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The 25th People's Choice Awards

A quarter of a century...

Yes, the People's Choice Awards have been around for 25 years now. The 25th version of the awards took place on January 10th, 1999.

The People's Choice Awards are unique as they are chosen by The Gallup Organization using a representative sampling of Americans. While other major entertainment awards are based on nominations from peer-group associations or industry insiders, the People's Choice Awards listen to the audience. The people polled can vote for their favorite actors and actresses, television shows, singers and movies. The results are tallied and the awards are then given out.

Live Coverage from the 25th Annual People's Choice Awards

The 25th People's Choice awards are underway. Sit back with us and enjoy. Winners will be in BOLD.

The show opened with Christina Applegate introducing some clips of the past 25 years. Then host Ray Romano came out. Ray made a good crack that not being nominated but being asked to host is like not being invited to a party but getting asked to bartend. He then had James Cameron weigh the statue. Cameron quipped it was heavier than two Oscars® and a Golden Globe.

Carol Burnett gave out the first award of the night. Her entrance received a standing ovation. She handed out the award for favorite female television performer. The winner was Carol's TV daughter, Mad About You's Helen Hunt.

The two gals from Frasier, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin, presented the award for Favorite New Television Comedy Series to...a tie! Both Jesse and Will & Grace got to take home the statuette.

David Elliott, star of JAG, then presented the award for Favorite New Television Dramatic Series to L.A. Doctors. Ken Olin accepted the award for the show and thanked the people who picked them over the much younger Felicity and Dawson's Creek.

The fast-paced show's next presenter, Melissa Joan Hart, handed out the award for Favorite Male Television Performer. The winner was, for the eighth consecutive time, Tim Allen. Tim thanked all the viewers and reiterated that this will be Home Improvement's last season.

Tonight Show host Jay Leno was next. He said the awards were important because people listen to the American public. Everybody that is except for the US Congress. Jay then introduced the top three survey results for Favorite Male Musical Performer. Nominee Garth Brooks then performed. Needless to say, he then won the award.

Brooke Shields announced three new All-Time categories which were voted for over the Internet. She handed out the All-Time Favorite Television star award to Bill Cosby.

Randy Quaid then handed out the Favorite Motion Picture Actress trophy to Sandra Bullock. Is it just me or does everyone get tired of the girls screaming "We love you [fill in the blank]!".

Daily Variety senior columnist Army Archerd then described the handmade People's Choice Awards. The next presenter was Barbara Mandrell who handed out the Favorite Female Performer in a New Television Series. The winner was Christina Applegate.

The next item on tonight's menu is a performance from Elton John and LeAnn Rimes to be followed by the presentation of the All-Time Favorite Musical Performer. Safe bet it will be Elton. In fact, all the winners of this survey awards show know they're winning. That's why you'll usually not see the other "nominees" in the audience.

Surprise, surprise, Ted Danson handed the award to the still-on-stage Elton John.

Ken Olin presented the Favorite Television Dramatic Series to ER. Anthony Edwards and Noah Wyle accepted the award on behalf of the show.

Baywatch honcho David Hasselhoff took to the stage with a young girl from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Her wish was to hand out an award and she got to hand out the Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series to Nathan Lane for the recently cancelled Encore! Encore!.

Kevin James from the King of Queens handed out the award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture to There's Something About Mary.

Kenny Rogers was the next presenter and his category was Favorite Female Musical Performer. The winner was Titanic chanteuse Celine Dion.

Former Murphy Brown and current Maggie Winters star Faith Ford presented the award for Favorite Television Comedy Series to another tied group. The first co-winner was Frasier and the second was Seinfeld. Jerry, live from New York, joked that maybe he shouldn't have ended the show.

Lynn Redgrave was next up to hand out the All-Time Favorite Motion Picture Star. The winner was none other than People Magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year, Harrison Ford.

Twenty minutes to go...there's a coffee with my name on it waiting for me as soon as the end credits roll.

James Woods, one of my all-time favorite actors, handed out the award for Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture to Titanic which also won the Favorite Motion Picture statuette. Director James Cameron introduced some of the actors from the film including Gloria Stuart, Frances Fisher, David Warner, Suzy Amis, and Victor Garber. With himself and Garber on stage, Cameron suggested they get a third Canadian on stage and invited a surprised Celine Dion to join them on stage.

Susan Sarandon then handed out the award for Favorite Motion Picture Actor. The winner was Mr. Nice Guy, Tom Hanks. Hanks graciously accepted the award and explained that the men he and the other actors were portraying in Saving Private Ryan were dying off at the rate of 1,000 a day. He said that there was currently no monument to them in Washington D.C. and gave out a number where they're raising funds to build one. The number is 1-800-639-4WW2 (1-800-639-4992).

Thanks for staying with us through tonight's ceremony.

Here are the nominees (and winners):

Favorite Television Dramatic Series

Favorite Television Comedy Series

Favorite New Television Dramatic Series

Favorite New Television Comedy Series

Favorite Male Television Performer

Favorite Female Television Performer

Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series

Favorite Female Performer in a New Television Series

Favorite Male Musical Performer

Favorite Female Musical Performer

Favorite Motion Picture

Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture

Favorite Comedy Motion Picture

Favorite Motion Picture Actor

Favorite Motion Picture Actress