FOX's 'The Simpsons' Wins Seventh Environmental Media Award for Raising Awareness of Environmental Issues
21st Century Fox Social Impact
On October 24, top Hollywood talent gathered at the Warner Bros. studio lot for the 25th annual Environmental Media Awards, a yearly awards show recognizing film and television that increase public awareness of environmental issues. FOX's The Simpsons collected the seventh award in the show's history for an episode exploring the issue of fracking.
"Over the years, we at The Simpsons have addressed so many environmental issues," said Yeardley Smith, who plays Lisa Simpson. "We have tackled factory farming, acid rain, light pollution, over-fishing, climate change, clear cutting old growth trees, hive collapse, and now fracking... Through it all, the EMAs have been there with tremendous support."
The winning episode, entitled "Opposites A-Frack," was written by Valentina L. Garza and directed by Matthew Nastuk. Matt Selman, who along with Al Jean currently serves as the showrunner, accepted the award.
"When we set out to do a show about hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' we felt it was important to present both sides of this complicated issue," Selman joked. "We couldn't find any 'pros,' but we tried."
Each of the nominees in this category was produced by a 21st Century Fox business. FOX's Bob's Burgers was nominated for its episode "Late Afternoon in the Garden of Bob and Louise," and the Twentieth Century Fox Television production Cristela received a nomination, as well.
"We have incredible nominees and remarkable honorees tonight whose activism touches everything that we have been working toward here at EMA for all these years," said Debbie Levin, president of the Environmental Media Association. "We have been blessed to work with the most passionate environmentalists in our community, individuals who understand that their voices can truly make substantial changes."
The Environmental Media Association was founded in 1989 by Lyn and Norman Lear and Cindy and Alan Horn. EMA is dedicated to harnessing the power of celebrity and the media to promote sustainable lifestyles and believes through positive role modeling the entertainment community can inspire consumers to take action.
In addition to recognizing strong environmental messaging, the EMA Awards also present the Green Seal to film and television projects that have gone above and beyond in the call to make their productions more environmentally friendly. Eight Fox productions received the honor this year, including Deadpool, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Morgan, Paper Towns, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, The Martian, The X-Files, and X-Men: Apocalypse.
At last year's awards, FOX's New Girl and Cosmos won in the Television Comedy and Reality Television categories for their respective episodes on waste and climate change. In addition, FOX Broadcasting collected the special Green Production Award for its Fall Eco-Casino Party, the network's annual launch party to kick off the new television season. The event, which is completely carbon neutral, brings together FOX talent and executives to raise money for environmental charities, and it has raised more than $250,000 over the past decade.
Other stars in attendance this year included Gwyneth Paltrow, Blythe Danner, Lance Bass, Jessica Biel, Ed Begley Jr., and Kristin Davis.
