GERI'S JEWELS & GEMS By Geri Jewell (Facts of Life/NBC & Deadwood/CBS & HBO) https://gerijewell.com/ Forward By Norman Lear (Other Celebrity and Colleague Endorsements below) Geri's Jewels & Gems is a collection of Geri Jewell's columns she wrote for Ability Magazine over six years, as well as fun photos from Geri's life that she chose herself. It is truly a balanced blend of her sense of humor and sensitivity which embraces her ability to survive and thrive in a world that was challenging from the time she was born with cerebral palsy in 1956. In 1978 she embarked upon what she was told was impossible for her, a career in stand-up comedy and became known to millions as Cousin Geri on the NBC show, The Facts of Life. Her career extends more than four decades as a comedian, actress, and writer. This book gives us a rare insight as to how her mind is wired and promises to humor, inspire, and challenge us all to love life. A NORMAN LEAR DISCOVERY Geri was discovered by Norman Lear, whose career in television and film included, All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, among others, transforming the American Cultural Landscape. Mr. Lear met Geri Jewell when she performed stand-up comedy at the 2nd annual Media Access Awards in Beverly Hills. He told Geri, "You're way before your time!” Geri responded, “So wait three months.” And that is exactly what Mr Lear did. A few months later, he offered her the role of Cousin Geri on the NBC sitcom, "The Facts of Life." The very first "Cousin Geri" episode received the highest Nielsen ratings to date, and the rest is history. GERI JEWELL BACKGROUNDER Geri Jewell is best known as Cousin Geri on the NBC sitcom, The Facts of Life. She was the first person with a disability to have a regular role on a prime time series. She began her career doing stand up comedy at the Comedy Store in 1978. In 1980 she performed at the 2nd Annual Media Access Awards, when she was introduced to Norman Lear by producer, Fern Field. After her ground breaking role on Facts she has appeared on such shows as The Great Space Coaster, the Emmy award winning movie Two of a Kind, Sesame Street, 21 Jump Street, Young and the Restless, Strong Medicine and the HBO hit series, Deadwood, which she also received Emmy consideration for. She also co-starred in the independent film Night of the White Pants and was featured on the FOX series, Alcatraz. When Geri is not working in television, she is a highly sought after motivational speaker and trainer in the areas of diversity, disability and GLBT issues. Her training has taken her to such companies as Hewlett Packard, Master Foods, Johnson Wax, AT&T, Amgen, Mass Mutual and Raytheon. She has also trained such government agencies as The C.I.A., The U.S. Treasury Department, Defense Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Army. She is famous for her uncanny ability to captivate the hearts of her audiences by using humor to facilitate attitudinal change. Geri brings to her presentations her personal experiences in life, which in turn allow people to gain insight into the prospect of seeing disability in a totally different light, creating hope where there is none, and joy where there is pain.