AWARDS SHOW People's Choice lets fans vote on Web

Previous winners were determined by a Gallup poll.
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LOS ANGELES -- Johnny Depp or George Clooney? Just the click of a mouse could determine who next holds the title of the People's Choice favorite male movie star.
For the first time, this year's 31st Annual People's Choice Awards are offering fans a chance to vote for their favorite entertainers via the Web site www.pcavote.com.
In the past, a Gallup poll determined the winners. Respondents were asked to name their favorite stars and shows, with no prompting, which resulted in some of the same people being nominated over and over, regardless of whether they'd made a movie or put out an album in that year. Winners were determined by responses to the Gallup poll rather than a more public vote.
Nominees
This year, the show's producers teamed up with Entertainment Weekly to help determine the nominees. The magazine's "Front Row Panel," consisting of more than 6,000 pop-culture fans, picked their favorites from a list of potential nominees and could also write in their own choices.
Among the other contenders for favorite male movie star are Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. Nominees for the fairer sex include: Charlize Theron, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts.
In the favorite lead actor/actress categories, "Garden State" co-stars Zach Braff and Natalie Portman as well as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" co-stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet each received nominations. Renee Zellweger, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Garner round out the leading lady nominees, while Brad Pitt, Jude Law and Colin Farrell complete the leading man nominees.
Action movies
"Van Helsing" stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale head the pack of favorite male/female action movie star contenders. Among the other men are: "Bourne Supremacy's" Matt Damon, "Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen, "I, Robot's" Will Smith and friendly neighborhood "Spider-Man" Tobey Maguire. The other women recognized for kicking butt include: "Kill Bill's" Uma Thurman, "King Arthur's" Keira Knightley, "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" star Angelina Jolie and "Catwoman" herself, Halle Berry.
The People's Choice Awards also recognize the favorite entertainers in music and television. Winners will be announced Jan. 9 on CBS.