here! Networks is rolling out its red carpet for the 11th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration Dec. 1, at the Television Academy's Leonard Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood.
That little red ribbon, which has become a ubiquitous symbol of solidarity in the fight against AIDS and is often sported at every prestigious event from the Academy Awards to the Grammy's, takes center stage at the celebration on World AIDS Day to honor media companies, programs, producers and individuals who strive to provide HIV/ AIDS awareness.
A beefed up red carpet hosted by Ben Harvey, here! Networks' on-air personality, and actress Elaine Hendrix, from Bam Bam and Celeste and Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, promises to replace the Joan and Melissa Rivers show of Academy Awards gone by, jokes Ribbon of Hope producer Cindy Peters.
"It's a sensitive and serious topic but we want to make the show entertaining and positive," Peters says. "In previous years it was a tiny little live performance with a podium and some pretty flowers. We want it to be the most visible it can be to send out the message."
This year, Ribbon of Hope awards its Special Achievement Award to In the Life for 15 years of tireless efforts bringing HIV / AIDS news and reports to the LGBT community. Other honorees include the HBO film Life Support, starring Queen Latifah and Gloria Reuben, about an HIV positive woman who gives back to her community; BET's 106th and Park: World Aids Day Special; Lifetime's Girl Positive, about a high school girl's hook-up with an HIV-positive boy and starring Jennie Garth and Andrea Bowen; Showtime's 3 Needles, a global view of the pandemic told through three stories, starring Stockard Channing, Lucy Liu and Chloe Sevigny; Ashley Judd and YouthAIDS TLC, a documentary about the actress' work with YouthAIDS; and here! Focus on HIV/ AIDS here! Networks.