Speaking with a national voice and encouraging networks to make the right choice, teenage television reviewers drive the debate on tobacco today as they reveal the results of the American Lung Association's 1999 Phlemmy and Pink Lung Awards in Sacramento and Los Angeles. Otherwise known as The Phlemmys, this fourth annual event delivers exciting news about a sharp decline in depictions of tobacco use on television. This means more producers than ever made the choice to leave tobacco out of scripts and not falsely glamorize its use as harmless, relaxing or socially acceptable. The findings earned ABC this year's American Lung Association President's Award for leading a trend away from casting tobacco.
Great entertainment relies on what's new and creative.
At the same time, the two events recognize productions for smoke-free movies and shows, or for realistic portrayals of tobacco's negative effects. Ultimately, the Phlemmys and Hackademy Awards represent an alliance between teens and the American Lung Association to fight against an alarming increase in tobacco use among youth. This is reality. For this year's Phlemmy and Pink Lung Awards, youth panelists reviewed 156 hours of prime time comedy and drama during March. The teens evaluated 228 individual episodes from two dozen series for tobacco use, which spans cigarette, pipe and cigar smoking and smokeless tobacco.