Poll: Ellen is favorite TV personality

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The majority of participants surveyed for a new U.S. Harris Poll declared daytime talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres their favorite television star.

After five years as No. 1, Oprah Winfrey dropped to second place this year, followed by Jay Leno in third place, Hugh Laurie in fourth and Jon Stewart in fifth.

Laurie, the star of the TV medical drama "House," is the only celebrity in the top five who is not a talk-show host.

Tied for the No. 6 spot are David Letterman and Stephen Colbert, while Bill O'Reilly came in at No. 8.

Tied for the No. 9 ranking are Ray Romano and Homer Simpson.

These are the results of a nationwide survey of 1,171 U.S. adults surveyed online between Dec. 4-12 by Harris Interactive.