Advertisement

Entertainment Today: Showbiz news

By United Press International
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD NOMINEES

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 during the past year -- given the number of last year's winners who were nominated again this year.

Advertisement

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 are 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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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

The list of nominees:

Motion picture: "The Fast and the Furious," "Pearl Harbor," "Shrek"

Favorite actor: Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington

Favorite actress: Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts

Comedic performer: Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller

Dramatic performer: Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Denzel Washington

Television drama: "ER," "Law & Order," "The West Wing"

Television comedy: "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Frasier," "Friends"

Male television performer: Drew Carey, Kelsey Grammer, Ray Romano

Female television performer: Jennifer Aniston, Calista Flockhart, Oprah Winfrey

Male performer in a new television series: Jason Alexander, "Bob Patterson"; Scott Bakula, "Enterprise"; Damon Wayans, "My Wife and Kids"

Female performer in a new television series: Ellen DeGeneres, "The Ellen Show"; Kim Delaney, "Philly"; Jill Hennessy, "Crossing Jordan"; Reba McEntire, "Reba"

Reality-based television show: "The Real World," "Survivor: The Australian Outback," "Temptation Island"

Advertisement

New television comedy: "The Ellen Show," "My Wife and Kids," "Scrubs"

New television drama: "Alias," "Crossing Jordan," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"

Daytime drama: "All My Children," "Days of Our Lives," "The Young and the Restless"

Male musical performer: Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, George Strait

Female musical performer: Faith Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears

Musical group: 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Dixie Chicks


PEE-WEE'S MISADVENTURE?

Los Angeles police are not commenting on reports that officers searched the home of actor Paul Reubens on Nov. 16 and confiscated his collection of vintage erotica.

Entertainment Tonight reported Tuesday that police started the investigation after getting a tip from someone who knows Reubens -- best known for his wacky character, Pee-wee Herman.

The material police reportedly carted off from Ruebens' home included paintings and photographs, according to ET.

A spokesperson for Reubens said he has committed no crime, and accused the police tipster of making false allegations for financial gain.

Reubens is no stranger to sex scandals. In 1991 -- while he was starring in the popular CBS Saturday morning show "Pee-wee's Playhouse" -- he was arrested at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Fla. for performing lewd acts in public. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to perform 75 hours of community service, and his career was derailed for a time by the scandal.

Advertisement

But Reubens began a comeback with a well-received appearance on the MTV Awards and a series of guest appearances on the CBS comedy "Murphy Brown." He also appeared in features such as "Matilda" and "Mystery Men," and voiced characters in Disney animated projects, including the "Hercules" TV series and "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas."

He appeared this year in the movie "Blow" with Johnny Depp. He also appeared as host Troy Stevens in the TV version of the CD-ROM game "You Don't Know Jack."


RODNEY DANGERFIELD

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield was discharged Wednesday from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, six days after he was hospitalized with a heart attack on his 80th birthday.

A spokesman for Dangerfield said an angiogram revealed that "a small artery had collapsed." The artery had been repaired during double bypass heart surgery in March 2000. The spokesman said Dangerfield's doctor found "no significant blockage and sees no reason for surgery."

Dangerfield was hospitalized one day after appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

(The above two items thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

Advertisement


CELEBRITY B-BALL GAME

"Malcolm in the Middle"'s Frankie Muniz and Sean Patrick Thomas from the film "Save the Last Dance" are among the celebrities who'll take part in Sunday's benefit basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Others include Dean Cain, Dule Hill of "The West Wing," "Ally McBeal"'s Josh Hopkins and Ashton Kutcher of "That 70s Show."

Ticket sales will benefit the Union Rescue Mission, located on LA's Skid Row. The Celebrity Game (at 3:30 p.m. PST) will precede the Clippers vs. Indiana Pacers game.

Latest Headlines