Bob Costas to host Awards Ceremony on June 4 at New York City's
Waldorf=Astoria Hotel
Entertainment Series Including 'Ugly Betty,' 'Friday Night Lights,'
'Brotherhood,' 'The Office' and 'Scrubs' Cited
ATHENS, Ga., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-five recipients of the 66th
Annual Peabody Awards were announced today by the University of Georgia's
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The winners, chosen by
the Peabody Board as the best in electronic media for 2006, were named in a
ceremony in the Peabody Gallery on the University of Georgia Campus. The
latest Peabody recipients reflect the ever- broadening definition of
electronic media and the international scope of the competition.
The awards will be presented June 4 at a luncheon at the
Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York City. The celebrated sportscaster Bob
Costas, host of HBO's "Costas Now," will be the master of ceremonies.
"This year the Peabody Board reviewed a bounty of outstanding
material," said Horace Newcomb, Director of the Peabody Awards. "The result
is that our work becomes more difficult - and more rewarding - as creators
and producers of electronic media develop more and more powerful,
important, and engaging work."
An array of worthy documentaries was diverse and impressive. In PBS'
"Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film," presented by "American Masters," Ric
Burns demonstrated how Warhol's art, life and notoriety influenced the
culture of his times. With amazing cinematography and a fittingly grand
musical score, the BBC-National Geographic nature film "Galapagos: Born of
Fire" revealed new wonders on and around the islands that inspired Darwin.
"Why We Fight," broadcast by CBC, one of a dozen international partners in
the production, examined 60 years of American involvements abroad in the
context of President Dwight Eisenhower's famous warning about the
"military-industrial complex." "The Education of Ms. Grove," a special
segment of "Dateline NBC," shadowed an idealistic, first-year young
middle-school teacher in Atlanta as she learned some crucial lessons
herself. No documentary was more original than "Braindamadj'd ... Take II,"
Canadian television producer Paul Nadler's boldly stylized account of his
own remarkable recovery from a serious brain injury.
Entertainment series selected included NBC's "Friday Night Lights," a
richly textured serial in which a football-obsessed, Texas town becomes a
microcosm of America, and "Brotherhood," Showtime's riveting drama about
two Irish-American brothers in Providence, R.I., and their morally
comprised pursuits of the American dream. Peabodys also went to ABC's "Ugly
Betty," a telenovela makeover that explores clashing concepts of beauty,
class, race and footwear with intelligence, warmth and wit; NBC's "The
Office," a British comedy of workplace manners that has been transferred
with pitch-perfect brilliance to Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA; and "Scrubs,"
a unstintingly creative, sixth-season NBC comedy that never loses its
respect for humanity despite a narrative style akin to Looney Tunes.
"Return of the King," an especially provocative installment of the
prickly animated series "Boondocks," was the first program televised by
Cartoon Network to win a Peabody. The episode imagined a reawakened Martin
Luther King's reaction to contemporary phenomena from gangsta rap to the
war on terror. Three other basic cable channels televised Peabody-winning
programs for the first time. Awards went to "Good Eats," a deliriously
inventive series for Food Network in which Alton Brown educates viewers
about food, science, history and culture. "Beyond Borders: Personal Stories
from a Small Planet" is a series of short films was presented on the
Independent Film Channel. These films demonstrate that young people around
the world had stories to tell and that, given equipment and a little
training, could tell them powerfully. "For My Country? Latinos in the
Military," an even-handed exploration of how Latinos have come to be
disproportionately represented in the armed services, is the first Peabody
to be presented to mun2, a Telemundo subsidiary aimed at younger viewers.
Also cited for excellence was the BBC, BBC America, Talkback production
"Gideon's Daughter," a complex, delicately knitted study of a
father-daughter relationship, grief, and the cult of celebrity, all against
the backdrop of Princess Diana's death.
