If anything, the people are consistent.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End scored a hat trick for the billion-dollar Disney franchise Tuesday at the 34th Annual People's 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 Ocean's 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 Damon's quiet yet ruthless determination in The Bourne Ultimatum beat out Depp's more flamboyant tactics for Male Action Star honors.
The Johnny to Witherspoon's 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 People's 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 People's Choice Awards that's different from everybody else is it's the people's 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 can't disrespect the people who keep us working—and that's 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 wasn't 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, we're nothing without our writers. But we're 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, "I'm 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.
"He's thrilled to win the funniest male person award, People's 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.
"He's kind of stunned because he doesn't really like people," Black continued. "He's never been a people person. He's 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 Peeples…What? Oh, the People's Choice Awards? Well, I still want to thank the Peebles. There's no need to take back the thanking of the Peebles," she said, although she may have been unaware that Mario and Nia don't share a last name.
"I choose the people all the time," DeGeneres said. "If I have a choice, I always choose people…I will continue to choose you, even if you stop choosing me."
Also from the small screen, the stars of Grey's 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.
"It's 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 strike…The 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 people's hearts. Tonight it was Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani who proved to be the voting public's 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 Cruise's 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 jury's still out on whether clipfests are actually awards-show kryptonite, the People's 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.
Here's the complete list of winners from the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards:
MOVIES:
- Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's 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, Ocean's 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 World's 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 Can't 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, Grey's 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