It’s here. Time for all the Melonites to walk the purple carpet and take photos in front of the Hummer/GM backdrop for the last time. Your votes have been tabulated, considered, rejected, re-tabulated and accepted to achieve a 82.5% democratic voice in this year’s Golden Melon Awards. Below are the winners. Congrats to everyone and thanks for another great year.
With 6 episodes, The Melon Underground stands as The Melon’s longest running post-KUPS podcast. This episode of TMU featured Tacoma Urbanist, Erik Bjornson and went on to be one of the landmarks in discussion about Tacoma.
A one time writer for the Melon, many times guest, Erik Bjornson has become just as ingrained in Tacoma lore as has RR Anderson. Erik Bjornson stands out as a first-class citizen for his public action and honest to goodness Tacoma advocacy. What would Tacoma be without Erik Bjornson? I don’t want to find out.
In a lot of ways John Hathaway is the embodiment of Tacoma. Old fashioned, true to himself, gritty and willing to dig through grime to find just what he’s looking for. When we met John Hathaway in an old dinner, we found him in a 50s gangster hat, dressed in a suit and tie, as if he was about smuggle something. But behind the hat, sharp mustache and focused eyes, John Hathaway is an idealist with a heart. We were pleased to be able to record a podcast with him and help promote the oldest Tacoma comic in existence, The New Takhoman. For his dedication to telling it how it is, and pushing the city to think no matter what, the Seedling Award is far to unimportant an award for John Hathaway. Tacoma should be giving him a medal of honor.
Now is your opportunity to voice your choice in the second annual Golden Melon Awards. The nominees are in, and it’s time to vote! Polls close the 2nd of January, 2010.
This weekend is your last chance to nominate for the 2nd Annual Golden Melon Awards. The purpose of the Golden Melon Awards is to recognize all the hard work and innovation that went into a great year of empowering, informing and inspiring. We are now accepting nominations for the following categories. Submit a nomination by entering a comment or emailing goldenmelon@themelononline.com. Nominees will be announced in mid-December and the awards will be given out on January 3rd, 2010. We’re accepting new category suggestions as well.
GOLDEN CONTRIBUTOR (Contributor of the year.)
INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR (Best interview of the year. Both podcasts and videos qualify.)
MELONITE OF THE YEAR (For outstanding Guest Contributions or Commenting.)
SEEDLING AWARD (New award for Best New Melon Contributor.)
THE HARTMAN AWARD (Article/piece with most educational value. Named after our first guest on Melon Radio Darrick Hartman.)
THE SOUND AWARD (Given to an article with outstanding local (Sound Area) coverage.)
MELON VISUAL AWARD (New award for Best Coverage, Production or Otherwise in Video form.)
THE SPIT-SEED AWARD (Most hilarious, weird or insane article/piece or figure relating to The Melon.)
Melonites, come January 2010, The Melon will officially turn two years old. 2009 has been a fantastic year for The Melon. We’ve been featured in many local publications, interviewed all major candidates in the Tacoma 2009 election, spoke with former President of U.S. Term Limits Paul Jacob and former Nivana bassist Krist Novoselic, launched The Sweet-Spot Online Gallery, joined forces with new writers and organizations and so much more.
The purpose of the Golden Melon Awards is to recognize all the hard work and innovation that went into a great year of empowering, informing and inspiring. We are now accepting nominations for the following categories. Submit a nomination by entering a comment or emailing goldenmelon@themelononline.com. Nominees will be announced in early December and the awards will be given out on January 3rd, 2010. We’re accepting new category suggestions as well.
GOLDEN CONTRIBUTOR (Contributor of the year.)
INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR (Best interview of the year. Both podcasts and videos qualify.)
MELONITE OF THE YEAR (For outstanding Guest Contributions or Commenting.)
SEEDLING AWARD (New award for Best New Melon Contributor.)
THE HARTMAN AWARD (Article/piece with most educational value. Named after our first guest on Melon Radio Darrick Hartman.)
THE SOUND AWARD (Given to an article with outstanding local (Sound Area) coverage.)
MELON VISUAL AWARD (New award for Best Coverage, Production or Otherwise in Video form.)
THE SPIT-SEED AWARD (Most hilarious, weird or insane article/piece or figure relating to The Melon.)
Here yee, here yee! The Melon is most pleased to announce the winners of the first annual Golden Melon Awards. As we’ve stated, the GMA’s are meant to reward those outstanding Melon contributors and fans for their participation in our kick ass community.
Interview of the Year:
Robert “The Traveller” (Jesse) Hill
Who would have thought that such a bizarre and polarizing figure would provide such entertainment and opportunity to challenge the status quo? The Melon did, that’s who. In the summer of 2006, Chris “The Wedge” Van Vecthen sent a couple emails Electric Elliot’s way noting the presence of Robert Hill prior to the state of our radio show on KUPS, we knew and interview had to be obtained. After unsuccessfully locating a phone number or Hill’s physical address (how do you find a “Traveller”?) it was Tacoma City Councilmember Marylin Strickland who handed us his digits after a recording.
The Melon went on to interview Robert twice. Once when he was running for Tacoma City Council, and again when he was running for Pierce County Sheriff. Don’t know who this guy is yet? Check out the winning interviews: Audio (city council). Video (sheriff).
Without the support and encouragement of The Melon’s first fan, R.R. Anderson, it’s possible that we’d all be jobless, poor and living in our own filth…wait a second. Truthfully, The Melon has been honored to receive the off contribution of Tacomics, commentary and such selfless bolstering from a truly talented and genuine individual and friend. Three cheers!
Named after our first esteemed guest, President of the Tacoma Education Association Darrick Hartman, the Hartman Award commends an article with the most educational value. This year, we have two winners: Chris Van Vechten’s piece “Separation No Longer”which chronicles the relevance of the separation of church and state, contemporary religion’s affect on government and the founding of America and Glynnis Kirchmeier’s “Guess What? Undervaluing the Environment Causes Problems” which discusses the realities of neglecting the environment.
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