'PASSION,' 'SHREK,' '9/11,' PEOPLE'S CHOICES.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

On a very soggy Sunday night in Pasadena - the wettest awards evening in recent memory - the big winner of the 31st annual People's Choice Awards was an animated green ogre, while two controversial movies of the past year - a documentary and a foreign-language film - also were honored.

More than 21 million online voters, having voted with their entertainment dollars at the box office, gave five awards to ``Shrek 2'': favorite movie comedy, favorite animated movie and favorite sequel as well as favorite animated movie star for Eddie Murphy's Donkey and favorite movie villain for Jennifer Saunders' Fairy Godmother.

Michael Moore's anti-Bush diatribe, ``Fahrenheit 9/11,'' beat ``Shrek 2'' for favorite movie honors. Mel Gibson's ``The Passion of the Christ'' was named favorite movie drama.

Among the double winners was the NBC sitcom ``Joey,'' which won as favorite new comedy and for favorite male TV star: Matt LeBlanc.

``We're really, really honored to be on the schedule,'' LeBlanc said. ``Thank you to the people for watching. We'll stick around as long as you want us.''

``CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' fulfilled the Nielsen ratings' prediction, picking up favorite drama series and favorite female TV star for Marg Helgenberger.

``I am really touched and grateful for this recognition,'' Helgenberger said. ``Television has been really good to me.''

Ellen DeGeneres also claimed two awards, trumping longtime favorite Oprah Winfrey in the daytime talk show host category and also winning favorite funny female star.

``I appreciate that it comes from you,'' she told fans in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. ``If ever there is an Ellen's Choice Awards, I will pick you as the pickers of me.''

Moore's win was greeted by cheers and some catcalls.

``We all love our country very much, and I'm so amazed that you did this, the people of America voted for this film,'' he said. ``I'm honored and gratified. And I know that there are many people tonight, mothers and fathers across this country, who have sons and daughters in Iraq. Our prayers are with them, and I dedicate this award to them tonight. This country is all of ours, not just right or left. I love making movies, and I'll take this as an invitation to make more 'Fahrenheit 9/11s.'''

The audience rose to their feet for ``Passion,'' which sold more than $370 million in tickets despite its R rating for violence and its Hebrew, Latin and Aramaic dialogue.

``Heck, I was just hoping to break even here,'' said Gibson, who directed and funded the production himself. ``Really more than any other thing I ever worked on - when you circumvent the (studio) system - I depended on you and you were there. So this means a lot more to me than ever before. If it wasn't for you guys, we'd be dead in the water.''

Johnny Depp accepted his favorite male movie star award via satellite from somewhere in Eastern Europe. ``You are, in fact, our employer; you are our boss,'' he said. ``I hope to make you all a cup of coffee someday.''

Renee Zellweger picked up favorite leading lady, not to be confused with the favorite female movie star honor, which went to habitual winner Julia Roberts.

``I'll just say thanks, and I feel so lucky and so grateful to be part of films that resonate with you in some way,'' Zellweger said.

Will Smith picked up the favorite male action star honor, while the female award in that new category went to Angelina Jolie. Favorite chemistry went to ``50 First Dates'' co-stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Other TV winners included freshman hit ``Desperate Housewives,'' which picked up favorite new drama in last-minute online voting. This is the first year the People's Choice Awards were decided by open voting instead of scientific polling. Housewife Marcia Cross promised fans that the cast and crew would continue to deliver ``the same mysterious, touching, witty show'' they have come to expect.

In the newly subdivided reality show genre, ``American Idol'' was named favorite competition program, ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'' was favorite makeover show; and ``Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica'' was favorite ``24/7'' show.

``We don't win awards,'' gushed bubbly blonde Jessica Simpson. ``I'm the cheesy pop star, and he was in a boy band, and we weren't supposed to get married because it would ruin our careers, but here we are!'' She thanked all the cast, ``which is basically anybody who signs a release form.''

``Will & Grace'' was named favorite TV comedy, its first People's Choice Award since its debut season seven years ago. ``There's been a lot of ink spilled about the death of the traditional sitcom,'' Eric McCormack said. ``But we're still here; we're still queer. Get used to it.''

Sheryl Crow was the only music honoree on hand, accepting favorite remake for her cover of ``First Cut Is the Deepest.''

``I just want to thank Yusef Islam or Cat Stevens for writing such great music,'' she said. ``I don't think there's been a better version than Rod Stewart's, but I'll take this anyway.''

Usher was elected favorite male singer, Alicia Keys favorite female singer and U2 favorite group.

The program was a textbook case of product placement for corporate sponsor Procter & Gamble. Mr. Clean appeared on the red carpet (was he going to remove a stain?), and preshow host Lara Spencer announced a series of ``red carpet glamour awards'' that incorporated P&G brands.

Pantene sponsored a fan's favorite hair award (Jennifer Garner) while Crest embedded its image in a segment called favorite smile (congratulations, Julia Roberts), and the Cover Girl presented the favorite look award (Kate Hudson).

A hundred or so hearty fans - or maybe foolhardy fans - stood under umbrellas across the street from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where, in other years, several hundred of screaming fans would gather to greet the stars in their caravan of limousines.

White canvas tenting sheltered fans lucky enough to get bleacher seats, as well as the pampered and preened stars.

``It's one of those days you want to stay in, watch a movie, eat takeout, but this is too good to pass up,'' ``CSI'' co-star Jorja Fox said in the hallway before the show started.

Valerie Kuklenski, [phone]

valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) Michael Moore accepts the People's Choice award for the polemic ``Fahrenheit 9/11.''

(2) Mel Gibson thanks those who voted for ``The Passion of the Christ'' as favorite drama.

(3) Marg Helgenberger joins her ``CSI'' colleagues in accepting the People's Choice award for favorite TV drama.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(4) Marcia Cross, one of ABC's ``Desperate Housewives,'' arrives Sunday for the awards.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer