Kristin Chenoweth, Whoopi Goldberg, et al. to Judge Hero Dog Awards, 11/11

Hallmark Channel announced today that international film star Ewan McGregor ("The Beginners") will join actress, comedian, and author Betty White ("Hot in Cleveland") on stage as a celebrity presenter, while film, stage, and television actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth ("Glee", "Pushing Daisies") and health and wellness expert Jillian Michaels ("The Doctors", "Dr. Phil") will join Whoopi Goldberg, among others, as celebrity judges for the inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards(TM), which will premiere as a 90-minute original special on Hallmark Channel, Friday, November 11 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

"I promote lifelong, healthy relationships between dogs and people both on camera and in my everyday life. Healthy, happy pets mean longer lives for many people. It's just something that I believe. I was thrilled to lend my name to the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards(R) as one of the celebrity judges," says Michaels. "I am truly honored to be a part of this very special program."

Presented by CESAR(R) Canine Cuisine and produced by Emmy(R) Award winning MRB Productions, the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards involves a nationwide search for and tribute to America's top dogs, which will culminate in a red carpet, star-studded awards gala in Beverly Hills on October 1. At the event, one dog from each of eight categories -- Law Enforcement and Arson Dogs; Service Dogs; Therapy Dogs; Military Dogs; Guide Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs; Hearing Dogs, Emerging Hero Dogs (ordinary pets who do extraordinary things) - will be presented with an award and have their story told in a moving video tribute. Voting is currently underway at www.herodogawards.org.

In addition to honoring the eight category winners, canine superstar Rin Tin Tin, who bravely served the U.S. Military during World War I and went on to become an American icon and movie idol, will be recognized with a special "Legacy Award," presented to one of his direct descendants, along with the dog's human handler. A scripted tribute, retelling Rin Tin Tin's incredible journey from war orphan to one of the most famous dogs on the planet, will be narrated by beloved actor and comedian Mickey Rooney.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of almost 88 million subscribers. The top tier program service is distributed through approximately 5,492 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading network in quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies, lifestyle and general entertainment content, and is the home of "The Martha Stewart Show", which anchors the channel's new daytime HOME block. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on the family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events.