Genesis Awards

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 (Ph.D. in clinical psychology; UCLA) 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 (HSUS). 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

1986 Genesis Awards

Magnum, P.I. - Best TV Drama Series

Night Court - Best TV Comedy Series

1987 Genesis Awards

Harry and the Hendersons - Best Feature Film - Comedy

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - Best Feature Film - Adventure

Benji the Hunted - Best Feature Film - Family

Gimme a Break! - Best TV Comedy Series

1988 Genesis Awards

Hachi-ko - Best Feature Film

Highway to Heaven - Best TV Drama Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror" (music video)

Classic Film Award - Bambi

Lifetime Achievement Award - Jacques Cousteau

1990 Genesis Awards

Gorillas in the Mist - Best Feature Film

The Bear - Best Foreign Film

Life Goes On - Best TV Drama Series

Punky Brewster - Best TV Comedy Series

Classic Film Award - Born Free

1991 Genesis Awards

The Rescuers Down Under - Best Feature Film

The Last Elephant - Best TV Movie

A Peaceable Kingdom & L.A. Law - Best TV Drama Series

Ferris Bueller - Best TV Comedy Series

1992 Genesis Awards

City Slickers - Best Feature Film

White Fang - Best Feature Film - Family

Designing Women; "The Fur Flies" - Best TV Comedy Series

Dinosaurs - Best Family TV Series

MacGyver - Best TV Drama Series

1993 Genesis Awards

Beethoven - Best Feature Film

FernGully: The Last Rainforest - Best Animated Feature Film

The Simpsons; "Dog of Death" - Best TV Comedy Series

Quantum Leap - Best TV Drama Series

The New Lassie - Best Family TV Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Megadeth, "Countdown to Extinction"

Classic Film Award - The Misfits

1994 Genesis Awards

Free Willy - Best Feature Film

Sisters - Best TV Drama Series

Roseanne; "Lanford Daze" - Best TV Comedy Series

Rescue 911 - Best Reality Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Paul McCartney, "Looking for Changes"

Classic Film Award - Bless the Beasts and Children

Lifetime Achievement Award - Jane Goodall

1995 Genesis Awards

Black Beauty - Best Feature Film

The Golden Palace - Best TV Comedy Series

Dead at 21 - Best TV Drama Series

1996 Genesis Awards

Babe - Best Feature Film

The Simpsons; "Lisa the Vegetarian" - Best TV Comedy Series

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman - Best TV Drama Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Michael Jackson, "Earth Song"

1997 Genesis Awards

Fly Away Home - Best Feature Film

Ellen - Best TV Comedy Series

Baywatch - Best TV Drama Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Crosby & Nash, "To the Last Whale"

A special Genesis Award was given to Dr. Michael A. Giannelli (Founding Executive Director, 1991-1997):

"In Appreciation of Your Words, Your Wisdom and for Helping Develop the Soul of the Ark Trust"

1998 Genesis Awards

Shiloh - Best Feature Film

Everybody Loves Raymond - Best TV Comedy Series

Millennium; "Broken World" - Best TV Drama Series

1999 Genesis Awards

Mighty Joe Young - Best Feature Film

The Practice; "The Food Chain" - Best TV Drama Series

Sports Night - Best New TV Series

Leeza - Best Talk Show

Wild Rescues - Best Reality Series

2000 Genesis Awards

Instinct - Best Feature Film

The Iron Giant - Best Animated Feature Film

Spin City; "The Deer Hunter" - Best TV Comedy Series

Judging Amy; "The Persistence of Tectonics" - Best TV Drama Series

Leeza - Best Talk Show

Road Rules: Semester at Sea - Best Reality Series

The Dolly Green Special Achievement Award - Prince, "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" (liner notes)

2001 Genesis Awards

Chicken Run - Best Feature Film

Popular; "Joe Loves Mary Cherry" - Best TV Comedy Series

Family Law; "Family Values" - Best TV Drama Series

Politically Incorrect - Best Talk Show

2002 Genesis Awards Winners

Dr. Dolittle 2 - Best Feature Film

Dharma & Greg; "A Fish Tale" - Best TV Comedy Series

Law & Order; "Whose Monkey Is It Anyway" - Best TV Drama Series

Wild Rescues - Best Reality Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Claude Carmichael & Pete Wasner, "Bearly Hangin' On"

