Howard, Grazer to get NATPE honors in Jan.

Kelley, South Park creators also on bill

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

Imagine Entertainment founders Ron Howard and Brian Grazer will be feted early next year at the syndie biz's annual sales confab in New Orleans with the NATPE org's creative achievement award.

The Imagine duo will pick up the kudos Jan. 26 at the opening general sesh of the 36th annual National Assn. of Television Program Executives conference, set for Jan. 25-28 at the New Orleans convention center.

Imagine is best known for hit feature pics like "Parenthood" and "Liar Liar," but the company made waves on the TV side this season with the big-buzz series "Felicity" for the WB Network and "Sports Night" on ABC.

Veteran broadcaster John Conomikes, prexy of Hearst-Argyle Television, will receive NATPE's chairman's award on Jan. 27.

Guests lined up for the confab's early morning "Coffee With ..." Q&A seshes run the gamut from the sublime to the ridiculous: acclaimed TV dramatist David E. Kelley on Jan. 26, followed Jan. 27 by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

NATPE prexy Bruce Johansen said registration is running 25% ahead of last year at this time for the confab itself. The 1998 NATPE gathering drew 17,250 TV industryites to the Big Easy. Sales of exhibition space are pacing about 10% ahead of last year at this time, NATPE execs said.