ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 12, 2007 – The Detroit Zoological Society today announced the six semi-finalists who are in the running to voice two animals in an updated version of the Detroit Zoo’s popular “Zoo Stars” television commercial.  An open audition for the public to voice lines in the new spot was held at the Detroit Zoo on June 2. 

The semi-finalists are: Roger Ball of Detroit, Joseph Comaianni of Mount Clemens, Frank Connelly of Livonia, William Conrad of Westland, Elise Edwards of Detroit and Abigail Rondo of Auburn Hills.

The semi-finalists were chosen from among over 180 talent-search participants.  The public can view the six auditions and vote for their two favorite “Zoo Stars” by logging on to www.MyFoxDetroit.com between now and June 17.  The top two vote-getters will participate in a recording session for the new spot.

The Detroit Zoological Society has teamed up with Doner, the Zoo’s advertising agency, broadcast partner Fox 2, and sponsor National City, to recapture the excitement and nostalgia of the original “Zoo Stars” campaign by remaking the popular commercial with the help of the community.   

The public had its first opportunity to help shape the updated version by writing lines for the new spot.  Two lines were selected from among over 3,000 entries submitted by the public.  “Deeeee-troit an-i-mals,” was entered by both Mark Goldstein of Farmington Hills and Christopher Adams of Clarkston.  “Badgers!  We don’t need no stinking badgers,” was submitted by Russel Woodruff of St. Clair Shores.

The original “Zoo Stars” spot, created in 1982 by Doner, features Detroit Zoo animals “talking” as if they were Broadway stars preparing for the day’s opening of the Zoo.  The spot won every national advertising award at the time, including the coveted CLIO, and an adapted version of the spot was used by more than 25 other zoos around the country.

The new “Zoo Stars” campaign, sponsored by National City, will debut on Fox 2 July 11 with a 30-second commercial airing through July 31.   For complete details on the “Zoo Stars” remake, visit www.MyFOXDetroit.com.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 

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