Best Media Name, Secular 2005 | Taunia HottmanChannel 9 | Best of DenverĀ® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
Navigation
Support Us
Search
Keep Westword Free
Support Us

Best Media Name, Secular

Taunia Hottman
Channel 9

The woman in the co-pilot seat of Channel 9's helicopter isn't a dog. Man, Taunia Hottman is hot.

Best Media Name, Secular

Taunia Hottman
Channel 9

The woman in the co-pilot seat of Channel 9's helicopter isn't a dog. Man, Taunia Hottman is hot.

Best Born-Again Media Mogul

Phil Anschutz

Local gazillionaire Phil Anschutz is notoriously press-shy -- so what kind of business is he branching into? The press! Anschutz bought the venerable San Francisco Examiner and turned it into a free daily, then exported the concept to Washington, D.C., and may well do likewise in metropolitan areas around the country. But he's interested in more than the print media. Anschutz, a devoted Christian, is bringing his values to the nation's multiplexes though such films as Because of Winn-Dixie; he also financed the lion's share of Ray, for which Jamie Foxx won a Best Actor Oscar. In less than a year, Anschutz has become one of the most-talked-about media figures in America -- even if he isn't doing any of the talking.

Best Born-Again Media Mogul

Phil Anschutz

Local gazillionaire Phil Anschutz is notoriously press-shy -- so what kind of business is he branching into? The press! Anschutz bought the venerable San Francisco Examiner and turned it into a free daily, then exported the concept to Washington, D.C., and may well do likewise in metropolitan areas around the country. But he's interested in more than the print media. Anschutz, a devoted Christian, is bringing his values to the nation's multiplexes though such films as Because of Winn-Dixie; he also financed the lion's share of Ray, for which Jamie Foxx won a Best Actor Oscar. In less than a year, Anschutz has become one of the most-talked-about media figures in America -- even if he isn't doing any of the talking.

Best TV Documentary

Blinky

For Blinky, videographer Brian Malone peeled away the makeup worn by Russell Scott, aka Blinky the Clown, who hosted Blinky's Fun Club on Channel 2 for an astonishing 33 years. Using archival footage and contemporary interviews with family members, sometimes-persnickety colleagues and the man himself, Malone created an unexpectedly complex portrait of Scott, a born ham who had trouble adapting to changing times (at one point in the flick, he complained that "education was being shoved down our throats!") and continues to yearn for the spotlight. The doc's conclusion, which featured an elderly Blinky glad-handing people on the 16th Street Mall, captured the joy and sadness of a lifetime spent clowning around.

Best TV Documentary

Blinky

For Blinky, videographer Brian Malone peeled away the makeup worn by Russell Scott, aka Blinky the Clown, who hosted Blinky's Fun Club on Channel 2 for an astonishing 33 years. Using archival footage and contemporary interviews with family members, sometimes-persnickety colleagues and the man himself, Malone created an unexpectedly complex portrait of Scott, a born ham who had trouble adapting to changing times (at one point in the flick, he complained that "education was being shoved down our throats!") and continues to yearn for the spotlight. The doc's conclusion, which featured an elderly Blinky glad-handing people on the 16th Street Mall, captured the joy and sadness of a lifetime spent clowning around.

Best News Anchor Who's a Real Clown

Ann Lincoln
Channel 12

Tired of the same old Barbie and Ken clones on the local news? Tune into Channel 12's weekly LGBT news show, Colorado OutSpoken, where you'll find a breath of fresh air (and maybe a whoopee cushion) with Ann Lincoln. While she seems like a pro on this show, she's a real clown -- the kind who wears big floppy shoes and baggy braced pants and a rainbow shirt and a funny hat and a clown nose. Lincoln not only works as a clown/magician for hire -- she's a hot commodity at all the cool kids' parties -- but she also doubles as a comic, juggler and fire-eater. Take that, Katie Couric.

Best News Anchor Who's a Real Clown

Ann Lincoln
Channel 12

Tired of the same old Barbie and Ken clones on the local news? Tune into Channel 12's weekly LGBT news show, Colorado OutSpoken, where you'll find a breath of fresh air (and maybe a whoopee cushion) with Ann Lincoln. While she seems like a pro on this show, she's a real clown -- the kind who wears big floppy shoes and baggy braced pants and a rainbow shirt and a funny hat and a clown nose. Lincoln not only works as a clown/magician for hire -- she's a hot commodity at all the cool kids' parties -- but she also doubles as a comic, juggler and fire-eater. Take that, Katie Couric.

Best TV News Anchor

Asha Blake
Channel 2

According to most television-news experts, viewers prefer old, comfortable faces to new, unfamiliar ones -- but Asha Blake blows right through that theory. Denver's newest anchor looks young, but she has an extremely impressive resumé, having hosted such national programs as Later Today and Good Morning America Sunday, and she displays all this skill and savvy on Channel 2, whose ratings-challenged late-night newscast desperately needed the star power she delivers. While Blake is still a relative unknown in this city, she's worth getting to know.

Best TV News Anchor

Asha Blake
Channel 2

According to most television-news experts, viewers prefer old, comfortable faces to new, unfamiliar ones -- but Asha Blake blows right through that theory. Denver's newest anchor looks young, but she has an extremely impressive resumé, having hosted such national programs as Later Today and Good Morning America Sunday, and she displays all this skill and savvy on Channel 2, whose ratings-challenged late-night newscast desperately needed the star power she delivers. While Blake is still a relative unknown in this city, she's worth getting to know.

Best Of DenverĀ®

Best Of