Research Guru / Moderator
Posted:
Jan 8, 2008, 7:26 PM
|
|
FG creator Seth MacFarlane hosting 2nd Elan Awards
|
|
|
"Family Guy" creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane will host the Elan Awards Show, produced by the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts, on February 15.
"I am extremely excited to be hosting the Second Annual Elan Awards," MacFarlane, star of one of the most bankable franchises in all of television, declared Monday. "I am, of course, heavily involved in animation, and gaming seems to be the wave of the future. But most of all, I'm excited to purchase inexpensive prescription drugs and smuggle them back into the United States."
"Need we say more?" laughs Holly Carinci, founder and producer of the Elan Awards. "It's obvious that he's the perfect host for our awards show, especially given the industries we honor, animation and video gaming, and it's these industries that we owe the idea of inviting Seth to host…
"When asked, they came back resoundingly with Mr. MacFarlane as their choice for host. We're just so happy, and not a little relieved, that he accepted! It's not easy finding the right host for two different industries, and we've certainly got that with Seth."
Easily one of the youngest people ever to create a television series, MacFarlane began his career studying animation and design at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he created the animated short film The Life of Larry, which later became the inspiration for Family Guy. FOX picked up FG in 1998, and MacFarlane went on to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for his role as Stewie Griffin (MacFarlane voices the popular characters Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin and Brian Griffin in the series).
The show has garnered two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Animated Series. In 2002, MacFarlane also received an Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for Family Guy.
Family Guy was canceled in 2002, but exceptional ratings on Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" and astonishing DVD sales convinced FOX to make the unprecedented move to return the show to production and its schedule. FG has since established itself as the anchor of FOX's Sunday night lineup. MacFarlane also serves as co-creator/executive producer/star of the FOX animated series American Dad, which is entering its fourth season.
The Elan Awards, which awards the talent behind the burgeoning professional video gaming and animation industries, as well as the raw talent (students) coming from digital art educational institutions, began in its first year as a Canadian-only awards show, but added international "best of" categories for all three of these industries for the second production of the show. Participation exploded after only one year into an enormous network of video gaame, animation and digital art schools worldwide who were eager to participate.
"We are quite taken aback by the enthusiasm of so many countries outside of Canada to participate in this show," says Carinci. "We believe that this early worldwide industry participation in the Elans is positive indication of our mandate in establishing Canada as the world center for video gaming and the celebration of Canada's incredible contribution to the world in animation and the educational institutions behind the future talent in both phenomenal industries.
"In short, we are looking to one day soon produce the Oscar equivalent for both animation and video gaming. Having a host the caliber of Seth MacFarlane and worldwide participation in what is only the second show, the future looks very bright."
The Second Annual Elan Awards will be held in Vancouver at The Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts and its official hotelier, the Sutton Place Hotel. Tickets went on sale Monday. Those wishing to attend the awards should go (quickly!) to www.theelans.com to find out how to purchase their seats.
-------------------------
"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
|
|
|
|
