Re-packing Your Bags)

"Mary is the most skillful interviewer. She made me feel so comfortable." (The late Governor Elmer L. Andersen)

"KARE 11 News did an “Extra” segment on our school; we have been on Channel 4 and MPR; we were the subject of a Pioneer Press article…there was even a piece in the Ladies Home Journal. Yet the response from The Mary Hanson Show was significantly stronger than from these other mediums -- combined." (Barbara Schmidt, Ex. Director, of the P.E.A.S.E. Academy)

"After appearing recently on The Mary Hanson Show, 25 people, from all walks of life, called, wrote or told me that had seen me on Mary’s show. I was astonished by her obvious viewership." (Susan Vass, entertainer)

"Mary Hanson does her homework, is everyone’s favorite interviewer and a great civic asset." (Tony Bouza, former Minneapolis Chief of Police)

"Mary Hanson is an extraordinary interviewer. She helped me shine!" (James Bryer, Ph.D., psychologist)

"To say that The Mary Hanson show renders a valuable service is almost an understatement." (Cy Schelly, past Vice-President, Campbell-Mithun)

"I was most impressed…by the penetration of Mary’s questions." (Tom Micka, M.D.)

"The interview with Mary was easily, by any standard, the best interview I have had apropos the book." (The late James Shannon, former President of St. Thomas & Ex. Dir. of the General Mills Foundation)

"Mary Hanson is one of the best interviewers in the business." (Michael Osterholm, U. of Minnesota epidemiologist)

"Mary Hanson is probably Twin Cities access television’s first authentic celebrity." (Star Tribune)

"You are the right person in the right job." (Dudley Riggs, Entertainer/Author)