Cable network HBO received Peabody Awards for a varied range of
productions. Spike Lee's elegiac documentary about New Orleans after
Hurricane Katrina, "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," was
recognized by the Peabody board. So, too, was HBO Family's "The Music In
Me," an irresistible showcase for superb young performers playing
everything from classical cello to zydeco accordion. HBO Sports' "Billy
Jean King: Portrait of a Pioneer" explored the tennis great's impact on
politics and culture as well as women's athletics. The cable channel also
was recognized for "Elizabeth I," a richly detailed biographical movie in
which Helen Mirren's performance was a royal splendor in itself; and
"Baghdad ER," a powerful documentary testifying to the extraordinary
dedication of medical personnel confronting the overwhelming carnage of
war.
ABC News devoted an hour of prime time to "Out of Control: AIDS in
Black America," a devastating report about how African-Americans, who make
up 13 percent of the nation's population, now account for more than 50
percent of new cases of HIV infection. ABC News also was cited for "Brian
Ross Investigates: Conduct Unbecoming," broadcast reports and blog postings
by Ross that broke the story of Rep. Mark Foley's sexually explicit emails
to young Congressional pages and speeded Foley's resignation. CBS' "60
Minutes" won for "The Duke Rape Case," an Ed Bradley-led investigation of
rape allegations against Duke University lacrosse players that stood
widespread assumptions - and the prosecution's case - on their heads.
Local TV stations captured four 2006 Peabodys. WTNH-TV in New Haven,
Conn., was cited for "Defective Parts on Blackhawk Helicopters." This
investigation of quality-control problems at a nearby Sikorsky Aircraft
plant resulted in corrective action and a corporate shakeup. Another
military- equipment issue, inadequate protective padding in U.S. Marine
helmets, was the subject of an ambitious, Peabody-worthy investigation,
"Command Mistake," by Indianapolis' WISH-TV. A second Indianapolis station,
WTHR-TV, was cited for two pieces, "Prescription Privacy" and "Cause for
Alarm," that demonstrated the importance and different possibilities of
local TV news investigations. KMOV-TV in St. Louis garnered a Peabody for
"Left Behind: The Failure of East St. Louis Schools," a series of 21
reports that found the school system had violated national and federal
special-education requirements and uncovered widespread political and
nepotistic hiring by the school board.
A rare Institutional Award went to StoryCorps, a deceptively simple,
invaluable project that encourages people to step into StoryCorps recording
booths to tape oral histories, from personal matters to their experience of
public events. Edited versions are regularly broadcast on National Public
Radio, while the full recordings, thousands of hours' worth, are archived
at in the Library of Congress.
NPR also was recognized for "Mental Anguish and the Military," a hard
look at post-traumatic stress disorder, notable for its candid, sometimes
shocking interviews with Iraq War veterans at Ft. Carson, Colo. Public
Radio International was cited for "Crossing East: Our History, Our Stories,
Our America," an eight-part series about Asian-American history that drew
on more than 500 hours of interviews conducted for the project. "Crossing
Borders," broadcast by Arizona Public Radio, gave listeners a
multi-textured account of illegal immigration that included vivid,
you-are-there audio from the Mexican desert. "Habeas Schmabeas," an
installment of WBEZ Chicago Public Radio's "This American Life," won for a
look the endangerment of a fundamental American legal right. It included
Kafka-esque stories of two former terrorism suspects who were imprisoned at
Guantanamo Bay.
A Peabody went to "The Three Amigos HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme," a
series of cautionary spots starring a trio of animated condoms. This
whimsical public-service campaign with deadly serious intentions is
available for telecast in 41 different languages.
Peabody Awards also went to two impressive websites. "Being a Black
Man," featured on washingtonpost.com, allows visitors to see, hear and
respond to a huge range of history and personal experiences that defied
stereotypes and statistics. FourDocs (http://www.channel4.com/fourdocs), a site
created and curated by Magic Lantern Productions and Great Britain's
Channel 4, offers visitors the history and how-to of nonfiction filmmaking
while providing a showcase for an array of original documentaries under
four minutes in length.
