THE TELEGRAPH
Cosby tops People’s Choice list
Mon., March 13, 1989
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) – Bill Cosby and The Cosby Show swept the People’s Choice Awards with five honors, and the TV sitcom Roseanne and the film Rain Man also were viewers’ favorites.
Cosby was voted f a v o r i te male televison performer, all around male star and his NBC series won favorite comedy in the 15th annual edition of the entertainment popularity contest conducted by a nationwide Gallup Organization poll.
The Cosby Show also won alltime favorite television show honors, edging out longer-running hits M*A*S*H and Star Trek, while Cosby co-star Phylicia Rashad was picked as favorite female television performer.
“It’s certainly gratifying to know that you and the work you do are appreciated by the people,” Miss Rashad said backstage.
Cosby was not at the awards ceremony at Walt Disney Studios but thanked the public in a videotaped message that
showed him in bed on The Cosby Show set.
The two-hour awards show was broadcast nationally with Michael Landon and Michele Lee as hosts.
The ABC-TV situation comedy Roseanne, which portrays the life of a blue-collar mother, was another big favorite, winning three awards.
Roseanne star Roseanne Barr was voted favorite female performer in a new television series, the show won for new
television comedy series and co-star John Goodman was voted favorite male performer in a new television series.
“I’d like to accept this award on behalf of all the working moms and housewives,” said Miss Barr.
ABC’s China Beach won for new television dramatic series and NBC’s L.A. Law was selected as f a v o r i te television
dramatic series.
Kirk Cameron of ABC-TV’s Growing Pains was selected favorite young television performer.
The World War II saga War and Remembrance, A B C ‘s globe-spanning story of a family torn by World War II, won
for best miniseries despite its disappointing ratings.
It was selected over Elvis and Me and Favorite Son, but was not against CBS’ blockbusting miniseries Lonesome Dove, which was not included because it was broadcast in 1989.
In film categories, Dustin Hoffman was voted favorite actor in a dramatic motion picture and his Rain Man won as favorite dramatic motion picture. Cher was voted favorite all-around female star.
“I think people know that I’m trying. I think people know I’m always working on it and I have a modicum of talent and I
survived,” said Cher backstage, explaining her popularity.
Big and Twins tied for favorite comedy, while Eddie Murphy and Bette Midler were chosen as favorite male and f e m a le a c tors in comedy motion pictures.
Meryl Streep was voted favorite actress in a dramatic motion picture, and Gone With The Wind captured all-time favorite motion picture honors.
In music, Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal received fav o r i te music video honors, country singer Randy Travis was voted favorite male musical performer and last year’s female winner, Whitney Houston, once again received favorite female musical performer honors.
