The Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), FX Network and News Corporation, presents the annual PRISM Awards, which recognize the accurate depiction of alcohol, drug and tobacco use, addiction and treatment, as well as mental health issues, in feature film, television, DVD, comic book, interactive and music entertainment. The PRISM Awards television special, which airs on FX, has been showcased on Capitol Hill each year since 2001 before members of Congress, as well as national leaders in the field of substance abuse and mental health.

The PRISM Awards Capitol Hill Showcase supports EIC’s efforts to keep official Washington aware of the good works being produced within the entertainment industry that address health and social issues.

Initially, EIC recruited Senators Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) as the sponsoring Congressmen for the event. Along with the Senators, Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) became the Honorary Event Co-Chairs for the showcase. The first showcase was held in July of 2001 in the Hart Senate Office Building. All four co-chairs attended and spoke at the event, as did a representative from Tribune Broadcasting (the syndication airing partner). Actor Christopher McDonald (Family Law, Happy Gilmore, Chances Are) served as the celebrity host of the event.

The second showcase, held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building (where it remains), was hosted by television personality Ananda Lewis. Senator Corzine attended and spoke again. Additional speakers included the then-Director of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Asa Hutchinson, as well as television icon Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), who spoke of the tragic death of her son actor Matthew Ansara due to a drug overdose. Additional speakers included the then-Director of NIDA Dr. Alan I. Leshner and Dr. Steven Schroeder, then-President of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition to the speakers, EIC recruited more than 40 members of Congress to sit on a Host Committee for the annual event.

When the PRISM Awards moved from Tribune Entertainment syndication to cable on the FX Network, the taping date in Los Angeles in early May and the airdate in late May necessitated a quick turnaround for the showcase. EIC increased the participation of Congress by adding seven members from the House as new co-chairs. Speakers included Senator Corzine and Representatives Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) Chair—Hispanic Caucus, Diane Watson (D-CA) Chair—Black Caucus, and David Wu (D-OR) Chair—Asian Pacific American Caucus. Actress/director/writer/producer Michele Lee (Knots Landing), a founding EIC Board Director, hosted the event.

Since that time the Co-Chair Committee enlarged to balance the participation from both sides of Congress. The congressional support for the event is now at 72 members, including 19 Senators and 53 Representatives. The event moved again to September to coincide with National Treatment and Recovery Month.

Speakers at recent Showcases have included actress Judith Light, EIC Board Director and television host Melissa Rivers, SAMHSA Administrator Dr. Terry Cline, CMHS Director Kathryn Power, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, Florida First Lady Columba Bush, Congressional Mental Health Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Grace Napolitano and Tim Murphy, FX executive Nick Grad, News Corporation executive Mike Regan, and numerous others.