Again in July, Environmental Media Assn. CEO Debbie Levin scheduled a catch-up dinner with NSYNC singer Lance Bass at Matu in Beverly Hills. Her 41-year-old daughter, Alexx, who got here of age on the top of boy band mania, insisted on tagging alongside. However this didn’t hassle Levin within the slightest, for all of them knew one another fairly effectively.
Since 2009, Bass has been very lively within the nonprofit, which is devoted to selling environmental progress within the leisure business. He sits on the org’s board alongside his husband, Michael Turchin, and this yr he signed on to be the chief producer of its thirty fifth Annual EMA Awards Gala on Oct. 11 on the Radford Studio Middle in Studio Metropolis. The occasion is billed as one which “unites environmental leaders and changemakers in leisure to honor sustainable achievements throughout the lens and past the script.”
Because the trio dined and sipped their martinis, it was agreed that with all of the darkness and division within the nation and all over the world, this yr’s EMA Awards ought to embrace popular culture and concentrate on enjoyable. However quickly, because it so typically does, the dialog turned to actuality tv. This was enjoyable for Bass and Alexx. It was not enjoyable for Levin.
“I’m like, ‘You guys, you’re leaving me out of the dialog. I don’t like [reality TV]. I don’t understand it,’” remembers Levin.
Bass talked about that he’s good mates with Ariana Madix, host of “Love Island USA,” Peacock’s extremely addictive hit courting competitors present. Levin requested, “Who’s that?” they usually laughed at her. Madix and the present are large! Even your granddaughters watch it! they mentioned.
However what may’ve been one other un-fun dinner second for Levin shortly became a joyful epiphany: Madix ought to host this yr’s EMA Awards. This may be very, very enjoyable, everybody agreed.
Madix gained’t be doing it alone. Becoming a member of her as co-host might be one other unscripted TV star pal of Bass’ — Harry Jowsey, host of the hit podcast “Boyfriend Materials” and point of interest of the upcoming Netflix actuality present “Let’s Marry Harry.” The occasion may also characteristic a efficiency by Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Males and appearances by EMA board members Malin Akerman (“Looking Wives”), Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), Wendie Malick (“Younger Sheldon”) and Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Entourage”), in addition to Kathy Griffin, Selma Blair and Jenna Dewan (“The Rookie”).
“The factor about actually going heavy on popular culture is that we’re reaching a demographic that we don’t all the time attain after we’re too severe,” factors out Levin.
Laura Dern on the inexperienced carpet on the thirty third Annual EMA Awards Gala at Sundown Las Palmas Studios in January 2024. (Picture by Gregg DeGuire)
Getty Photos for Toyota
The occasion may also characteristic the EMA’s conventional inexperienced (versus purple) carpet, vegan dinner by Crossroads Kitchen and, after all, awards honoring every little thing from characteristic movies (nominees embrace “Jurassic World: Rebirth” and “Depraved”) to selection sequence, in addition to a brand new class for pupil movies and a particular award for the Los Angeles Fireplace Dept. Rainn Wilson may also be available to obtained the EMA’s Ongoing Dedication Award.
This yr will mark the EMA Awards’ second yr at Radford Studios, after beforehand being held at Sundown Las Palmas Studios and Warner Bros. Studios. The occasion landed there after Levin related with Jeremy Hariton, exec VP and COO of the MBS Group, which operates Radford and different soundstage complexes across the globe. Levin says that Hariton was all for getting all their properties concerned within the EMA’s Inexperienced Seal certification program, recognizing studios and productions that undertake sustainable practices involving power effectivity, waste administration, transportation, catering, supplies and carbon offsetting.
Levin says that whereas the Inexperienced Seal is ingrained within the home studio tradition right here, they don’t have the identical construction on a worldwide stage, and productions “are very a lot searching for studio campuses who’re already within the Inexperienced Seal in order that they’ll come on and say, ‘OK, good. I don’t have to fret about this.’”
