Los Angeles (E! Online) - If anything, the people are consistent.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End scored a hat trick for the billion-dollar Disney franchise Tuesday at the 34th Annual Peoples Choice Awards, becoming the third film in the series to be named Favorite Movie and, incidentally, the first to win for Favorite Threequel.
Johnny Depp, in turn, was named Favorite Male Movie Star for the third straight year, and costar Keira Knightley got the nod for Favorite Female Action Star.
There was a new top duo in town this year, however: George Clooney and Brad Pitt in Oceans Thirteen shared the award for Favorite Onscreen Match-Up, proving that a little male bonding goes a long way.
Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon won for Female Movie Star and Matt Damons quiet yet ruthless determination in The Bourne Ultimatum beat out Depps more flamboyant tactics for Male Action Star honors.
The Johnny to Witherspoons June, Joaquin Phoenix, was named Favorite Leading Man, and Drew Barrymore captured the Favorite Leading Lady title.
But while the list of honorees was business as usual for the fan-driven kudosfest, for which the People voted online for their faves based on nominations compiled by a market research firm, the show itself was a major departure.
In light of the ongoing writers strike, producers and CBS scrapped the usual ceremonial proceedings for more of a retrospective-style format--a major twist for the Peoples Choice Awards. Or, really, for any awards show.
Host Queen Latifah was responsible for both the banter (which mostly consisted of delivering various lines in either an affected falsetto or in her booming jazz voice) and for announcing all the winners that could be squeezed into the two-hour broadcast.
The thing about the Peoples Choice Awards thats different from everybody else is its the peoples choice, Latifah, who gamely donned a black evening gown for the occasion, said. So as much as we actors and writers and everyone are dealing with the writers strike and supporting the Writers Guild, you cant disrespect the people who keep us working--and thats the people.
Ten million people logged on and voted for everyone, so out of respect for them, the show had to go on.
Of course, there wasnt time to pass out all 35-plus trophies, but the decision of who to include on camera probably coincided with whoever was able to tape an acceptance speech ahead of time.
And many of those available took the opportunity to acknowledge the strike that has turned awards season on its head.
There is a strike with our writers going on and, as all actors know, were nothing without our writers. But were also nothing without our audience, Witherspoon said in thanking the fans for voting and in encouraging them to check out the upcoming Four Christmases with Vince Vaughn. She taped her speech from the set of the holiday comedy.
Phoenix chose to make a statement without saying a word, flipping through cue cards that read, Im speechless without the writers...Seriously...But in my own quiet way, I want to thank the millions of fans that voted for me for Favorite Leading Man.
True to form, Ellen DeGeneres and Robin Williams, both repeat winners for Funniest Female and Male Stars, turned in some of the funniest bits.
Hes thrilled to win the funniest male person award, Peoples Choice, riffed comedian Lewis Black, speaking on behalf of Williams, who was standing right beside him but unable to talk due to a case of laryngitis. The guys taped their segment from Kabul, Afghanistan, where they were part of a USO tour that also included Lance Armstrong and Kid Rock.
Hes kind of stunned because he doesnt really like people, Black continued. Hes never been a people person. Hes just that good an actor.
DeGeneres, who was also named Favorite Talk Show Host yet again, did her best dazed-and-confused impression.
I want to thank the Peebles--Mario Van Peebles, and Nia PeeplesWhat? Oh, the Peoples Choice Awards? Well, I still want to thank the Peebles. Theres no need to take back the thanking of the Peebles, she said, although she may have been unaware that Mario and Nia dont share a last name.
I choose the people all the time, DeGeneres said. If I have a choice, I always choose peopleI will continue to choose you, even if you stop choosing me.
Also from the small screen, the stars of Greys Anatomy made a strong showing, although their show lost out to House for Favorite TV Drama.
Patrick Dempsey in all his McDreamyness earned his second win in a row for Favorite Male TV Star, while Katherine Heigl won the female counterpart of that award and Chandra Wilson was named Favorite Scene-Stealing Star.
Two and a Half Men repeated as Favorite TV Comedy, while Samantha Who? and Moonlight made their presences known by being named Favorite New TV Comedy and Drama, respectively.
Its as heavy as I remember it, said 14-year-old Men star Angus T. Jones, hoisting the trophy. I wanted to tell a joke, but the writers are on strikeThe writers never fail to bring the funny.
In the music categories, country experienced a bit of a setback, when compared with last year, when Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney won the peoples hearts. Tonight it was Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani who proved to be the voting publics cup of tea, although Rascal Flatts hung on to beat out Daughtry and Maroon 5 for Favorite Group.
Their tune Stand was named Best Country Song, while Timberlake took care of business in both the pop and hip-hop categories (the latter shared with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado for Give It to Me).
Highlights of past acceptance speeches--Jim Carrey thanking Prozac for allowing his career to happen, Tom Cruises hair circa 1990, a cell phone ringing while Tim McGraw gave thanks--filled in the blanks created by the lack of scripted material.
And, although the jurys still out on whether clipfests are actually awards-show kryptonite, the Peoples Choice Awards have now, in one area at least, one-upped the Oscars.
The WGA may have denied CBS permission to employ union writers, but producers had no trouble getting their hands on gobs of clips from past shows--a privilege the guild has denied the Feb. 24 Academy Awards telecast.
The Academy said Tuesday that, as of now, the Oscars are still a go, with or without writers, but all involved are holding out hope that the strike, now in its ninth week, will be resolved by then.
Heres the complete list of winners from the 34th Annual Peoples Choice Awards:
MOVIES:
* Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End * Male Movie Star: Johnny Depp * Female Movie Star: Reese Witherspoon * Leading Man: Joaquin Phoenix * Leading Lady: Drew Barrymore * Male Action Star: Matt Damon * Female Action Star: Keira Knightley * Onscreen Match-Up: George Clooney and Brad Pitt, Oceans Thirteen * Movie Drama: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix * Movie Comedy: Knocked Up * Independent Movie: Becoming Jane * Family Movie: Shrek the Third * Action Movie: The Bourne Ultimatum * Favorite Threequel: Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End
MUSIC:
* Male Singer: Justin Timberlake * Female Singer: Gwen Stefani * Group: Rascal Flatts * Pop Song: What Goes Around Comes Around, Justin Timberlake * Hip-Hop Song: Give It to Me, Timbaland, featuring Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado * R&B Song: Shut Up and Drive, Rihanna * Rock Song: Home, Daughtry * Country Song: Stand, Rascal Flatts * Soundtrack Song: You Cant Stop the Beat, Cast of Hairspray * Reunion Tour: The Police
TELEVISION:
* TV Drama: House * TV Comedy: Two and a Half Men * Male TV Star: Patrick Dempsey * Female TV Star: Katherine Heigl * Scene-Stealing Star: Chandra Wilson, Greys Anatomy * Talk Show Host: Ellen DeGeneres * Animated Comedy: The Simpsons * Sci-Fi Show: Stargate Atlantis * New TV Drama: Moonlight * New TV Comedy: Samantha Who? * Game Show: Deal or No Deal * Competition/Reality Show: Dancing with the Stars
MISCELLANEOUS
* Funny Female Star: Ellen DeGeneres * Funny Male Star: Robin Williams * User-Generated Video: Shoes, Liam Kyle Sullivan
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