Jane Lynch and Miss Colombia mock Miss Universe debacle on the People's Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- People's Choice Awards host Jane Lynch got big laughs when she announced actor and comedian Thomas Lennon had won an honorary prize, then corrected herself and said he was, in fact, the runner-up.

"I'm sorry. I have to apologize. ... The winner is Miss Colombia!" Lynch said as the beauty queen appeared on stage, wearing a Miss People's Choice sash, waving and smiling before handing Lennon a bouquet of flowers and snatching the statuette out of his hands as Lennon looked horrified.

"It's my fault," Lynch added. "I didn't bother to come to dress rehearsal and man, I just read the card wrong. I am so sorry."

The bit was a nod to Miss Universe pageant emcee Steve Harvey's infamous error in announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez-Arevalo had won the competition when she was actually the runner-up and Miss Phillippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach had earned the top title.

The fan-voted People's Choice Awards gala is taking place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and airing live on CBS.