‘Big Miracle,’‘The Colbert Report’ Win Genesis Awards

Big Miracle Drew Barrymore John Krasinski - P 2012

The Humane Society of the United States also honors Kesha with its Wyler Award for spreading the word about animal protection issues.

The feature film Big Miracle, Stephen Colbert’s The Colbert Report, the TV series Harry’s Law, the TV news magazines Rock Center with Brian Williams and Nightline, Discovery Channel’s Ivory Wars and pop star Kesha took home top honors at The Humane Society of the United States’ Genesis Awards Benefit Gala, which was held Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Dancing with the Stars judge and animal advocate Carrie Ann Inaba hosted the ceremony.

The Universal release Big Miracle was named best feature film for its tale about international efforts to save a family of trapped whales; Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report picked up the Sid Caesar Comedy Award for its satire of a congressman’s defense of dogfighting, and NBC’s Harry’s Law won the dramatic series award for a storyline questioning the ethics of keeping primates in captivity. Best TV documentary went to Discovery’s Ivory Wars for a look at the escalation in elephant ivory trade, and the best TV newsmagazine award was shared between NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams, for reporting on endangered orangutans and rhinos and the issue of chimps in research, and ABC’s Nightline for an investigation into the abuse of Tennessee walking horses by one of the industry’s best-known trainers.

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Kesha received HSUS’ Wyler Award for her dedication to spreading the word about multiple animal protection issues to her international fan base.

In other categories, Nat Geo Channel’s Wild Justice was named best reality Ssries, ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer took the national news award, CBS This Morning picked up best norning show, and Los Angeles’ KNBC 4 News won the local TV news prize.

“We are so grateful to the news and entertainment media for keeping animal protection issues firmly in their view in genres as diverse as comedy programming and documentaries. Concern for the welfare of animals has universal audience appeal, and since so much of what negatively impacts animals occurs out of sight, it’s important that these issues remain in the media spotlight,” said Beverly Kaskey, senior director of HSUS’ Hollywood Outreach program and executive producer of The Genesis Awards.

A complete list of winners follows:

FEATURE FILM

Big Miracle, Universal Pictures

TV NEWSMAGAZINE

Nightline, “The Ugly Truth Behind High Stepping Horses,” ABC

Rock Center With Brian Williams, “At What Cost?,” “Ken and Rosie,” and “Last Stand,” NBC

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DRAMATIC SERIES

Harry’s Law, “Gorilla My Dreams,” NBC

SID CAESAR COMEDY AWARD

The Colbert Report, Representative Steve King on dogfighting. Comedy Central

TV DOCUMENTARY