Holy, People’s Choice Awards, Batman! “The Dark Knight” soared away with every trophy it was nominated for Wednesday at the 35th annual fan-favourite CBS ceremony.
The caped crusader flick won five awards, including favourite 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 portraying June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line,” said as she accepted her award for favourite 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 favourite reality show.
Other winners were Carrie Underwood as favourite female singer, “House” as favourite TV drama and Brad Pitt as favourite leading man.
Angelina Jolie won as favourite female action star and Ellen DeGeneres as favourite 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.”
Winners at the 35th annual People’s Choice Awards
Movie: “The Dark Knight”
Family movie: “WALL-E”
Action movie: “The Dark Knight”
Comedy movie: “27 Dresses”
Drama movie: “The Secret Life of Bees”
Independent movie: “The Secret Life of Bees”
Favourite cast: “The Dark Knight”
Male movie star: Will Smith
Leading man: Brad Pitt
Male action star: Will Smith
Female movie star: Reese Witherspoon
Leading lady: Kate Hudson
Female action star: Angelina Jolie
On-screen matchup: Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Superhero: Christian Bale as Batman, “The Dark Knight”
TV drama: “House”
TV comedy: “Two and a Half Men”
TV animated comedy: “The Simpsons”
Sci-fi/fantasy show: “Heroes”
Reality show: “Dancing With the Stars”
Game show: “Deal or No Deal”
Male TV star: Hugh Laurie
Female TV star: Christina Applegate
Talk show host: Ellen DeGeneres
Scene-stealing guest star: Robin Williams, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
TV drama diva: Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson, “The Closer”
New TV comedy: “Gary Unmarried”
New TV drama: “The Mentalist”
Male singer: Chris Brown
Female singer: Carrie Underwood
Group: Rascal Flatts
R&B song: Alicia Keys, “No One”
Pop song: Katy Perry, “I Kissed a Girl”
Rock song: Kid Rock, “All Summer Long”
Country song: Carrie Underwood, “Last Name”
Hip-hop song: Flo Rida featuring T-Pain, “Low”
Combined forces: Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown, “No Air”
Song from a soundtrack: “Mamma Mia” from “Mamma Mia!”
Funny male star: Adam Sandler
Funny female star: Tina Fey
Star under 35: Carrie Underwood
Online sensation: “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”
User-generated video: “Barack Roll”
