On a daily basis, a person is faced with an infinite number of choices. A person can choose to head to work as usual. A person can choose to really put themselves out there with James, the hunky temp who works two desks over. A person can choose to take the stairs because it makes them feel good and, when you think about it, it’s such a small change that can make a pretty big impact on your overall health. And some people – apparently thousands of people – can and did choose to vote Ben Affleck their favourite humanitarian.
The two hours of last night’s People’s Choice Awards were a real learning experience. For instance, we learned repeatedly that Allison Janney and Anna Faris a) look amazing in fancy dresses and b) both star in the TV series Mom, airing Thursdays at 8.30pm on CBS. We also learned that if you put the public in charge, they will choose The Big Bang Theory every time. Here are a few other tidbits gleaned from the 41st annual People’s Choice Awards:
1. Jumpsuits are happening.
Ellen Pompeo, Portia De Rossi and Monica Potter all wore jumpsuits, and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting wore some kind of cut-out culotte onesie situation that will haunt my nightmares for weeks to come.
2. Anna Faris is married to successful actor Chris Pratt, and everyone has something to say about it.
The opening of the show featured Pratt and Faris on the set of Mom, Pratt reading scripts and talking about how many huge blockbuster movies he is making, and sort of casually negging his wife. Making fun of Faris – who seemed either nervous or just unsure about the whole endeavour – become a recurring joke throughout the show. It was a downer.
3. Only three musical performances are required to make something technically ‘a show’.
“Lady Antebellum, Iggy Azalea and Fall Out Boy. That’s it. Don’t book anyone else. We did it!” – the organisers of the People’s Choice Awards.
4. It is very easy to guess who is going to win an award if they are the only nominee in attendance.
Congratulations, Iggy Azalea.
5. Betty White will never stop being perfect.
The nonagenarian looked genuinely touched when she was announced as the people’s favourite TV icon. During her speech she joked, “When Melissa McCarthy [was up here] she said she’d stay as long as you’d let her – well, you’ve abused the privilege with me. Can you imagine, the People’s Choice at 93?” then almost immediately became confused as to how to exit the stage, asking for directions loudly into the microphone.
6. A writer somewhere thinks it’s OK to compare the struggles of the Congolese people with Ben Affleck’s struggle to bring aid to the Congolese people. It is not.
Affleck looked handsome and slightly sheepish while accepting the award, saying he was “kind of embarrassed”. Well done, People’s Choice. You’ve embarrassed Batman.
7. Robert Downey Jr is just a laid-back guy who loves movies.
Downey accepted the award for favourite movie actor wearing sneakers and a T-shirt under his suit, so you know he’s chill.
8. Grey’s Anatomy is still on television.
The show – now in its 11th season – picked up favourite network TV drama, as well as favourite dramatic TV actor and actress for its stars Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo. Accepting the award for network TV drama, Pompeo thanked fans for “hanging in with us this long”. Bless.
Here’s a list of the main awards from the evening. The full list can be found at the award’s website.
Favorite humanitarian – Ben Affleck
Favorite dramatic movie actor – Robert Downey Jr
Favorite dramatic movie actress – Chloë Grace Moretz
Favorite TV show – The Big Bang Theory
Favorite dramatic TV actor – Patrick Dempsey
Favorite family movie – Maleficent
Favorite thriller movie – Gone Girl
Favorite movie actress – Jennifer Lawrence
Favorite daytime TV host – Ellen DeGeneres
Favorite late-night talk host – Jimmy Fallon
Favorite comedic movie actor – Adam Sandler
Favorite comedic movie actress – Melissa McCarthy
Favorite male artist – Ed Sheeran
Favrotie 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
