"Dark Knight" Sweeps People's Choice: "Here's To Heath"

LOS ANGELES — Holy People's Choice Awards, Batman!

"The Dark Knight" soared away with every trophy it was nominated for Wednesday at the 35th annual fan-favorite CBS ceremony. The caped crusader flick won five awards, including favorite cast, superhero, action movie and on-screen matchup for Christian Bale's Batman and the late Heath Ledger's Joker.

"On behalf of all of the cast from the movie, thank you very much to the fans," said Bale. "Here's to Heath."

The CBS ceremony was hosted by Queen Latifah and returned to the Shrine Auditorium for its typical star-studded live show format, following last year's writer's strike-friendly, pre-taped program. Stars such as Adam Sandler, Kate Hudson, Robin Williams, Hugh Laurie and Reese Witherspoon showed up to accept their awards at the slightly subdued ceremony.

"It's such a great way to start the new year," Witherspoon, the "Four Christmases" star who won an Oscar in 2005 for portaying June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," said as she accepted her award for favorite female movie star. "A couple years ago, I won a great award for singing in a movie. This year, I won an award for having a baby throw up on me."

Other recipients selected by Internet voters in categories spanning movies, television and music included "Dancing With the Stars" as favorite reality show, Carrie Underwood as favorite female singer, "House" as favorite TV drama, Brad Pitt as favorite leading man, Angelina Jolie as favorite female action star and Ellen DeGeneres as favorite talk show host.

"I wish I could share this with you," DeGeneres told the audience while clutching her trophy on stage. "I could throw it on the ground and smash it into a million pieces, and give each one of you a little piece of it, but that's violent, and that's probably why you voted for me, because I'm not violent."

Other winners were "WALL-E" for best family movie, "27 Dresses" for best comedy and "The Secret Life of Bees" for best independent movie.

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Will Smith was named both the top male action star and best male movie star; Kate Hudson was declared the best leading lady. The best TV comedy was "Two and a Half Men" and the top TV animated comedy was "The Simpsons."

Queen Latifah accepted the favorite drama and independent movie awards alongside her "The Secret Life of Bees" co-star Dakota Fanning. The overly enthusiastic host opened the show by wading through the audience and asking celebrities if they could keep entertaining the masses in 2009. All mimicked President-elect Barack Obama and by answering: "Yes we can."

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CBS is a division of CBS Corp.

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On the Net:

http://www.pcavote.com/pca

Comments

[SlippingInTheDip]

Angie Jolie won favorite female action star over "Lassie" and "Flica".

[konnie1]

Ha Ha yeah she was up against Anne Hathaway and Cate Blanchett for the Action Movie Star... I mean come one Anne & Cate as action stars? The only action movie they've been was Get Smart and Indiana Jones, they're more like serious drama stars (Cate) and comedy stars(Anne)

Also whats funny is that they didnt show up,guess we know how much they care about the loonies who voted them non-stop. But i bet they'll show up today for Critic's Choice now will they

[mamacat]

Heath Ledger was fantastic in any movie he chose to be a part of. That does not mean that "Dark Knight" was as good as Ledger's performance.

[k6007]

True.

[jshubbub]

There's no doubt that Ledger made "Dark Knight" what it is. Without him it would have been an adequate follow-up to a pretty good movie. With him it took on a whole new depth.

You don't have to deride "Dark Knight" to make the case for Ledger's performance. "DK" was a spectacular film, and Ledger gets full credit.

[whatevahs]

Rest in peace Heath Ledger. The world is a more empty place without you in it.

[aliceautumn]

Oh Sure, he was so incredible in "10 Things I Hate About You" and "A Knights Tale". Please. He was good looking and could read lines. He was not a good actor. Just another pretty celebrity with an awesome agent and publicist.

[BlueStateMan]

Seems like you have a personal problem.

Admit it.. you didn't get that "part", di you?

[CaptainFrogbert]

Oh come on, Ledger did some crappy work in his career, so did every great actor (Jack Nicholson in The Raven? Huh? Oy!). Everyone grows into their art and the ONLY way for an actor to do that is to act, and sometimes badly. But no one can seriously deny that Ledger did fine work in both Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Night. It's sad that we won't be able to see what he might have become.

[NewDayDawn]

He was brilliant in "Monsters Ball" and "Brokeback Mountain" both in which he deserved an Oscar.

[Soniafaye]

i bet Ellen's comments are her angry response to Prop 8 invalidating her marriage. she probably wishes she could smash something valuable. I know I would want to if it were me in her shoes.

[CaptainFrogbert]

Prop 8 hasn't invalidated her marriage yet. And 18,000+ couples have a serious civil rights lawsuit worth BILLIONS to bring against the state of California if prop H8 is carried out. Their marriages are real and they simply cannot be annulled by a simple majority vote. California will come to it's senses and repudiate Prop 8 or pay an enormous price for it's stupidity. And gays will STILL get the right to marry. EVERYWHERE on Earth. It's as inevitable as the rising sun washing away the darkness of night.

[jaymcb]

The People's Choice awards are pathetic.

[sweetwhine]

I know. Lame. But Queen did a good job hosting it. I love her.

[avenue]

I agree.

[erinker]

Very, very lame. Need indisputable proof? 27 Dresses. Enough said.

[jillsond]

Amazing actor. Very well deserved.

[Tatiana]

I loved Christian since "Empire of The Sun"

Go guy! You're AOK!

[RockySoldier]

great movie, as was 'The Dark Knight'