"With all these awards," Newcomb said, "the aim of the Peabody Awards
is to demonstrate the excellence possible in these media. We hold up our
selections as examples of what can and should be done in the worlds of
journalism, entertainment, documentary, education, and public service."
The Peabody Board is a 16-member group, comprised of television
critics, broadcast and cable industry executives and experts in culture and
the arts, that judges the entries. Selection is made by the board following
review by special screening committees of UGA faculty, students and staff.
The Peabody Awards, the oldest honor in electronic media, do not
recognize categories nor is there a set number of awards given each year.
Today the Peabody recognizes distinguished achievement and meritorious
public service by stations, networks, producing organizations and
individuals.
All entries become a permanent part of the Peabody Archive in the
University of Georgia Libraries. The collection is one of the nation's
oldest, largest and most respected moving-image archives. For more
information about the Peabody Archive or the Peabody Awards, visit
http://www.peabody.uga.edu.
Graphics Available
Peabody Images: http://www.peabody.uga.edu/news/PressImages.html
Horace Newcomb: http://www.peabody.uga.edu/news/PressImages.html
Complete List of 2006 Peabody Award Winners
Mental Anguish and the Military National Public Radio
Using candid, sometimes startling interviews, NPR investigates how Iraq
War veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder are treated,
socially as well as medically, at one U.S. military base. National Public
Radio
Crossing East: Our History, Our Stories, Our America Public Radio
International
In the first radio series to explore Asian-American history in depth,
eight, 54-minute installments drew on sources that included more than 500
hours of oral history interviews conducted for the project. MediaRites
Productions
Crossing Borders Arizona Public Radio and some 230 public-radio
stations
The nighttime desert seems to have a voice of its own in this vivid
audio chronicle of illegal immigrants from Mexico, what dangers their
journeys can entail, and why they still take the risk. HearingVoices.com
This American Life: Habeas Schmabeas WBEZ, Chicago, and some 500
public-radio stations
This report, about the denial of habeas corpus to terrorism suspects,
focuses on the stories of two former Guantanamo Bay prisoners and explains
why the right is so fundamental in American law. WBEZ Chicago Public Radio
StoryCorps National Public Radio
This ambitious, nationwide project gathers oral histories that will
ultimately be archived at the Library of Congress. It also provides NPR's
"Morning Edition" with a stream of moving first-person accounts by
Americans ranging from Civil Rights veterans to Hurricane Katrina survivors
to Alzheimer's victims. StoryCorps
Defective Parts on Blackhawk Helicopters WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT
WTNH reporters' investigation of quality-control issues at an important
local employer, Sikorsky Aircraft, prompted corrective action and a
corporate shakeup. WTNH-TV
Left Behind: The Failure of East St. Louis Schools KMOV-TV, St.
Louis, MO
In 21 reports broadcast over a seven month period, KMOV exposed the
school district's violation of state and federal rules regarding special
education and uncovered the school board's awarding of more than 100
political or nepotistic jobs. KMOV-TV
The Education of Ms. Groves NBC
Inspiring but not schmaltzy, this program tracks the learning curve of
a wide-eyed, first-year middle-school teacher in Atlanta who discovers her
job demands skills and resources as well as idealism. Dateline NBC
60 Minutes: The Duke Rape Case CBS
A "60 Minutes" team led by correspondent Ed Bradley delved into the
allegations of rape against Duke University lacrosse players and stopped a
prosecutorial rush to judgment in its tracks. CBS News
Prescription Privacy/Cause for Alarm WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN
A pair of reports - one on inadequate tornado-warning sirens, the other
on drug stores' willy-nilly disposal of clients' personal data were
enterprising investigations, calls for action - and great local television.
