FOX's 'New Girl' and 'Cosmos' Recognized for Raising Awareness of Environmental Issues
On Saturday, October 18th, top Hollywood talent gathered at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles for the 24th annual Environmental Media Awards, at which the Environmental Media Association recognizes film and television productions that raise awareness of environmental issues in new and creative ways. At this year's ceremony, several FOX productions received awards.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, the Emmy Award-winning science education series hosted by renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, won the Reality Television category for its episode on climate change. New Girl won the Television Comedy category for its discussion of waste and conservation in the episode "Menus." 20th Century Fox Television's Modern Family and the Blue Sky Studios animated feature Rio 2 also received nominations.
"We are very proud and happy to accept this honor," said Brannon Braga, executive producer and director of Cosmos, who accepted the award. "What we really tried to impart with Cosmos was the evidence and reality [of climate change]. I like to think of Cosmos as the ultimate reality show."
In addition to its wins in the content categories, FOX Broadcasting also collected the special Green Production Award for its Fall Eco-Casino Party, the network's annual launch party to kick off the new television season. The event, which is completely carbon neutral, brings together FOX talent and executives to raise money for environmental charities, and it has raised more than $250,000 over the past decade.
New Girl's Lamore Morris and Mulaney's Nasim Pedrad presented the award to Josh Mark, head of sustainability at FOX. "Instead of just looking for simple promotion, we began a movement to do good for the environment," Mark said. "I'm proud of the role our team has played to deliver on the global commitments of our parent company, 21st Century Fox, to reduce our environmental impacts, grow sustainably, and inspire others to take action."
Each year, the Environmental Media Association also awards the Green Seal to film and television projects that have gone above and beyond in the call to make their productions more environmentally friendly. Eight Fox productions received the honor this year, including 24: Live Another Day, The Fault in Our Stars, and Gone Girl.
Other stars in attendance included Jeff Goldblum, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John C. Riley, Sharon Osbourne, Emily Van Camp, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Stana Katic, and Ed Begley Jr. The Environmental Media Association was founded in 1989 by Lyn and Norman Lear and Cindy and Alan Horn.
