Genesis Awards
The Genesis Awards are awarded annually by the Humane Society of the United States to individuals in the major news and entertainment media for producing outstanding works which raise public awareness of animal issues. Presented by the HSUS Hollywood Outreach program, the awards show takes place every March in California. The awards have honored such well-known personalities as Michael Jackson, Aaron Sorkin, Anderson Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Goodall, David E. Kelley, Paul McCartney, Arthur Miller, Stephen Colbert, Oprah Winfrey, Prince, Jacques Cousteau and Ian Somerhalder, as well as journalists, film and documentary writers and producers, print and broadcast news outlets in the United States.
Honorary awards include the Sid Caesar Award for television comedy, the Doris Day Award for music, the Brigitte Bardot International Award for non-American media, and the Gretchen Wyler Award for a celebrity using their fame to bring attention to animal issues.
Founding
The Genesis Awards were founded as an annual event in 1986 by the Broadway actress and animal advocate Gretchen Wyler, under the aegis of the Fund for Animals. Wyler believed that rewarding members of the media encouraged them to spotlight more animal issues, thus increasing public awareness and compassion toward animals. The first event, a luncheon, drew 140 attendees, and in subsequent years it grew into a large gala averaging 800 guests.In 1991, Wyler founded the Ark Trust, Inc., to present the Genesis Awards. Dr. Michael A. Giannelli served as the Founding Executive Director from 1991 through 1997. In 1990, it became a television special airing first on the Discovery Channel and then on Animal Planet. In August 2002, the Ark Trust joined with the Humane Society of the United States. Wyler, as Vice President of HSUS Hollywood, continued her role as chair of the event and Executive Producer of the Genesis Awards television special until her retirement in 2006.
Winner selection
Beginning with the first ceremony in 1986, Genesis Awards entries have been submitted by members of the public as well as by media professionals. Categories span television, film, print, radio, music, and the arts. The Genesis Awards Committee—via a process of submission, nomination, candidate selection, debate, and secret ballot—makes the final decisions regarding the winners. The 13 committee members are selected based on their personal histories in working for animal causes. The members include people from various animal-protection organizations and diverse walks of life.Award ceremony
The Genesis Awards is the only event of its kind honoring the entertainment industry and news media for raising awareness of animal-protection issues. Celebrating the power of the news and entertainment media to shape and change societal attitudes for the good, Genesis Awards acknowledge outstanding works in TV, film, print and the arts.Past Genesis Awards hosts include Betty White, William Shatner, Brooke Shields, Ellen DeGeneres, Ed Asner, Wendie Malick, Bill Maher, Scott Hamilton, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Hunt, Charlotte Ross, Joely Fisher, David Hyde Pierce and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Presented at a star-studded ceremony, attracting leaders from the entertainment, news, and humane communities, Genesis Awards have featured such celebrity presenters as James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Milton Berle, Christian Bale, Sidney Poitier, Carl Reiner, Daryl Hannah, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, James Cromwell, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Deschanel, Melanie Griffith, Teri Hatcher, Isabella Rossellini, Martin Sheen, Kaley Cuoco, Nicollette Sheridan, Alicia Silverstone, Kelsey Grammer, Deepak Chopra, Kim Cattrall, Peter Falk, Walter Matthau, and Kermit the Frog. The Genesis Awards is taped for broadcast.
The awards ceremony has been held at both the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. Through the years it has aired on the Discovery Channel, American Life Network and Animal Planet.
Sponsors for the Genesis Awards have included Warner Bros., Gardein, One Car One Difference, Honda, Bank of America, HBO, Market Development Group Incorporated and more.
