NFL Superstars Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton To Host Cartoon Network's Fourth Annual HALL OF GAME™ AWARDS

ATLANTA, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cartoon Network is pleased to announce quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) and Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) will host Cartoon Network's fourth annual Hall of Game Awards, premiering Monday, February 17 at 7 p.m. (ET/ PT). Taking over the reins from past hosts like Tony Hawk, Shaquille O'Neal and Nick Cannon, Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton will bring their own unique sense of style to this year's show. As superstars of the NFL these talented quarterbacks promise that this year's show will be the one of the most raucous and outrageous sports awards show while maintaining the charisma that TV viewers enjoy year after year.

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After a standout career at the University of Nevada, Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in just his second professional season and came within a field goal of winning the Lombardi Trophy.   Kaepernick is one of NFL's rising stars and top QB's in the league.  He is also a talented baseball player and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2009 MLB Draft. Kaepernick continues to dominate headlines highlighting his maverick sense of style on and off the field.

In 2010, Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and the BCS National Championship with the Auburn Tigers and in 2011 was selected as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the NFL draft.  In the same year, Newton was awarded Rookie of the Year and made the Pro-Bowl. He is the first player with 10,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his first three seasons.  This past season, he was selected to his second Pro-Bowl and guided the Panthers to a 12-4 record.  While not on the field, in 2013 Newton passionately launched his own men's wear collection called MADE, and worked closely with his partners at Under Armour in launching exclusive footwear each season.

"I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with Cam as host this year," said Kaepernick. "We've both made appearances at past shows, but taking over as hosts? Let's just say we're going to take it to another level."

"While both of us are newcomers to hosting, we're both high-energy guys, ready to get down to business," said Newton. "We're going to be surrounded by so many sports, TV and movie icons, that this show is guaranteed to be the best one yet!"

Hall of Game Awards lets viewers vote for their favorite sports stars and sports moments of the year.  Voters can log on to HallofGame.com and cast their vote for their favorites now.  A new category has recently launched on HallofGame.com featuring WWE headliners. The "Rumble Royalty" category features WWE Superstars Daniel Bryan, John Cena, The Miz and Randy Orton. Along with two of the hottest musicals acts Fall Out Boy ("My Songs Know What You Did… Light 'Em Up") and Jason Derulo ("Marry Me"), the annual sports awards show promises to be the biggest and coolest award show of the season.  

This year promises to be bigger and more electrifying with performances by the Harlem Globetrotters, the extreme pogo group Xpogo, Mascots from the NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL competing in an obstacle course, skateboarder Nyjah Huston, Olympic gold medalist for downhill skiing Lindsay Vonn, two year old trick shot master Titus, WWE Superstars The Miz and Alicia Fox, skateboarders, BMX bikers and skiers in an extreme sports demo and many, many more.  There will also be a special segment honoring the 2013 SI Kids SportsKid of the year Jack Wellman.  Also Hall of Game commentators John DiMaggio and Tom Kenny (voice of Jake the Dog and Ice King respectively on Cartoon Network's Adventure Time) will keep viewers laughing with their witty observations throughout the show.   

This first-of-its-kind, sports award and entertainment event for kids will once again be produced by IMG Productions, the production arm of global sports, fashion and media company, IMG Worldwide.  Time Inc. Sports Group's SI KIDS franchise will be serving again as an official media partner.  Veteran, award-winning television and special events producers Michael Dempsey and Steve Mayer return as the show's executive producers.  Dempsey will also serve as director of the 2014 Hall of Game Awards. Viewers can expect a star-packed red carpet, on stage celebrity surprises, superstars from television, film, music and sports, and hilarious hijinks all wrapped up into one awesome awards show.

Sponsors for this year's Hall of Game include Pepperidge Farm®'s Goldfish® Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Hasbro's NERF Zombie Strike and Post® Pebbles™ Cereal, and will feature a range of on-air, digital and on-site activations.

Last year's show was hosted by Shaquille O'Neal and Nick Cannon, and featured appearances by one of this year's hosts Colin Kaepernick as well as Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion, Jessica Alba  Jacoby, Bryant, Jimmy Smith, JJ Watt, Victor Cruz, David Price, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Chris Johnson,  Dominic Monaghan, Rico Rodriguez, Raini Rodriguez, Jeff Probst, Laura Marano, Bridgit Mendler, Lucas Cruikshank, James Maslow, Carlos Pena, Jr. & Kendall Schmidt, Shauna Case, Shameik Moore, Tristan Pasterick, Chanelle Peloso, Jeremy Shada, and Brandon Soo Hoo and Gaelan Connell, Connor del Rio, Jessie T. Usher, Aimee Carrero), Toby Turner, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Allyson Felix, Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Nathan Adrian, Carmelita Jeter, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber and the 2012 SI Kids SportsKid of the year Cayden and Conner Long, along with musical performances by The Wanted.

About Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is regularly the #1 U.S. television network in prime among boys 6-11 & 9-14. Currently seen in 99 million U.S. homes and 194 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

About IMG Productions

IMG Productions is a division of IMG Media, which operates from over 30 international offices, producing and distributing content around the world across all media platforms. IMG Productions produces over 8,000 hours of programming annually, including the New York City Marathon, The Masters, PGA Championship, ATP/WTA Tennis, Wimbledon, the British Open Golf Championship, and Premier League Soccer.  IMG Productions is a regular program supplier to ESPN, NBC Sports Channel, the NFL Network, and regional sports networks.

In the entertainment genre, IMG Productions U.S. has produced projects for ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, TBS, USA, A&E, Bravo, Lifetime, VH-1, TLC, HGTV, WeTV, E!, truTV, Food Network, and national syndication.  IMG Productions U.S. is the creator of several long-running television franchises, including Battle of the Network Stars, The Superstars, World's Strongest Man, The Year's Funniest Commercials and Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials.  They have also produced a number of primetime entertainment specials such as Christmas in Rockefeller Center, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, Boston Pops 4th of July Spectacular, the NHL All Star Game and NHL Awards, the Ryder Cup Opening and Closing Ceremonies, 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief, and Thanksgiving Live for Food Network.

About Time Inc. Sports Group's SI KIDS Franchise  

Sports Illustrated Kids, the first sports magazine written for kids ages 8 and up, connects with its readers through their passion for sports. The magazine offers kids the access to athletes and sports information that they want with in-depth reporting, action photography, first-person athlete accounts and other features. The magazine, books, and web site sikids.com, promote positive values, good sportsmanship and the fun of reading.

SOURCE Cartoon Network