AR-News: Catch The Power of The Genesis Awards This Sunday!

[Sue Blackmore]

EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL GENESIS AWARDS
 ON ANIMAL PLANET, SUNDAY, APRIL 25th
 
Hollywood, CA - April 21, 2004 ­ On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), it was only fitting that the
HSUS Hollywood Office would stage what many considered the best Genesis
Awards ever! Notching up its eighteenth inspirational year, the annual
Genesis Awards remains a rare breed, an award show that recognizes more than
just artistic or industry achievement - it's a consciousness raiser,
encouraging personal transformation and a determination to make a difference
on behalf of animals. Honoring the news and entertainment media for
increasing public awareness of animal issues, the annual Genesis Awards
continues to inform and motivate all who experience its unique blend of
glamour and compassion.  Catch the power of The Eighteenth Annual Genesis
Awards with the two-hour Television Special on Animal Planet on Sunday,
April 25, 12.noon (PT) and 3pm (ET), followed by the one-hour highlights
special on Saturday, May 1, 7pm and 10pm (PT) 10pm (ET)
 
This year's Genesis Awards, hosted by Melissa Rivers and Michael Nouri,
packed a strong emotional punch, running the gamut from funny to moving to
shocking, as clips from the award-winning movies, news and entertainment
shows were shown to a star-studded audience in the International Ballroom at
the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA on Saturday, March 20.
 
Alicia Silverstone, whose TV show ³Braceface² won an award for Outstanding
Children¹s TV Series, gave an impassioned speech about how all animals feel
pain and love, just like our pets at home. Guest of honor Virginia McKenna,
star of the first 'poster wild animal' movie ³Born Free,² brought the
audience to its feet with her eloquent and stirring call for respect for all
animals: "The freedom we cherish so passionately, we deny to other creatures
on Earth," she said. And third-time Genesis honoree, Minneapolis television
reporter Brad Woodard, winning for his expose of the exotic cat trade,
attested to how the Genesis credo led to personal transformation, adding:
"This is the only award that matters to me."
 
Some of the other projects that won Genesis Awards include Walt Disney
Pictures presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios film, ³Finding Nemo,²
MGM's ³Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde,² ³Everybody Loves Raymond,² CBS
Evening News With Dan Rather, KCET-TV¹s Life & Times, Los Angeles Times
Magazine and Marvel Comic¹s ³X-Men Unlimited.²

 
Many of the attending celebrities commented on how Genesis is one of their
favorite events because it is "really about something." Amy Smart declared
she wanted to do a project that was worthy of a Genesis, while David
Boreanaz said that the clips from the award-winning works opened his eyes to
many issues.
 
Among the many other celebrity presenters touched by the power of Genesis
were Sean Astin, Billy Baldwin and Chynna Phillips Baldwin, Linda Blair,
James Cromwell, Shannon Elizabeth, Will Estes, Jorja Fox, Matt Gallant,
Alexander Gould, Daryl Hannah, Kelly Hu, Wendie Malick, Doris Roberts, Angus
T. Jones, Alexandra Paul and Steve Valentine.
 
Naturally, no awards show that spotlights animal issues would be complete
without canine "celebrities" and this year they came in the form of Buster,
the former shelter dog who co-starred with Jim Carrey in ³Bruce Almighty,²
and Murphy, the so-called unadoptable sheltie/collie mix who was
"rehabilitated" through an inmate/dog prison training program that is the
subject of Animal Planet¹s ³Cell Dogs,² which won a Genesis for Outstanding
Reality Programming. Neither dog seemed fazed by the glitz as they walked
the red carpet, basking in the media attention like "pros."

 
"If we can create an entertaining event that enlightens people about some of
the basic animal issues and makes them think differently about the way
animals should be treated in our society, then we've done our job," says
Gretchen Wyler, VP HSUS Hollywood Office.
 
Gretchen Wyler and Robert Halmi, Sr. are the executive producers of the
Genesis Awards Television Special. Paul Flattery is the producer. Corporate
Underwriting was provided by Delta Air Lines, and sponsors included MBNA
America Bank, N.A and MassMutual Financial Group.
 
The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with over
eight million members and constituents. The HSUS Hollywood Office is devoted
to raising public awareness of animal issues through the major media. The
HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion
animals, wildlife, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable
agriculture. For 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals through
legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work.
The non-profit organization is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional
offices across the country. For more information, visit The HSUS¹ Web site ­
www.hsus.org.

 
 
 
 

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