Past winners
Past Genesis Award Winners :1986 Genesis AwardsMagnum, P.I. – Best TV Drama SeriesNight Court – Best TV Comedy Series
1987 Genesis AwardsHarry and the Hendersons – Best Feature Film – ComedyStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Best Feature Film – AdventureBenji the Hunted – Best Feature Film – FamilyGimme a Break! – Best TV Comedy Series
1988 Genesis AwardsHachi-ko – Best Feature FilmHighway to Heaven – Best TV Drama Series
- The Doris Day Music Award – Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror"
- Classic Film Award – Bambi
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Jacques Cousteau
- Classic Film Award – Born Free
1992 Genesis AwardsCity Slickers – Best Feature FilmWhite Fang – Best Feature Film – FamilyDesigning Women; "The Fur Flies" – Best TV Comedy SeriesDinosaurs – Best Family TV Series
1993 Genesis AwardsBeethoven – Best Feature FilmFernGully: The Last Rainforest – Best Animated Feature FilmThe Simpsons; "Dog of Death" – Best TV Comedy SeriesQuantum Leap – Best TV Drama SeriesThe New Lassie – Best Family TV Series
- The Doris Day Music Award – Megadeth, "Countdown to Extinction"
- Classic Film Award – The Misfits
- The Doris Day Music Award – Paul McCartney, "Looking for Changes"
- Classic Film Award – Bless the Beasts and Children
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Jane Goodall
1996 Genesis AwardsBabe – Best Feature FilmThe Simpsons; "Lisa the Vegetarian" – Best TV Comedy SeriesDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman – Best TV Drama Series
- The Doris Day Music Award – Michael Jackson, "Earth Song"
- The Doris Day Music Award – Crosby & Nash, "To the Last Whale"
- A special Genesis Award was given to Dr. Michael A. Giannelli : "In Appreciation of Your Words, Your Wisdom and for Helping Develop the Soul of the Ark Trust"
1999 Genesis AwardsMighty Joe Young – Best Feature FilmThe Practice; "The Food Chain" – Best TV Drama SeriesSports Night – Best New TV SeriesLeeza – Best Talk ShowWild Rescues – Best Reality Series
2000 Genesis AwardsInstinct – Best Feature FilmThe Iron Giant – Best Animated Feature FilmSpin City; "The Deer Hunter" – Best TV Comedy SeriesJudging Amy; "The Persistence of Tectonics" – Best TV Drama SeriesLeeza – Best Talk ShowRoad Rules: Semester at Sea – Best Reality Series
- The Dolly Green Special Achievement Award – Prince, "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic"
2002 Genesis AwardsDr. Dolittle 2 – Best Feature FilmDharma & Greg; "A Fish Tale" – Best TV Comedy SeriesLaw & Order; "Whose Monkey Is It Anyway" – Best TV Drama SeriesWild Rescues – Best Reality Series
- The Doris Day Music Award – Claude Carmichael & Pete Wasner, "Bearly Hangin' On"
- The Doris Day Music Award – Peter Gabriel, "Animal Nation"
- The Classic Music Award – Matt Monro, "Born Free"
2006 Genesis AwardsAn Unfinished Life – Best Feature Film
- Duma – Best Feature Film – FamilyWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – Best Animated Feature FilmThe Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill – Best Documentary FeatureCSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Best TV Drama SeriesLarry King Live – Best Talk ShowAnimal Cops: Houston – Best Reality Series
- The Doris Day Music Award – Nellie McKay, "The Dog Song"
- The Gretchen Wyler Award – Sir Paul McCartney
- The Gretchen Wyler Award – Hayden Panettiere
- The Gretchen Wyler Award – Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Tippi Hedren
- The Gretchen Wyler Award – Kristin Davis
- International Humanitarian Award – Pritish Nandy
- The Gretchen Wyler Award – Ian Somerhalder
- The Gretchen Wyler Award – Ke$ha
2018 Genesis AwardsOkja; Megan Leavey - Outstanding Feature FilmSled Dogs; The Last Pig - Outstanding Documentary FilmThe Simpsons - Sid Caesar Comedy AwardABC News Hotline, "Giraffes: A Silent Extinction"; "Blood Horns" - Outstanding National TV News MagazineUnivision Network News, "Harvey, the Dog Who Survived the Hurricane" - Outstanding National TV News FeatureFOX 28/ABC6, Columbus, Ohio, "12 Ohio Puppy Mills on Humane Society's List of the 'Horrible Hundred'" - Outstanding Local News FeatureFOX 31 KDVR-TV Denver, Colorado, "Cyanide Bombs"; "Unsanctioned Horse Racing Exposed"; KING 5 News Seattle, Washington, "Hound Hunting for Bears Continues Despite Ban" - Outstanding Local News SeriesFOX 40 Sacramento, Studio 40 Live, "Meat-less Memorial Day" - Outstanding Daytime ShowMission Critical: Orangutan on the Edge; War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend - Outstanding TV DocumentaryDian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist - Outstanding TV Documentary SeriesThe Loud House "Frog Wild" - Outstanding Children's ProgrammingNPR Weekend Edition, Simon Says, "Arcade Hunting: No Tribute to the Great Outdoors" - Outstanding Radio
- Natasha Daly - Reporter of the YearTIME, "The Future of Zoos: Challenges Force Zoos to Change in Big Ways"; TIME Special Edition, "The Animal Mind: How They Think, How They Feel, How to Understand Them" - Outstanding Magazine FeatureChicago Tribune, "Trump Should Keep the Ban on Elephant Trophies"; "A Smart Reprieve for Great Lakes Wolves"; "Memo to the West: When You Hunt Grizzlies and Wolves, You Lose Midwest Tourists"; Los Angeles Times, "There's a Grim Reality Behind Your Thanksgiving Turkey"; USA Today, "A Christmas Puppy: The Tale of Animal Welfare" - Outstanding EditorialThe Washington Post Sports Columnist: Norman Chad "Animal Cruelty has given me a change of heart on animals used in sporting competition" - Outstanding CommentaryBusiness of Fashion, Multiple Articles; National Geographic Wildlife Watch, "Months After Raid on Infamous Tiger Temple, Plans for Off-Shoot Zoo Forge Ahead" - Outstanding OnlineThe Guardian, Exclusive Footage Shows Elephants Being Captured in Zimbabwe for Chinese Zoos; The Observer, Africa's New Elite Force: Women Gunning for Poachers and Fighting for a Better Life - Brigitte Bardot International Print/OnlineUnivision Network Facebook "To Eat or Not Eat Meat?" - Social Media