1st Television Academy Honors
Recipients of the inaugural Television Academy Honors were:
- Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq – In this insightful, inspirational and heartbreaking HBO special, James Gandolfini interviews 10 young veterans of the Iraq War who survived near-fatal wounds and are learning to cope with their life-changing disabilities. Produced by James Gandolfini and Alexandra Ryan.
- Boston Legal – The ABC series addressed a number of issues including euthanasia, government sanctioned torture, illegal alien status, race relations, the teaching of "abstinence only" sex education and the marketing of sexually suggestive dolls to young girls among others. Produced by David E. Kelley Productions, in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television.
- Girl, Positive – Lifetime Television's movie aimed at teens and their parents dealt with the dangers of unprotected sex and misconceptions still held by adolescents and adults about AIDS and HIV testing. Produced by von Zerneck/Sertner Films.
- God's Warriors - In this three-part CNN documentary, correspondent Christiane Amanpour examined religious fundamentalism -- Jewish, Muslim and Christian -- and the volatility that ensues "when piety meets politics." Produced by CNN Productions.
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, "Harm" -- This episode of the NBC series tackled the complicated question of whether, during the War in Iraq, torture is ever justified. Produced by Wolf Films in association with NBC Media Studios.
- Pictures of Hollis Woods – This Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS dealt with Alzheimer's disease, and the impact it has on a retired art teacher and the troubled 12-year-old foster child who has grown to love her. Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Inc.
- Planet Earth – Discovery's 11-part series took viewers on an incredible journey to all seven continents to chronicle discoveries about animal behaviors, land formations, oceans, climate and other natural developments. Produced for Discovery Channel by the BBC.
- Side Order of Life - This Lifetime series showed how a cancer diagnosis is not viewed as a death sentence but an opportunity to live life to the fullest. Produced by Jinks/Cohen in association with Warner Horizon Television.
- Shame – Showtime's documentary focused on human rights violations, specifically violent crimes against women and the need to empower women in developing countries. Produced by Showtime Presents in association with Mu Man Pictures.
Eligible programs were those airing from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007 and were submitted for fiction/nonfiction as a whole series, a single episode or for a story arc up to three episodes. Made for television movies, miniseries or fiction/nonfiction specials were also eligible to apply for The Television Academy Honors.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced The Television Academy Honors — an annual recognition and celebration of the television programs that have best presented issues of concern to society in a compelling, emotional and insightful way. John Shaffner, Chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, announced the honorees.
An outgrowth of the Television Academy's Television Cares Committee, "The Television Academy Honors" celebrated these 2007 recipients who exemplify "television with a conscience" at a star-studded event held on May 1, 2008 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Phil Gurin (The Singing Bee, Miss Universe Pageant) produced.
"We received almost 200 entries following the announcement of 'The Television Academy Honors' and our call for entries this past December," Shaffner said.
"It was very difficult to narrow them down to a final group of honorees," he explained. "However, we felt the shows and movies we selected best represent what this honor stands for – programming that enlightens, educates, creates awareness and instigates positive change regarding a wide range of social and health issues."