CNN Heroes 2008

updated 4:38 p.m. EDT, Fri October 24, 2008

'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute' to air Thanksgiving night

(CNN) -- Hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" will honor the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008, as selected by our Blue Ribbon Panel.

The telecast airs globally on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español on Thanksgiving, November 27, at 9 p.m. ET (November 28 at 0200 GMT).

Each of this year's honorees will receive $25,000 and will be profiled in a documentary tribute. The program will culminate with the announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year, chosen through an online vote by visitors to CNN.com/Heroes. Voting ends November 19. Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year

Celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Award-winning producer/director Joel Gallen returns to executive-produce this year's program. Among his numerous credits, Gallen produced telethon events supporting victims of both the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. He won an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award for "America: A Tribute to Heroes."

Kodak Theatre is a 3,400-seat venue that opened in November 2001 and is best known as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards.