WTCI-TV has been nominated for a Mid-South Regional Emmy Award for Southern Accents with Karen Elliott, the fourth Emmy nomination the series has received. Now entering its 18th season, this locally-produced program features wonderful places to visit and things to do for individuals, couples and families throughout the Southeast.

Southern Accents achieved national exposure in February 2009 through distribution within the PBS system and became the first WTCI program to air nationwide on other PBS networks. Now viewers across most of the Southeast and in portions of 11 other states --including New Jersey, California, Montana and Florida -- can join host Karen Elliott on a trip through some of the South’s most distinctive and historic locations.

Ms. Elliott has hosted the series since April 1996 and is also a producer of the program, along with Shaun Townley, producer, and Peter DeLynn, executive producer.

“Producing Southern Accents is such a pleasure because this region has a never ending list of must-see locations, interesting people and unique places,” said Ms. Elliott. “And now viewers from across the country are sharing this weekly journey that celebrates the culture, history and beauty of the South.”

Southern Accents airs weekly on Thursday nights at 8 p.m. with encores on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on WTCI. The 18th season of Southern Accents will premiere in February 2010.

“As WTCI’s longest running series, Southern Accents has become one of our most popular programs,” said Paul Grove, president and chief executive officer of WTCI. “We are honored to be nominated for our commitment to being the community’s storyteller and for creating engaging, unique local programming that highlights the beauty and creativity of our region.”

Episodes from this season have featured locales such as the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina; Chattanooga Bakery and Moon Pies; Fly Fishing and Birding in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Viewers can look forward to many journeys in the upcoming season, including the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta; the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum; and Jellies: Living Art, a unique partnership between the Tennessee Aquarium and the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Emmy Award winners will be announced at the Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards Ceremony on Jan. 30 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.