Downey, 'Big Bang' win big at People's Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES — Robert Downey Jr. was seeing double at the People's Choice Awards.

The star of "The Judge" and "Iron Man" picked up the trophies for favorite dramatic movie actor and favorite movie actor at Wednesday's fan-favorite ceremony honoring stars in film, television and music.

"This is perfect for me because I love people, I'm crazy about movies, and I prefer people who love my movies," Downey said.

"The Big Bang Theory" also won multiple honors. The sitcom about a group of scientists was awarded trophies for favorite network TV comedy and favorite TV show, while co-star Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting was chosen as favorite comedic TV actress.

"We truly have a love and passion for making this show together," said "Big Bang" co-star Johnny Galecki. "Honestly, it's a dream come true every day, and it's never lost on any of us for a split-second that it's entirely due to your love and support."

The gush-filled ceremony kicked off at the Nokia Theatre with "Mom" stars Anna Faris and Allison Janney quipping about their selection as the show's hosts.

"Oh, who are we kidding?" Farris joked. "Neil Patrick Harris was unavailable, and Ellen DeGeneres said she was busy."

However, DeGeneres wasn't completely booked. The talk show host was on hand to pick up the trophy for favorite daytime TV host.

Other winners in attendance included Hunter Hayes as favorite male country artist, Matt Bomer as favorite cable TV actor, Chloe Grace Moretz as favorite dramatic movie actress and Chris Evans as favorite action movie actor.

"I'll say 30, 40 percent of the votes were my mom, but the other 60 percent, it really, really means a lot to me," Evans said. "I'm eternally grateful."

Melissa McCarthy was honored as favorite comedic movie actress, while Adam Sandler was selected as favorite comedic movie actor.

Ben Affleck was designated the humanitarian of the year for his work with the Eastern Congo Initiative, which he co-founded in 2010 with Whitney Williams. The organization advocates the economic and social growth of the country through various programs.

Iggy Azalea and Lady Antebellum, who performed during the People's Choice Awards with Fall Out Boy, were also champions. Azalea was deemed favorite hip-hop artist, while Lady Antebellum were crowned favorite country group.

"Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo accepted the awards for both favorite dramatic TV actress and favorite network TV drama.

"Somehow, this never gets old," Pompeo said. "I have to say it actually gets better. We're 11 seasons in, and your passion for the show keeps us going."

A couple of Pompeo's absentee co-stars were also selected as victors: Patrick Dempsey for favorite dramatic TV actor and Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang for favorite TV character missed most.

List of select winners at People's Choice Awards

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR: Robert Downey Jr.

FAVORITE TV SHOW: "The Big Bang Theory"

FAVORITE COMEDIC TV ACTRESS: Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting

FAVORITE DRAMATIC TV ACTOR: Patrick Dempsey

FAVORITE MOVIE: "Maleficent"

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence

FAVORITE COMPETITION TV SHOW: "The Voice"

FAVORITE DAYTIME TV HOST: Ellen DeGeneres

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: Jimmy Fallon

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE ACTOR: Adam Sandler

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE ACTRESS: Melissa McCarthy

FAVORITE DRAMATIC MOVIE: "The Fault in Our Stars"

FAVORITE SKETCH COMEDY TV SHOW: "Saturday Night Live"

FAVORITE ANIMATED TV SHOW: "The Simpsons"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST: Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST: Taylor Swift

FAVORITE GROUP: Maroon 5

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST: Hunter Hayes

FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST: Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE COUNTRY GROUP: Lady Antebellum

FAVORITE HIP-HOP ARTIST: Iggy Azalea

FAVORITE R&B ARTIST: Pharrell Williams

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Tina Fey says attack is reminder of free speech

PASADENA, Calif. — Comic Tina Fey says Wednesday's attack on a French newspaper and the Sony hacking surrounding the movie "The Interview" is a reminder of the importance of free speech.

Fey said: "Even if it's just dumb jokes in 'The Interview,' we have the right to make them."

The former "30 Rock" and "Saturday Night Live" star had been asked by reporters at a television conference to comment on Wednesday's attack, where masked gunmen killed 12 people at a French satirical newspaper.

She said it was a reminder of the importance of free speech. "You cannot back down," she said.

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Jack O'Connell up for Rising Star at British academy awards

LONDON — Jack O'Connell, who played American athlete and war survivor Louis Zamperini in Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken," has been nominated for a Rising Star award by Britain's film academy.

The 24-year-old English actor, who also gained praise as a young inmate in "Starred Up" and a British soldier on the run in "71," is one of five performers shortlisted for the BAFTA Rising Star award.

O'Connell said the recognition "is quite flattering actually, it means you can move forward with a bit more of a firm spring in your step."

The other contenders are Gugu Mbatha-Raw, star of British period drama "Belle," Australian actress Margo Robbie and two Americans — "Whiplash" star Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley, whose films include "Divergent" and "The Descendants."

The winner will be decided by public vote and announced at the British Academy Film Awards on Feb. 8.

1/3: Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, winner of the award for favorite comedic TV actress, poses in the press room at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

2/3: FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2014 file photo, Tina Fey, left, and Amy Poehler arrive at the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The producer of the Golden Globes and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association say they won�t address the Sony hack during the big show, but the subject is fair game for hosts Fey and Poehler. �I think that especially in the last couple of months, the girls have been provided with quite some interesting fodder,� HFPA president Theo Kingma said coyly outside the Beverly Hilton�s International Ballroom, where the ceremony will be held Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

3/3: In this Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, Jack O'Connell arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Unbroken" at TCL Chinese Theatre. who played American athlete and war survivor Louis Zamperini in Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken," has been nominated for a rising-star award by Britain's film academy. The 24-year-old English actor, who also gained praise as a young inmate in "Starred Up" and a British soldier on the run in "71," is one of five performers shortlisted for the BAFTA Rising Star award. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)