'Glee', 'CSI' have a conscience
2010-03-18 19:07
Los Angeles - The wheelchair episode of musical comedy Glee and a CSI programme tackling race and prejudice in the police were among eight shows named on Wednesday as examples of "television with a conscience".
The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said the eight shows, which looked at issues ranging from doctor-assisted suicide to autism and Alzheimer's disease, will be honoured at a ceremony in May.
The "Television Academy Honours" started three years ago, and is an opportunity to recognise programmes that use TV's ability to reach millions of viewers in a thought-provoking and positive way.
It is a separate event from the glitzy Emmy awards, the industry's top honours, which celebrate the best performances, writing and directing on US TV and also are sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Broad subject matter
"This year we were impressed by not only the number of entries received but also by the breadth of subject matters addressed," said John Shaffner, chair and CEO of the academy.
The honourees encompassed highly-rated popular network shows as well as documentaries and programmes from cable channels. Glee airs on the Fox network and CSI plays on CBS.
The other 2009 programmes selected for the honours were:
- HBO film Taking Chance about the military escort of a fallen Iraq soldier's remains.
- HBO's Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am, a documentary featuring children whose grandparents are suffering from Alzheimer's.
- National Geographic Television's Inside Death Row following prison inmates and their families in Texas.
- An episode of ABC's Private Practice drama about a doctor's request to die.
- Discovery Health's Unlocking Autism documentary on the scientific and human aspects of autism
- Current TV's Vanguard; The OxyContin Express tackling prescription drug abuse in the US.
The makers of all eight programmes will be honoured at a dinner in Beverly Hills on May 5.