LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- "The Dark Knight" won five People's Choice Awards, including the prizes for favorite movie and favorite action movie, in Los Angeles Wednesday night.

The film also took the prizes for favorite superhero, favorite cast and favorite on-screen match-up for Christian Bale as Batman and the late Heath Ledger as the Joker.

"Thank you very, very much," Bale said after he and the cast took the stage and were greeted with a standing ovation. "On behalf of all of the cast from the movie, thank you very much to the fans. Here's to Heath."

Ledger died last January at the age of 28 of an accidental prescription drug overdose.

"Your excitement about the film has been the greatest reward we can imagine, so thank you very much," added director Christopher Nolan after Bale finished his remarks.

Applegate wins PCA for fave female TV star

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Christina Applegate was named favorite female television star at the People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles Wednesday night.

"Thanks to all of you for the incredible amount of love and support you've given me over the last few months. It has not gone unnoticed and it was really needed. So thank you from the bottom of my heart," the "Samantha Who?" star said, referring to the outpouring of good will she received from fans after announcing she had been treated for breast cancer.

"Two and a Half Men" won the prize for favorite television comedy.

"Now that we're in our sixth season and I'm finally old enough to get some of the jokes, it's a hell of a show," said Angus T. Jones, the 15-year-old co-star of "Men."

"House" was named favorite television drama and its star Hugh Laurie won the award for favorite male television star.

Berry, Perry named Image Award show hosts

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Actress Halle Berry and screenwriter/actor Tyler Perry have been named the hosts of next month's 40th NAACP Image Awards show in Los Angeles, organizers said.

The ceremonies take place at the Shrine Auditorium Feb. 12 and will air live on FOX. The NAACP Vanguard Award is to be presented to hip-hop icon Russell Simmons at the event.

Nominations for the awards honoring the best in film, television, music and literature for 2008 were announced Wednesday during a press conference at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The ABC network leads with a total of 24 nominations, followed by CBS with 14, and The CW and NBC both with 10. HBO earned nine and FOX seven.

Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson earned a total of seven nominations in the music and film awards categories.

"The Secret Life of Bees," a film Hudson co-starred in with Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys, is in the running for best picture, along with "Cadillac Records," "Miracle at St. Anna," "Seven Pounds" and "Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys."

The television show "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" received six nominations, followed by "Ugly Betty" with five and "Everybody Hates Chris," "The Game" and "Grey's Anatomy," each with four.

Columbia Records leads the recording category with eight nominations, including five for Beyonce. The singer also picked up a nod for her work in the movie "Cadillac Records."

J Records and Arista both followed Columbia with six nominations apiece, while Island Def Jam earned four.

Rourke in talks for 'Iron Man' sequel

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Mickey Rourke, who recently earned numerous awards and nominations for his work in "The Wrestler," is in talks to play a villain in "Iron Man 2."

Variety.com said Rourke is up for the role of the Russian arms dealer, the Crimson Dynamo, in "IM2."

Director Jon Favreau reportedly plans to begin shooting the sequel to the 2008 Marvel Entertainment blockbuster this spring. Paramount Pictures, which will distribute the movie, has scheduled it for release in the summer of 2010.

Robert Downey Jr. plays the title character in the "Iron Man" franchise and Variety.com said Sam Rockwell is in talks to play his as-yet-undisclosed nemesis in the second installment. Rockwell can now be seen in "Frost/Nixon."

In a separate report, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said Rourke has signed on to play another arms dealer in "The Expendables," an action-adventure flick written and to be directed by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone will also star in the film alongside Jason Statham, Jet Li, Randy Couture and Dolph Lungdren.