HOLLYWOOD -- Actor Bill Cosby, whose sitcom is one of the hits of the current TV season, was the big winner at the 11th annual Peoples' Choice Awards, picking up three honors and edging actor Tom Selleck and country singer Barbara Mandrell.
The People's Choice statuettes are given on the basis of a nationwide poll that asks people to name their favorite entertainers in 20 categories.
Veteran comedian Bob Hope won Thursday night's most prestigious award -- favorite all-time entertainer -- over crooner Frank Sinatra and tough-guy actor Clint Eastwood.
Cosby and his NBC series 'The Cosby Show' won awards for favorite TV comedy, favorite new TV comedy and favorite male performer in a new television program.
Mandrell took honors as favorite all-around female entertainer and favorite musical performer, while Selleck was chosen favorite male television performer and tied Eddie Murphy for favorite all-around male entertainer.
Murphy's hit movie, 'Beverly Hills Cop,' was named favorite motion picture, beating out 'Ghostbusters' and 'Purple Rain.'
Eastwood had four nominations but won only one award, as favorite motion picture actor. His female counterpart was Meryl Streep.
'Dynasty' femme fatales Joan Collins and Linda Evans tied as favorite female television performers, and their nighttime soap was voted favorite TV drama over 'Dallas' and 'Hill Street Blues.'
'Miami Vice' was named favorite new TV drama.
Voting for favorite female performer in a new TV program ended in a tie between Angela Lansbury, the sharp-minded mystery novelist in 'Murder She Wrote,' and Phylicia Ayers-Allen, who co-stars as Cosby's wife in 'The Cosby Show.'
Other television awards went to 'Sesame Street' as favorite TV program for children and Emmanuel Lewis as favorite young TV performer for his role in 'Webster.'
'Purple Rain' was named favorite new song and the hit's writer and singer, Prince, was chosen favorite male musical performer.
Kenny Rogers was named favorite country musical performer.
