The `People's Choice Awards,' Celebrating Its Silver Anniversary Jan. 10 on CBS-TV, Announces America's Top Favorites for 1998

For the First Time, Internet Users Will Determine Favorites in Three Special Categories by Voting at the cbs.com Web Site

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 30, 1998-- The 25th Annual ``People's Choice Awards'' Monday announced the top 1998 vote getters in each of the 18 categories of Movies, Music and Television.

The CBS Television Network will air the ``People's Choice Awards'' live on Sunday, Jan. 10 (9-11 p.m. ET, delayed 9-11 p.m. PT). The top vote getters, to be honored during the telecast, were determined by a special nationwide poll conducted by The Gallup Organization.

The ``People's Choice Awards'' will once again be the first nationally televised awards show of the year. It will originate for the first time from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, previous venue for many years of the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Host and presenters, to include many top favorites from the past 24 years, will be subsequently announced. In celebration of the program's 25th Silver Anniversary three additional all-time favorites categories, with five individuals selected in each, have been included this year: All-Time Favorite Television Star, All-Time Favorite Movie Star and All-Time Favorite Musical Performer.

Also for the first time this year, anyone with Internet access can have a voice in determining the top favorite of the three special All-Time Favorite categories by using the CBS Web site (cbs.com) between Dec. 1 and 14.

Selection of all other 15 category favorites will be based upon Gallup voting, as in the past. Excite, a leading online service, and cbs.com have created a Web site that includes an online voting booth, two sweepstakes, an interactive People's Choice quiz, celebrity interviews and online chats with several of this year's favorites.

Unlike other major entertainment award specials that are based on nominations from peer groups, the ``People's Choice Awards'' favorites are chosen by The Gallup Organization using a representative sampling of the American public, who select their favorite actors, actresses, television shows, singers and movies.

No names of entries or nominees are given; pollees can vote for any TV show, motion picture or performer they choose. The vote represents the choices of more than 212 million Americans.

The categories for the 25th Annual ``People's Choice Awards'' and top favorites in each are:

ALL-TIME FAVORITE TELEVISION STAR (a) Alan Alda, Tim Allen, Bill Cosby, Carroll O'Connor, Jerry Seinfeld

ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIE STAR (a) Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks

ALL-TIME FAVORITE MUSICAL PERFORMER (a) Garth Brooks, Michael Jackson, Elton John, George Strait, Barbra Streisand

FAVORITE TELEVISION DRAMATIC SERIES ``E.R.,'' ``Law & Order,'' ``N.Y.P.D. Blue''

FAVORITE TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES ``Frasier,'' ``Friends,'' ``Seinfeld''

FAVORITE NEW TELEVISION DRAMATIC SERIES ``Dawson's Creek,'' ``Felicity,'' ``L.A. Doctors''

FAVORITE NEW TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES ``The Hughleys,'' ``Jessie,'' ``Will & Grace''

FAVORITE MALE TELEVISION PERFORMER Tim Allen, Kelsey Grammer, Jerry Seinfeld

FAVORITE FEMALE TELEVISION PERFORMER Calista Flockhart, Helen Hunt, Oprah Winfrey

FAVORITE MALE PERFORMER IN A NEW TELEVISION SERIES D.L. Hughley, Eric McCormack, Nathan Lane

FAVORITE FEMALE PERFORMER IN A NEW TELEVISION SERIES Christina Applegate, Faith Ford, Keri Russell

FAVORITE MALE MUSICAL PERFORMER Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Strait

FAVORITE FEMALE MUSICAL PERFORMER Celine Dion, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain

FAVORITE DRAMATIC MOTION PICTURE ``Good Will Hunting,'' ``Saving Private Ryan,'' ``Titanic''

FAVORITE COMEDY MOTION PICTURE ``Dr. Dolittle,'' ``Rush Hour,'' ``There's Something About Mary''

FAVORITE MOTION PICTURE ACTOR Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks

FAVORITE MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet

Note:(a) indicates final selection to be determined by CBS Web site voting as described above.

The ``People's Choice Awards'' is a spectacular black-tie Hollywood gala, drawing more celebrities and show biz personalities in its 25 years than any other similar event.

Executive producer is Walter C. Miller with Louis J. Horvitz serving as director for the ninth year. Veteran Hollywood columnist Army Archerd, who has been with the special since its inception, is co-host and associate producer. The special is fully sponsored by products of Proctor & Gamble. Proctor & Gamble is represented by TeleVest, which will supervise the broadcast.

Note to Major Media: Credentials will be required to cover the live Jan. 10 telecast of the ``People's Choice Awards.'' For credential applications, contact Lea Yardum or Lauri Blue at 818/760-8995 or fax requests to 818/760-4847.