Fox scores big with favorite drama winner “House,” as Johnny Depp and Reese Witherspoon win title of favorite movie stars

By Jonathan Zipper

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/9/08 – While the WGA already put a damper on the Golden Globes ceremony, CBS gave America its chance to chime in during the 2008 awards season with Tuesday night’s airing of the 34^th annual People’s Choice Awards.

Johnny Depp, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, and Drew Barrymore all took home top honors after everyday people had the opportunity to vote online for their favorite stars in 38 categories. Movie audiences deemed Phoenix and Barrymore their favorite leading actors, but Depp and Witherspoon edged out the competition for favorite male and female movie star.

To avoid any potential conflict with striking writers, the network turned the event into a newsmagazine style show, hosted by Queen Latifah. There were no pre-scripted presentations, and celebrities pre-taped acceptance speeches, thus maintaining solidarity and respect towards the picket lines.

Many film winners actually had rather understated years, including Witherspoon, Phoenix, and Barrymore. However, People magazine’s 2007 “Sexiest Man Alive” Matt Damon (“The Bourne Ultimatum”) snagged favorite male action star. For the women it was Golden Globe nominee Keira Knightley (“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”).

On the TV side, Patrick Dempsey and Katherine Heigl of “Grey’s Anatomy” triumphed as the favorites, but Fox’s “House” took favorite drama and viewers chose CBS’ own “Two and a Half Men” as their favorite comedy.

The show also handed out prizes in music, where Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, and Rascal Flatts swept the favorite singers and group categories.