LOS ANGELES (AP):

Holy People's Choice Awards, Batman! The Dark Knight soared away with every trophy it was nominated for yesterday at the 35th annual fan-favourite CBS ceremony. The caped crusader flick won five awards, including favourite cast, superhero, action movie and on-screen match-up for Christian Bale's Batman and the late Heath Ledger's Joker.

"On behalf of all of the cast from the movie, thank you very much to the fans," said Bale. "Here's to Heath."

The CBS ceremony was hosted by Queen Latifah and returned to the Shrine Auditorium for its typical star-studded live show format, following last year's writer's strike-friendly, pre-taped programme. Stars such as Adam Sandler, Kate Hudson, Robin Williams, Hugh Laurie and Reese Witherspoon showed up to accept their awards at the slightly subdued ceremony.

Great way to start the year

"It's such a great way to start the new year," Witherspoon, the Four Christmases star who won an Oscar in 2005 for portraying June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, said as she accepted her award for favourite female movie star. "A couple years ago, I won a great award for singing in a movie. This year, I won an award for having a baby throw up on me."

Other recipients selected by internet voters in categories spanning movies, television and music included Dancing With the Stars as favourite reality show, Carrie Underwood as favourite female singer, House as favourite TV drama, Brad Pitt as favourite leading man, Angelina Jolie as favourite female action star and Ellen DeGeneres as favourite talk show host.

"I wish I could share this with you," DeGeneres told the audience while clutching her trophy onstage. "I could throw it on the ground and smash it into a million pieces, and give each one of you a little piece of it, but that's violent, and that's probably why you voted for me, because I'm not violent."