2003 Genesis Awards

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Best Feature Film

8 Simple Rules; "Goodbye" - Best TV Comedy Series

The Practice; "Small Sacrifices" and Everwood; "Deer God" (tie) - Best TV Drama Series

Within These Walls - Best TV Movie

Animal Precinct - Best Reality Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Peter Gabriel, "Animal Nation"

2004 Genesis Awards Winners

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde - Best Feature Film

Finding Nemo - Best Animated Feature Film

Everybody Loves Raymond; "The Bird" - Best TV Comedy Series

Animal Cops: Detroit - Best Reality Series

The Classic Music Award - Matt Monro, "Born Free"

2005 Genesis Awards Winners

Two Brothers - Best Feature Film

Benji: Off the Leash! - Best Feature Film - Family

The Corporation - Best Documentary Feature

8 Simple Rules; "Finale: Part Deux" - Sid Caesar Comedy Award (formerly called Best TV Comedy Series)

Huff; "Is She Dead?" - Best TV Drama Series

Cell Dogs - Best Reality Series

The Montel Williams Show - Best Talk Show

Best Friend Forgotten - Best TV Documentary

2006 Genesis Awards

An Unfinished Life - Best Feature Film

Duma - Best Feature Film - Family

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Best Animated Feature Film

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - Best Documentary Feature

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Best TV Drama Series

Larry King Live - Best Talk Show

Animal Cops: Houston - Best Reality Series

The Doris Day Music Award - Nellie McKay, "The Dog Song"

2007 Genesis Awards

Fast Food Nation - Best Feature Film

Charlotte's Web - Best Feature Film - Family

Happy Feet - Best Animated Feature Film

The Simpsons; "Million Dollar Abie" - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

Bones; "The Woman in Limbo" - Best TV Drama Series

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; "The DeAlea Family" - Best Reality Series

Avatar: The Last Airbender; "Appa's Lost Days" - Outstanding Children's Programming

The Gretchen Wyler Award - Sir Paul McCartney

2008 Genesis Awards

Year of the Dog - Best Feature Film

According to Jim - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; "Unbearable" - Best TV Drama Series

Planet in Peril - Best TV Documentary

The Gretchen Wyler Award - Hayden Panettiere

2009 Genesis Awards

Bolt - Best Feature Film

Sharkwater - Best Documentary Feature

The Simpsons; "Apocalypse Cow" - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

Grey's Anatomy; "Life During Wartime" - Best TV Drama Series

30 Days; "Animal Rights" - Best Reality Seriesx

Planet in Peril - Best TV Documentary

The Gretchen Wyler Award - Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi

2010 Genesis Awards

Hotel for Dogs and Up (tie) - Best Feature Film

The Cove - Best Documentary Feature

Family Guy; "Dog Gone" - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

Bones; "The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken" - Best TV Drama Series

The Ellen DeGeneres Show - Best Talk Show

Whale Wars - Best Reality Series

Death on a Factory Farm - Best TV Documentary

Lifetime Achievement Award - Tippi Hedren

2011 Genesis Awards

How to Train Your Dragon - Best Feature Film

The Elephant in the Living Room - Best Documentary Feature

The Colbert Report - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

True Blood; "Hitting the Ground" - Best TV Drama Series

The Oprah Winfrey Show - Best Talk Show

Last Chance Highway - Best Reality Series

My Child is a Monkey - Best TV Documentary

The Gretchen Wyler Award - Kristin Davis

2012 Genesis Awards

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Best Feature Film

Born to Be Wild 3D - Best Documentary Feature

The Colbert Report - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

Hawaii Five-0; "Lapa'au" - Best TV Drama Series

The Ellen DeGeneres Show - Best Talk Show

Animal Planet Investigates; "Captive Hunting Exposed" - Best Reality Series

Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait - Best TV Documentary

20/20 - Best TV Newsmagazine

International Humanitarian Award - Pritish Nandy

The Gretchen Wyler Award - Ian Somerhalder

2013 Genesis Awards

Big Miracle - Best Feature Film

The Colbert Report, Representative Steve King on dogfighting - Sid Caesar Comedy Award

Harry's Law, "Gorilla My Dreams" - Best TV Drama Series

Ivory Wars - Best TV Documentary

Wild Justice - Reality Series

60 Minutes, "Jungle Warfare", Nine Network Australia- Brigitte Bardot International TV

The Gretchen Wyler Award - Ke$ha