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September 15, 2004 |
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Nominees Announced for "20th Annual SHINE Awards,” Saturday, Oct. 16, Celebrating Two Decades of Safer Sex on TV
Awards Given to Shows that Explore Sexual and Reproductive Issues Ranging from Abstinence-only Sex Ed to Gay Marriage
HBO Films to Receive Special Honor
Without a Trace and ER battle it out. Not for ratings this time, but for the coveted SHINE (Sexual Health IN Entertainment) Award.
Celebrating two decades of safer sex on television, The Media Project announced nominees for its "20th Annual SHINE Awards,” to be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 am, at House of Blues, Sunset Strip,. Actress and writer Julie Brown (Clueless and Earth Girls Are Easy) will host.
The only recognition of its kind, the SHINE Awards honor nationally and internationally televised films and episodic programs for accurate and honest portrayals of adolescent sexual health issues.
The CBS Television Network leads with seven nominations this year, including Still Standing, The Young and the Restless, and Joan of Arcadia. Joining four other shows in the popular Scene Stealer category is That ‘70s Show. Perennial SHINE Award honorees ER, Law and Order: SVU, and Queer as Folk are also nominated.
In the comedy category, 8 Simple Rules and Grounded for Life look at abstinence-only sex education, while One on One, Still Standing, and The Bernie Mac Show (with a little help from Hugh Hefner) showcase the awkward moments of parents talking with their kids about the birds and the bees.
Joan of Joan of Arcadia contemplates losing her virginity in the drama category. ER takes a global view of AIDS, and Law and Order: SVU highlights “being on the down low,” a problem strongly affecting the African American community. Strong Medicine deals with the challenges to gay marriage. Without A Trace examines the ramifications of child molestation.
The Scene Stealer category has a new meaning as That ‘70s Show and Iron Jawed Angels touch upon self-discovery.
In the Documentary category, America Undercover looks at celibacy, Fight for Your Rights features virginity, Pandemic looks at AIDS in India, and Primetime Thursday visits AIDS in Africa with Oprah Winfrey. Finishing off the documentary category, 48 Hours Investigates explores sexual abuse among women.
Also honored this year is HBO Films, recipient of the 2004 Corporate Special Achievement Award. “Whether the topic is AIDS, reproductive choice, or sexual orientation, HBO Films has always been cutting edge” said Melissa Havard, Director of the Media Project. “How could we not honor HBO Films on our special anniversary?”
In 2002, The SHINE Awards welcomed Spanish language and Latino-themed programming into its nomination categories. This year will mark the introduction of a Special Latino Award which will go to Puertas Abiertas, Puntos de Encuentro-Canal 2 Nicaragua for its outstanding body of work.
Individual VIP seating at the SHINE Awards on October 16 at House of Blues, Sunset Strip is available for a $150 tax-deductible donation, with all proceeds from the event benefiting Advocates for Youth’s work to help adolescents make responsible and healthy decisions about sex. For tickets or more information, phone 310.234.0454 or visit www.themediaproject.com.
The Media Project—a part of Advocates for Youth—offers entertainment professionals the latest facts, research assistance, and script consultation on all of today’s sexual and reproductive health issues. Last year alone, the Project was directly responsible for helping the entertainment industry provide accurate sexual health content and relevant story lines to more than 30 million Americans.
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