WTHR-TV
ABC News Brian Ross Investigates: Conduct Unbecoming ABC
Brian Ross' broadcasts and web postings about Rep. Mark Foley's
sexually explicit emails to young Congressional pages triggered new
revelations, speeded Foley's resignation and may have affected the outcome
of the November elections. ABC World News Tonight, ABC News Nightline, ABC
News.com "The Blotter"
Command Mistake WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN
In a local-station investigation that spread to three continents, WISH
demonstrated that U.S. Marines are sustaining head injuries that can kill
or cost millions to rehab - merely for lack of helmet padding that costs
$30. WISH-TV
Galapagos: Born of Fire BBC Two
The Galapagos Islands, a fascinating microcosm of Earth, inspired this
melding of cinematography and musical score cited by Peabody board members
as "stunning," "amazing" and "astonishing." BBC, co-produced by National
Geographic, BBC Worldwide
American Masters: Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film PBS
Ric Burns's documentary places Warhol at the center of the late 20th
century art world and shows how his work, notoriety and life embodied and
influenced the culture of his time. Steeplechase Films Inc., High Line
Productions, Daniel Wolf Inc., Thirteen/WNET
For My Country? Latinos in the Military mun2
This probing but even-handed documentary examines the social, cultural
and economic realities that lead a demographically disproportionate number
of young Latinos to enlist in the military and questions whether they are
being targeted by recruiters. mun2
Baghdad ER HBO
Filmed at the 86th Combat Support Hospital and presented without
commentary or narration, this documentary is a horrifying and humbling
testament to the dedication of medical personnel confronting the
overwhelming brutality of war. HBO, Downtown Community Television
Braindamadj'd ... Take II CBC
A television producer who suffered a brain injury confounds a dire
prognosis. He not only makes a significant recovery but creates a wildly
inventive film about his experience. Apartment 11 Productions, CBC
Newsworld, Canadian Television Fund, RDI, Knowledge Network
When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts HBO
Spike Lee's examination of Hurricane Katrina's devastation and the
government's neglect of New Orleans in the storm's aftermath is an epic
chronicle of destruction and broken promises, a heartrending document and a
profound work of art. HBO Documentary Films in association with 40 Acres &
A Mule Filmworks
Out of Control: AIDS in Black America ABC
In a prime-time news hour, ABC explored the reasons for and
consequences of a shockingly underreported fact - that blacks, who make up
13 percent of the U.S. population, now account for more than 50 percent of
new cases of HIV infection. PJ Productions, ABC News
Why We Fight CBC
Masterful simply as filmmaking, disturbing as connect-the-dot
reportage, this documentary links President Eisenhower's famous warning
about the "military-industrial complex" to six ensuing decades of American
interventions abroad, to terrorism and to the war in Iraq. Charlotte Street
Films LTD, CBC TV (Canada), BBC TV (United Kingdom), ARTE GEIE TV
(France/Germany), TV2 TV (Denmark), YLE TV2 TV (Finland), WDR TV (Germany),
VRT TV (Belgium), SVT TV (Sweden), VPRO TV (Netherlands), NRK TV (Norway),
ETV TV (Estonia), European Union Media Plus Program, TVE (Spain)
Brotherhood Showtime
Uniformly splendid acting and a strong sense of place characterize this
serial drama about two Providence, R.I. brothers, a rising politician and a
smalltime gangster, and their morally compromised pursuits of the American
dream. Showtime, Mandalay Television
Billie Jean King: Portrait of a Pioneer HBO
Unusually substantial for a sports biography, the film persuasively
confirms the tennis champion's heroic status in women's history as well as
athletics. HBO Sports
Elizabeth I HBO
Helen Mirren's artistry as an actress mesmerizes throughout this
beautifully produced movie that focuses on the latter half of Queen
Elizabeth I's reign -- a splendid rendering of historic events and intimate
details. Company Pictures and Channel 4 in association with HBO Films
Boondocks: Return of the King Cartoon Network
An especially daring episode of the animated series based on Aaron
