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The Ark Trust Throws a 'Princely' Party at the Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards
Entertainment Wire - March 21, 2000
"Instinct," "The Iron Giant," "Animal Farm," "Judging Amy," "Popular," "Dateline NBC,"
"Leeza," "CBS Evening News With Dan Rather," "Road Rules" and The Artist Receive Coveted
Awards
LOS ANGELES (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) - Nearly 1,100 people in the audience
were wowed by the array of celebrities and awardees, including The Artist formerly known
as Prince, during the Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards at The Beverly Hilton on
Saturday night, March 18.
Hosts David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier") and Wendie Malick ("Just Shoot Me") adroitly kept
the event running smoothly as celebrity presenters handed out the coveted Genesis Award
in 23 categories.
Presenters included Maria Conchita Alonso ("Moscow on the Hudson"); Christian Bale
("American Psycho"); Dorie Barton ("Stark Raving Mad"); Garcelle Beauvais ("The Jamie
Foxx Show"); Linda Blair ("The Exorcist"); James Cromwell ("The Green Mile"); Frances
Fisher ("Titanic"); Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier"); Valerie Harper ("Rhoda"); Tippi Hedren
("The Birds"); Earl Holliman ("Caroline in the City"); Jesse James ("Hanging Up); Frankie
Muniz ("Malcolm in the Middle"); Alan Rachins ("Dharma & Greg"); Doris Roberts
("Everybody Loves Raymond"); Susan Sullivan ("Dharma & Greg"); Concetta Tomei
("Providence"); Joan Van Ark ("Knots Landing"); and Dennis Weaver ("The Virginian").
"Instinct," "The Iron Giant," "Animal Farm," "Judging Amy," "Popular," "Dateline NBC,"
"Leeza," "CBS Evening News With Dan Rather," "Road Rules" and The Artist formerly
known as Prince were among the 23 winners of the Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards, an
international distinction that recognizes members of the major news and entertainment
media for spotlighting animal issues with courage, creativity and integrity.
A highlight of the evening was The Artist's humble acceptance of his award, The Dolly
Green Special Achievement Award, for his latest CD, "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic,"
(Arista Records), which contained liner notes that decry the suffering of sheep to produce
wool clothing.
The Artist received a heartfelt standing ovation and said: "I am really humbled by the
award. I've been watching so many wonderful people here (receiving awards). (It's been) a
moving experience."
Guests of Honor were primate photographer/conservationist Karl Ammann and
interspecies communication pioneer Dr. Francine "Penny" Patterson. Special Guests were
Jordy Brown, 12, who adopted two baby bulls and saved them from certain death in a
Mexico bullring; U.S. Congressman Sam Farr, who introduced The Elephant Protection
Act federal bill; Julia Butterfly Hill, who spent two years in a redwood to prevent loggers
from cutting it down; Amanda Walker-Serrano, 9, who protested and started a petition
against a circus field trip, citing cruelty to animals; and Steven M. Wise, author of "Rattling
the Cage: Toward Legal Rights for Animals."
"It was a spectacular show befitting the new millennium," said Gretchen Wyler, a former
Broadway star and current TV actress (guest-star roles on "Judging Amy," "Providence,"
"Stark Raving Mad") and founder of The Ark Trust, Inc., a nonprofit, animal-protection
organization and presenter of the Genesis Awards. "We had an amazing list of winners in all
areas of the media -- works that encompass a wide variety of pro-animal issues."
Winners were selected from material released in 1999. Entries were submitted by those in
the news and entertainment industry or by "people's choice," with finalists voted upon by
the 15-member Genesis Awards Committee.
"In our 14th year, we are truly inspired by the caliber of work being produced by these
courageous members of the news and entertainment media," Wyler says.
Since its inception in 1986, the Genesis Awards has become the nation's premier animal
issues "consciousness-raiser" and the award is the only major news and entertainment
media distinction concerning animal issues.
The artistic theme of the Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards was "On the Brink of
Extinction," with a spectacular stage design reflecting that theme.
"It's unfortunate that over the next century, unless we take drastic measures to protect them
in the wild, we will be saying goodbye forever to the giant panda, orangutan, mountain
gorilla, cheetah, Asian elephant, tiger and the northern right whale, among others," Wyler
says. "We wanted to bring the plight of these majestic animals to our audience's attention at
this year's Genesis Awards."
The Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards was taped for television. The TV special will air
on Animal Planet on Saturday, June 10, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (PT) and 9 p.m. and midnight
(ET).
Wyler and Robert Halmi Sr. are the executive producers and Paul Flattery is the producer
of the special. Event Patron was Hallmark Entertainment. Event Benefactors were Culinary
Revolution, Dr. Marty Becker and PETsMART.com. Sponsors were PETsMART
Charities and Turner Network Television.
Copyright © 2000 Entertainment Wire. All rights reserved.
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