People's Choice Awards Given Sans Ceremony, Trophies Handed Out In Taped Special After Strike Sidelines Show

Jan. 8, 2008

Queen Latifah hosted a taped special announcing the winners of the 34th annual People's Choice Awards on CBS Jan. 8, 2008. (CBS/Monty Brinton)

(CBS) There was no red carpet, no backstage antics, and no need to prompt chatty stars to wrap up their acceptance speeches at this year's 34th annual People's Choice Awards.

Instead, after the ceremony was canceled due to the Writers Guild of America strike, the winners were announced in a taped special Tuesday night on CBS hosted by actress-singer Queen Latifah.

The strike has had a visible impact on Hollywood's annual awards season, with the Golden Globes reduced to a news conference and the fate of the Academy Awards in question.

Latifah did her best to keep things moving as she introduced each award followed by a pre-taped acceptance speech by each winner.

Photos: Meet The People's Choice Winners

Patrick Dempsey accepted his favorite male TV star award from the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.; Rascal Flatts thanked voters for their favorite group and favorite country song awards from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville; and other stars were taped in New York, London, Los Angles, Miami, Palm Springs and Sydney, Australia.

Most of the speeches were predictable, with the exception of favorite funny man Robin Williams who was taped on location in Kabul during his recent USO tour with Kid Rock and Lewis Black. Williams, who apparently - and not surprisingly - had lost his voice during the tour, let Rock and Black do the accepting for him while he mimed his reaction.

Several actors, including favorite female TV star Katherine Heigl, favorite scene stealer Chandra Wilson, and favorite female movie star Reese Witherspoon acknowledged the striking writers in their speeches.

Even 14-year-old Angus T. Jones, star of the favorite TV comedy "Two and a Half Men" mentioned the strike saying, "I kind of wanted to tell you a joke but the writers are on strike so I have nothing."

To keep an awards ceremony feel, clips of acceptance speeches and celebrity antics from past shows were aired.

According to organizers, more than 10 million votes were logged on the People's Choice website at pcavote.com, which will remain open year-round as an online community.

For a full list of winners and the nominees for each category, click here.

By Judy Faber
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