Star Wars gets revenge at people's awards

Star Wars creator George Lucas holds his award after winning for favorite movie with 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith' at the 32nd annual People's Choice Awards. Picture / Reuters

LOS ANGELES - Epic space adventure "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" won best overall film and best drama honours yesterday at the People's Choice Awards, a widely watched measure of movie, television and star appeal.

In two other film categories, box office hit "Wedding Crashers" was named top comedy and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was chosen as the favourite family movie.

For Star Wars creator George Lucas, the People's Choice Awards held special significance because winners are voted on by fans who cast ballots online, unlike other Hollywood honours given by industry groups and the media.

Despite being a multibillion-dollar film franchise, the six "Star Wars" movies have had a mixed record with critics and Hollywood award groups.

"I'm not a big favourite with the critics, but who listens to them," Lucas said onstage. "The reason I make films is for you. The audience rules."

Sandra Bullock was named favorite female movie star, and Reese Witherspoon collected the trophy for favorite leading lady playing country singer June Carter in Oscar-hopeful film, "Walk the Line."

One night earlier, Witherspoon won a Critics' Choice award, but like Lucas she noted that the popular voting for the People's Choice held a special appeal.

"You guys voted for us. Not the stuffy people in closed rooms ... people who voted actually go to the movies," she said.

Jennifer Garner was chosen top female action star over Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Matthew McConaughey won favorite male action star over Brad Pitt and The Rock.

Pitt, however, did win favourite leading man, and Johnny Depp was named favorite male movie star. Neither was on hand.

Ray Romano was named favourite male TV star even though his show, "Everybody Loves Raymond," has been off air for many months. The show also earned the title best TV comedy, while "My Name is Earl" picked up the trophy for best new TV comedy.

In one of the award programme's funnier moments, Romano tried to coax his 13 year-old sons to join him onstage as they had in years past. But they refused, and Romano teased them in front of the packed house at Los Angeles' Shrine auditorium.

"Now all of a sudden, it's not cool to be with dad ... We got girlfriends. We got body hair," he said. The boys lowered their heads and hid their faces from the TV cameras.

Other TV awards went to "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" for best drama, and "Prison Break" for favourite new drama.

Ellen DeGeneres was favourite daytime talk show host, and Jay Leno earned the title favorite late night show host.

"American Idol" was chosen best competition show, and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was favorite reality show.

In music categories, one-time "American Idol" star Kelly Clarkson was named favorite female performer, and country star Tim McGraw was best male performer.

Rockers Green Day picked up an award for best music group, and U2 won the award for best concert tour.

Singer Jessica Simpson, who recently separated from husband Nick Lachey, started off the show singing "These Boots Are Made For Walkin,"' and later the song, which is from the film "The Dukes of Hazzard," won the award for favorite song in a movie.

She thanked the fans, but did not say anything about her recent separation or Lachey.

- REUTERS