Showtime and MTV Networks Score Triple Wins at NAMIC Vision Awards

LOS ANGELES, March 29 /PRNewswire/ — MTV Networks and Showtime Networks led all others, garnering three wins each at the 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards held Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. The event was hosted by actress-comedienne Niecy Nash of Style Network’s “Clean House,” Comedy Central’s “Reno 911″ and its feature film spin-off “Reno 911: Miami.” Presented by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) in conjunction with NAMIC-Southern California, the NAMIC Vision Awards is the only entertainment industry event celebrating diversity in original cable programming. Benefiting the NAMIC Foundation and its Digital Bridge Alliance (DBA) project, proceeds from the event are contributed to non-profit organizations working to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities of color.

   (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070329/NYTH121            http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060705/NYW092LOGO )  

Showtime Network’s original series “Sleeper Cell” was recognized as Best Drama, while Lauren Velez took honors for Best Actress-Drama for her role in Showtime’s crime series “Dexter.” Tonye Patano’s Best Actress-Comedy win for the original series “Weeds” gave Showtime the network’s third award of the evening.

MTV Networks was victorious in the Animation, Best Actor-Comedy and Variety/Talk Show categories with wins for Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and TV Land. Comedian Carlos Mencia won Best Actor-Comedy for his work in Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia.” The award for Best Animation went to Nickelodeon’s 3-D fantasy series “The Backyardigans.” TV Land’s “That’s What I’m Talking About,” the three-part discussion series focused on the Black experience in America won Best Variety/Talk Show honors.

Other networks garnering multiple wins included HBO and Disney Channel. HBO’s “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts,” produced by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee was recognized with top honors for Best Documentary. The network received a pair of trophies with a second win for “Tsunami, The Aftermath” for Best Original Movie and or Special. Raven-Symone was honored with the 2007 North Star Award, which is presented annually to an individual or organization that has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to promoting ethnic and cultural diversity. Raven also accepted NAMIC Vision Awards on behalf of Disney Channel for Best Children’s (“That’s So Raven”) and Best Music Video (“Strut”-The Cheetah Girls 2).

Emmy award-winning casting director and TV/Film producer, Robi Reed was the 2007 Legacy Award recipient. The Legacy Award pays homage to a trailblazing individual or body of work that has made an indelible impact on the diversity landscape. Kimberly Elise, award-winning actress and star of the CBS primetime series “Close to Home,” presented the award to Reed.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and Warner Bros. were the presenting sponsors of the 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards. A complete list of winners follows. For more information on NAMIC or the NAMIC Vision Awards log onto http://www.namic.com/ or call the NAMIC National Headquarters, 212-594-5985.

   WINNERS – 13th ANNUAL NAMIC VISION AWARDS    SPECIAL HONOREES   Robi Reed, Legacy Award   Raven-Symone, North Star Award    BEST ANIMATION   The Backyardigans “Mission to Mars” – MTV Networks: Nickelodeon    BEST ACTOR COMEDY   Carlos Mencia: Mind of Mencia – MTV Networks: Comedy Central    BEST ACTOR DRAMA   Forest Whitaker, The Shield “Kavanuagh”  – FX Networks    BEST ACTRESS COMEDY   Tonye Patano: Weeds – Showtime Networks    BEST ACTRESS DRAMA   Lauren Velez: Dexter – Showtime Networks    BEST CHILDREN’S (Tie)   That’s So Raven, “The Four Aces” – Disney Channel   Lisa Knight and the Roundtable – Black Family Channel    BEST COMEDY   Comic View with Sheryl Underwood – BET    BEST DOCUMENTARY   When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts – HBO    BEST DRAMA   Sleeper Cell – Showtime Networks    BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE   El Reto Final Nissan – Fox Sports en Espanol    BEST MUSIC VIDEO   “Strut” – Cheetah Girls 2 – Disney Channel    BEST NEWS/INFORMATIONAL   Race & Hollywood: Black Images on Film – Turner Classic Movies    BEST ORIGINAL MOVIE/SPECIAL   Tsunami, The Aftermath – HBO    BEST REALITY   Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance – Oxygen Media    BEST VARIETY/TALK SHOW   That’s What I’m Talking About – MTV Networks: TV Land    About NAMIC  

NAMIC is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC is comprised of nearly 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation’s communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070329/NYTH121http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060705/NYW092LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN14PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

NAMIC

CONTACT: Charmaine Chapman of BTB Communications, for NAMIC,+1-310-902-8617, BTBCOMM@tmo.blackberry.net

Web site: http://www.namic.com/