'Dark Knight' sweeps People's Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES -- Holy, People's Choice Awards, Batman! "The Dark Knight" soared away with every trophy it was nominated for Wednesday at the 35th annual fan-favorite CBS ceremony. The caped crusader flick won five awards, including favorite 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 portaying June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," said as she accepted her award for favorite 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 favorite reality show, Carrie Underwood as favorite female singer, "House" as favorite TV drama, Brad Pitt as favorite leading man, Angelina Jolie as favorite female action star and Ellen DeGeneres as favorite 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."

Queen Latifah accepted the favorite drama and independent movie awards alongside her "The Secret Life of Bees" co-star Dakota Fanning. The overly enthusiastic host opened the show by wading through the audience and asking celebrities if they could keep entertaining the masses in 2009. All mimicked President-elect Barack Obama and by answering: "Yes we can."

Winners at the 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"

-- Favorite 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"