The People's Choice is Dark Knight and House

Hugh Laurie
The Dark Knight went five for five and was named Favorite Movie at the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards, which returned to its usual star-studdedness Wednesday after an '08 broadcast held at the height of the actor-supported Hollywood writers' strike.

The film was also rewarded Favorite Cast, Action Movie and Onscreen Matchup, which spotlighted Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Bale was also named the year's Favorite Superhero.

"Thank you very, very much," said Bale, who accepts the award alongside Aaron Eckhart and director Christopher Nolan. "And on behalf of all of the cast from the movie, thank you very much to the fans. Here's to Heath, thank you."

Favorite TV Drama award went to House.

"I have no idea who these people are," said House star Hugh Laurie. "This is just a small representative sample of the many, what, 200 or so, people who work so hard to make the show House. They couldn't be here, because this is all the tuxedos we've got."

Host Queen Latifah, apparently not burned out by last year's celebrityless awards show, returned as host of the event at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium and later helped accept the award for Favorite Movie, Drama, with some of her Secret Life of Bees costars.

The honoring kicked off with an only-in-L.A. moment, as Ellen DeGeneres stepped in to present the award for Favorite Funny Male Star (to Adam Sandler) in place of a tardy Kate Hudson.

"She's in traffic, she's 40 minutes away, so...let's wait," DeGeneres deadpanned. "That's no way to sell a movie, Kate."

Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flats provided the musical entertainment for the evening.

And the winners were:

FILM

• Movie: The Dark Knight
• Family Movie: WALL-E
• Action Movie: The Dark Knight
• Movie, Comedy: 27 Dresses
• Movie, Drama: The Secret Life of Bees
• Independent Movie: The Secret Life of Bees
• Cast: The Dark Knight (Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal)
• 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
• Onscreen Matchup: Christian Bale & Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
• Superhero: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman

TELEVISION

• Drama: House
• Comedy: Two and a Half Men
• Animated Comedy: The Simpsons
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show: Heroes
• Competition/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 on Law & Order: SVU
• Female Drama Diva: Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson on The Closer
• New TV Drama: The Mentalist
• New TV Comedy: Gary Unmarried


MUSIC

• Male Singer: Chris Brown
• Female Singer: Carrie Underwood
• Group: Rascal Flatts
• R&B Song: "No One" by Alicia Keys
• Pop Song: "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry
• Rock Song: "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock
• Country Song: "Last Name" by Carrie Underwood
• Hip-Hop Song: "Low" by Flo Rida, featuring T-Pain
• Combined Forces: "No Air" by Jordin Sparks, featuring Chris Brown
• Song From a Soundtrack: "Mamma Mia" by Meryl Streep, from Mamma Mia!

MISCELLANEOUS

• Funny Male Star: Adam Sandler
• Funny Female Star: Tina Fey
• Star 35 & Under: Carrie Underwood

SOURCE:People's Choice