ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 21, 2007 – The public has spoken and the Detroit Zoological Society and Fox 2 today announced the two talent search winners who will voice lines in an updated version of the Detroit Zoo’s popular “Zoo Stars” television commercial.  In an online poll in which over 1,100 people participated, Frank Connelly of Livonia and Abigail Rondo of Auburn Hills were voted Detroit’s favorite “Zoo Stars”.

Connelly and Rondo were among 180 participants who competed in an open audition in early June for the public to voice lines in the new spot.  They were among six semi-finalists who were selected to appear on Fox 2 News Morning to voice their lines.  The public had the opportunity to view the auditions and vote for their two favorite “Zoo Stars” by logging on to www.MyFoxDetroit.com. 

The Detroit Zoological Society has teamed up with Doner, the Zoo’s advertising agency, Fox 2 and 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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