Drew Carey, Maury Povich, CNN/TIME and TBS Make Top 10 ``Foe-Paw'' Anti-Animal List.

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 29, 1998--"Drew Carey," "The Maury Povich Show," CNN/TIME, TBS and several internationally distributed magazines have the dubious honor of being cited for 1998 works that conveyed anti-animal messages in the Fourth Annual "Foe-Paw Report," released by The Ark Trust, Inc., a national non-profit animal-protection organization.

The Top 10 Foe-Paw list for 1998:

Television

--   "Drew Carey" (ABC): Carey makes fun of animal-rights activists
     who object to the sale of fur coats in the store where he works.
     He belittles the passionate concerns of protesters and finds
     humor in electrocuting animals for their fur. A "Foe-Paw" to
     Carey for failing to "Drew" the line between humor and bad taste.

--   Wild! Life Adventures (TBS): Narrated by actor Val Kilmer,
     "Africa Unbottled" strongly supports the trophy hunting of
     African elephants, underwritten by the U.S. government's CAMPFIRE
     program. Disguised as a pro-animal documentary, it rationalizes
     sanctioned killing.

--   NewsStand: CNN & TIME (CNN): The news report "Animal Rights" gave
     a forum to vivisectionists who seemingly equate those concerned
     with the humane treatment of animals with animal terrorists.
     Biased coverage at its worst.

--   "Maury Povich" (Syndicated): At a time when an enlightened public
     is protesting against elephants in circuses, Povich featured the
     Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants, endorsing the
     exploitation of these magnificent beasts (ab)used for
     "entertainment."

--   "Unhappily Ever After" (WB): Banking on the juvenile gross factor
     that passes as entertainment these days, cat deaths are played
     for laughs. Two teens "take care" of their teacher's pet -- one
     cat is treated roughly and dies, and another is casually tossed
     out a window.

Commercials

--   Outpost: Clearly designed to create controversy, this computer
     company commercial features gerbils being shot out of a cannon
     toward a small hole in the wall, with many of them getting
     splattered when they miss the target. Message to the company's
     executives: Using animals in this manner "misses the target."

Magazines

--   Allure, Elle, Time and Vogue: With "fur is back" headlines such
     as "Warming Up To Fur," these magazines buy into the
     public-relations hype of wearing fur -- while ignoring the anal
     electrocution, leg-hold trapping and neck-wringing of animals
     whose deaths create this "fashion."

--   Forbes: Completely oblivious to the horrific pain and suffering
     involved in the most inhumane method of bringing food to the
     table, force-feeding and slaughtering ducks to make fois gras is
     glamorized and promoted as a delicacy by gourmands worldwide.

--   U.S. News & World Report: An article titled "Clashing Passions"
     bashes the recently widowed Paul McCartney for supporting animal
     rights AND cancer research. The writer pompously and ignorantly
     states the two are mutually exclusive.

Newspapers:

--   The Oregonian: A "Foe-Paw" to this daily newspaper for its
     ongoing insensitive portrayal of animals and for trivializing
     animal issues. An example: The Oregonian reported about a man on
     trial for killing two black bear cubs and slicing off their feet.
     The headline? "It didn't give him paws."

The Ark Trust is the only animal-protection organization which monitors animal messages in the news and entertainment industry, each year honoring the best of those works with the televised Genesis Awards. The 13th annual ceremony is scheduled for March 27, 1999, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif.

"In our role as media 'watchdog,' we must be ever-vigilant and speak out about negative as well as positive messages," said Gretchen Wyler, Broadway and television actress and founder/president of The Ark Trust.

"Either from ignorance or insensitivity, these television shows, commercials, magazines and newspapers communicate messages that, over time, desensitize the public toward animal suffering and are deserving of a 'Foe-Paw,' our end-of-year 'dishonor' roll.

"We are not condemning entire television series or magazines with this report. Rather, we are questioning the sensitivity and wisdom behind singular TV episodes and articles which conveyed messages that devalue animals.

"The media has the power to create a more humane and civilized society. We're asking those responsible for communicating these anti-animal messages to consider wielding that power more responsibly," Wyler said.