Awards To Honor Utah Entertainers
BYU Daily Universe
by Zach Petersen
May 20, 2011
A red carpet, black-tie event and awards night can only mean one thing — Jimmer is in the house, or at least his brother will be.
The Salt Palace will host Utah’s 2011 Entertainment and Choice Awards tonight. Utah’s finest will be recognized for their contributions to the state.
The Entertainment and Choice Awards were created to spotlight companies and individuals who have contributed to Utah’s entertainment and business communities, according to a news release. Nominees will be honored from a variety of areas including film, television, radio, athletics and local communities.
Event guests include David Osmond, singer; Ashleigh and Ryan di Lello, “So You Think You Can Dance” stars; TJ Fredette, rapper and brother of basketball star Jimmer Fredette; Richard Paul Evans, best-selling author; and Dick Nourse, a local TV news anchor. Daniel Bernhardt, who starred in “Matrix Reloaded,” will host the event while special presenters include Donny Osmond and David Archuleta.
Producer Doug Osmond is excited to have Bernhardt bring his unique skills and personality to the event.
“Besides his rock-hard abs, Daniel Bernhardt is an absolutely incredible human being,” Osmond said. “He’s a phenomenal individual, he’s an amazing actor, he’s written and directed and he’s just perfect for what we’re looking for.”
Utah has had galas in the past, but never an awards show of this size that has been open to the public.
“This is actually the first annual awards show,” Osmond said. “It has just become an amazing adventure, event and something that Utah has never seen before so we are really excited about it.”
Voting for the awards was open to the public this month and ended Tuesday. There are eight awards including the Choice in Media Award, the Choice in Community Award and the Choice in Future Award.
“There is one award we are giving out which is a Lifetime Achievement Award,” Osmond said. “It is going to be phenomenal for someone. That was voted on by the committee, but other than that the awards are voted on by the people.”
The ECA is considered the “Golden Globes” of Utah, which recognizes excellence in film and television.
Gary Brian Noll, a resident of Springville, said he feels it would be beneficial for his children to see the awards show. Noll has two boys that are involved in acting, musicals and athletics.
“I would love to see my boys attend because it can motivate them and give them some ideas of various career opportunities, of role models and of local individuals that have had a tremendous impact in the state,” Noll said.
The event is open to the public. Red carpet arrival begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the awards show will follow.
Tickets can be purchased at smithtix.com.
“We’re really excited to have Daniel there and all the celebrities, dignitaries and people from the state that want to come and celebrate all that Utah has to offer and what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past several years,” Osmond said.
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