McGruder's syndicated comic strip imagines Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
reviving from a 32-year "coma" and outraging Americans of all colors and
creeds by confronting them with truths that he, at least, still holds to be
self- evident. Rebel Base, Sony Pictures Television
Scrubs NBC
A sweet-and-pungent "Wizard of Oz" parody was just one testimonial to
the continuing creative vigor, six seasons into its run, of Bill Lawrence's
hellzapoppin' comedy about the staff of a Los Angeles hospital. Touchstone
Television
Ugly Betty ABC
Inspired by an internationally popular telenovela, this Americanized
version defies category. It's part comedy, part drama, part soap opera,
part fashion-industry satire - but is unmistakably graced with wry
intelligence and heart. Touchstone Television
Gideon's Daughter BBC America
This delicate character drama uses a complex father-daughter
relationship to explore grief and the cult of celebrity against the
backdrop of a nation mourning Princess Diana's death. BBC, BBC America,
Talkback
The Office NBC
This American adaptation of the Peabody-winning British hit of the same
title -- a comedy of workplace manners and politics presented in faux
documentary form -- has firmly established its own precise voice and
studied brilliance. Reveille Studios in association with NBC Universal
Television Studios
Friday Night Lights NBC
No dramatic series, broadcast or cable, is more grounded in
contemporary American reality than this clear eyed serial about the hopes,
dreams, livelihoods and egos intertwined with the fate of high-school
football in a Texas town. NBC Universal Television Studio in association
with Imagine Entertainment and Film 44
Good Eats Food Network
Rarely has science been taught on TV in such an entertaining - and
appetizing - manner as it is in Alton Brown's goofy, tirelessly inventive
series. Be Square Productions Inc.
The Music In Me HBO
What better way to inspire the study of music than with this
irresistible collection of artfully photographed vignettes of young
musicians, ages seven to 11, playing everything from classical cello to
zydeco accordion. HBO Family
Beyond Borders: Personal Stories from a Small Planet Independent
Film Channel (Independents Shorts Showcases I & II) and IFCTV.org
Written, shot and edited by young filmmakers, ages 13-19, the nine
short films in this series introduce budding artists who convey unique
visions of what it's like to grow up in different lands, under different
social and economic conditions. Listen Up! Youth Media Network (New York,
NY) with Polimorfo (Bogota Colombia), iEarn Sierra Leone (Freetown, Sierra
Leone), Evanston Township High School (Evanston, IL), La Camioneta
(Guatemala City, Guatemala), Sawtona (Amman, Jordan), Frame By Frame Fierce
(New York, NY), Light House (Charlottesville, VA), Spy Hop Productions
(Salt Lake City, UT), Our Voice (Kiev, Ukraine)
The Three Amigos HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme SABC (South Africa),
OMNI (Canada), SBS 6 (Holland), TVM (Mozambique) & many others
A trio of anthropomorphic, cartoon condoms star in this hilariously
memorable HIV/AIDS-prevention campaign that has been made available in 41
different languages. Chocolate Moose Media Inc., Quintet Productions
Being A Black Man http://www.washingtonpost.com
This revelatory website created by Washington Post staff defied
stereotypes and went far beyond dire statistics and inspiring testimonials,
allowing visitors to see, hear and respond to a huge range of history and
personal experience. washingtonpost.com, The Washington Post
FourDocs http://www.channel4.com/fourdocs
This curated, ever-changing trove of independent documentaries under
four minutes in length also teaches the history and how-to of nonfiction
filmmaking and creates a community site for filmmaker-citizens. Magic
Lantern Productions, Channel 4
Contacts:
Noel Holston/Peabody Awards, +1-706-542-8983, nholston@uga.edu
Stephanie Baumoel/FerenComm for Peabody Awards, +1-212-983-9898,
stephanieb@ferencomm.com
SOURCE George Foster Peabody Awards
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Related links:
http://www.peabody.uga.edu
CONTACT:
Noel Holston of Peabody Awards,
+1-706-542-8983, nholston@uga.edu; or Stephanie Baumoel of
FerenComm, +1-212-983-9898, stephanieb@ferencomm.com, for Peabody
Awards
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