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Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Cartoon Network, Georgia, Big-Time Peabody Winners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nothing embarrassing about this.
Some two months after a marketing plan for an upcoming movie caused a multimillion dollar bomb scare in Boston and plenty of red faces here, Cartoon Network came roaring back to win a prestigious Peabody Award Wednesday. The Atlanta-based network got the nod — its first ever — for the Martin Luther King episode of its provocative original animated series, “Boondocks.” The Peabody board cited as “especially daring” the show that imagined Dr. King awakening from a 32-year “coma” and reacting to all matter of modern cultural phenomena.
It was one of a handful of Atlanta-connected programs and people recognized for the 66th version of the oldest — and arguably most coveted — honor in electronic media. “Good Eats,” the Food Network program hosted by local “food scientist” and chef Alton Brown, also got the nod. So did “The Education of Ms. Grove,” a special “Dateline NBC” segment that focused on an idealistic young first-year middle school teacher in Atlanta.
“Rarely has science been taught on TV in such an entertaining — and appetizing — manner, the board said of Brown’s series, which it termed “goofy” and “tirelessly inventive.”
Founded in 1941 and administered by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Peabodys can truly be said to be based on merit. No set number of awards are handed out each year, nor are they given in particular categories. Sometimes, it’s an individual episode of a program or a special that’s recognized: HBO got two such nods Wednesday, for “Baghdad ER” and Spike Lee’s searing Hurricane Katrina documentary, “When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts.”
Five scripted TV series also were recognized this year, and at least two of them proved the Peabody board doesn’t necessarily worry about ratings. Along with the pop culture hits “Ugly Betty” (ABC) and “The Office,” (NBC), the critically-acclaimed, but low-rated football drama “Friday Night Lights” won a Peabody.
“No dramatic series, broadcast or cable, is more grounded in contemporary American reality than this clear-eyed serial,” reads the citation for the NBC series that stars Georgia native Kyle Chandler.
Not many people watched “Brotherhood” when it debuted last summer on Showtime — although the AJC did name it the year’s top TV series. And on Wednesday, the Peabody board agreed, citing the emotional, explosive 10-part drama about siblings on opposite side of the law in Providence, R.I., for its “ strong sense of place” and expert presentation of “morally compromised pursuits of the American dream.”
In all, 36 Peabodys were awarded in categories ranging from TV and radio to web sites. One went to “The Duke Rape Case” report anchored by the late Ed Bradley on “60 Minutes.”
The awards will be presented June 4 at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Bob Costas will be master of ceremonies.
The Glide Slides….
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clyde lives to Glide another day!
Popular opinion had it that Clyde Drexler was doomed to be Tuesday night’s “Dancing with the Stars” also-ran — but it was former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey who turned out to take the Dip From Which There Is No Return.
Frankly, I had no problem with that result. While the Professional Pretty Girl turned out to have more personality than I was thrilled to have to admit, her stiff arm and leg movements reminded me of that character beloved by elementary school kids, Flat Stanley. And after watching the poor girl perform practically nekkid two weeks in a row, I was afraid she was going to catch a bad cold….
On the other hand, the Shandi shunning was extremely unpopular within a certain sector of Serf-dom (aka a few of the male editors she sits near). As one of them said to me grumpily, “That really reduces the show’s T&A factor.” Maybe say, but has anyone seen the gams and sweet grin on Clyde?
Meanwhile, what I found more intriguing about this whole mess was that Leeezzza Gibbons was the other celebrity member of the bottom two on Tuesday. Not to get too deep in the weeds on this thing, but considering she tied for first in the judge’s scoring after Monday’s dance, that tells me she has very little fan voting base out there. Even AFTER (or maybe because) she kinda-sorta flashed America the area right above her boob.
A TV show where not even T&A can save you … This really IS a serious competition.
