Familiar names on People's Choice list

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The list of nominees for the 28th Annual People's Choice Awards seems to indicate that the American public's taste hasn't changed much over the past year, given the number of last year's winners who were nominated again this year.

Out of 18 categories, 10 feature nominees who won People's Choice Awards last year -- including Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey, Faith Hill, Jennifer Aniston and 'N Sync.

Nominees were selected in a nationwide poll conducted by the Gallup Organization.

Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez and Denzel Washington -- none of whom won last year -- lead this year's field with two nominations each. Hanks and Washington are up for favorite film actor and dramatic film performer. Lopez is up for favorite film actress and female musical performer.

The nominees for favorite motion picture are "The Fast and the Furious," "Pearl Harbor" and "Shrek." Last year's winner was "The Green Mile," starring Hanks as a correctional officer on death row.

Hanks is nominated again this year, along with Gibson and Washington, for favorite actor. Gibson won the honor last year.

Roberts -- last year's winner for favorite film actress -- is up for the award again this year, along with Lopez and Sandra Bullock.

Carrey -- last year's winners for favorite comedic performer -- is up for the same honor this year, along with Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. The nominees for dramatic performer are Hanks, Washington and Anthony Hopkins.

The three finalists for favorite TV drama are all NBC shows -- "ER," "Law & Order" and "The West Wing." The medical drama, "ER," won the award last year.

"Everybody Loves Raymond," "Frasier" and last year's winner, "Friends," are up for favorite TV comedy.

Both of last year's winners for male and female TV performer -- Drew Carey and Jennifer Aniston -- are nominated again this year. The other nominees for male TV performer are Kelsey Grammer and Ray Romano. The other nominees for female TV performer are Calista Flockhart and Oprah Winfrey.

Jason Alexander -- whose ABC comedy, "Bob Patterson," was canceled after five weeks -- may find some consolation in his nomination for favorite male performer in a new TV series. The other nominees are Scott Bakula, "Enterprise" and Damon Wayans, "My Wife and Kids."

Alexander has something in common with last year's winners for favorite new male and female stars in a new TV series. John Goodman and Bette Midler were both honored for their work in shows that were canceled in their freshman years.

This year's nominees for favorite female performer in a new TV series are Ellen DeGeneres, "The Ellen Show"; Kim Delaney, "Philly"; Jill Hennessy, "Crossing Jordan"; and Reba McEntire, "Reba."

The nominees for favorite reality-based TV show are "The Real World"; "Survivor: The Australian Outback"; and "Temptation Island." The first "Survivor" series won the honor last year.

"The Ellen Show," "My Wife and Kids" and the new NBC medical comedy "Scrubs" are up for favorite new TV comedy. The nominees for new TV drama are "Alias," "Crossing Jordan" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." The nominees for favorite daytime drama are "All My Children," "Days of Our Lives" and "The Young and the Restless."

All three of last year's musical winners -- Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and 'N Sync -- are nominated again this year.

Brooks is up for male musical performer, along with Tim McGraw and George Strait. Hill is up for female musical performer, along with Lopez and Britney Spears. 'N Sync is up for musical group, along with Backstreet Boys and Dixie Chicks.

The People's Choice Awards will be presented on Jan. 13, 2002 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif. in ceremonies televised over CBS-TV. Kevin James, the star of the CBS comedy, "The King of Queens," will emcee.