People’s Choice Awards: Best and Worst

A pale and vampiric-looking Whitney Cummings revealed to Reelz Channel red carpet host SuChin Pak that she was a faithful fan of “Snapped,” the Oxygen series about women who kill. While she was all smiles about it, Cummings can’t help but take on a more sinister edge from here on out.  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

“Dancing With the Stars’”Julianne Hough’s dress is the fashion equivalent of a mullet. Business up front, but party in the back.  (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for PCA)

In recent years the awards show trend has been to find a way to work the host into as many different nominees’ shows as possible. Surprise cameos became so common as to not really be surprises anymore. So it’s a nice change of pace that host Kaley Cuoco opened the show with an extended scene with her “Big Bang Theory” co-stars.  (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for PCA)

The ongoing Hollywood fetishization of Betty White continues. Seriously, they can’t leave that poor old lady alone. First, Cuoco had to find a way to work White into her opening monologue: “They called you a bimbo,” she quipped to White. “They were talking about you,” White responded. Anything to get close to Betty, eh? But it didn’t stop there. Later, presenter Don Cheadle made a point of singling out his own personal favorite comedy actress, calling out “I love you Betty White,” then running down to hug her. She’s shown here with “Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattinson. No one can resist the Betty!  (Christopher Polk / Getty Images for PCA)

Kaley Cuoco may be a comedic actress, but she’s definitely not a comedian. Luckily, she’s smart enough to realize this. Rather than attempt to tell a series of one-liners on stage, she relied on visual gags (the entire studio audience of “The Big Bang Theory” has been shipped over to the People’s Choice Awards) to get through her painless opening.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Good sport Neil Patrick Harris isn’t content to just be great at his own hosting gigs. He’s also wililng to pitch in to other people’s hosting gigs. In this case, he performed a whole bit from his front-row seat, flanked by two statuesque models and wearing a tear-away tuxedo. Cuoco suggested he might have a hosting problem. Harris admitted this was true. “I’m in a 12-step program, but I’m only on step 5, 6, 7, 8!” And with that, Harris attempted to launch a production number. One that was (sadly) cut short.  (Christopher Polk / Getty Images for PCA)

Ellen DeGeneres has won the People’s Choice Award six previous times, so by the time she went up to collect her seventh for favorite daytime TV host, she seemed cool, calm and collected. And the audience loved it. She got a standing ovation, lots of screams during her presentation and a score-settling acceptance speech with all the people she doesn’t need to thank. Such as Jenny Kubler, “who sat behind me on the bus.... You know why I’m not thanking you.”  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Jennifer Lawrence showed up to hand out awards, but based on the crowd’s screaming reaction to her (and her role in the upcoming “Hunger Games” adaptation), she’ll be back next year to collect.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

According to Cuoco, more than 230 million votes were cast, and based on the blantant product placement at the People’s Choice Awards nominations breakfeast news conference, it was only with the help of breakfast cereal Honey Bunches of Oats! However, the current crop of presidential hopefuls may want to enlist the cereal to help their cause. Honey Bunches of Votes seems cheesy, but it’s impossible to stop saying.  (Jessica Tefft / AP)

Did Kaley Cuoco take her hosting tips from Ricky Gervais? She introduced presenters Cheech Marin and Rob Schneider thusly, “I don’t care what anyone says, these two guy are funny!” Talk about a back-handed compliment.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Coming out of a commercial, Cuoco caused lots of head-scratching when she suddenly said, “Always be nice to Eloise Dunk.” Then she introduced a taped bit featuring Jane Lynch as hardcore People’s Choice seat planner Eloise Dunk. After the bit, Cuoco admitted that she’d blown her own punchline by reading it too soon. As Rick Perry would say, “Oops!”  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Adam Sandler wrote a speech for his favorite comedic movie actor win. Guess what? He read it in his “funny” voice. He thanked his teachers with silly names. He certainly made himself laugh. But he will win again. No matter what, he. Will. Win. Again.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Talk about beating the odds: Chloe Grace Moretz beat out the entire young cast of the “Harry Potter” movies for Favorite Young Actor under 25. The cast of “Harry Potter” wasn’t present, but Chloe was. Is it a big surprise that she won?  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Lots of winners thank their fans, but according to “Vampire Diaries” star Nina Dobrev, it was her fans who wrote in to make sure she was added to the favorite TV drama actress nominee ballot and subsequently helped her win. So yes, in this case it was entirely germane to thank the fans. Keep doing it, Dobrev.  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Some stars treat the People’s Choice Awards as a goof, while others, like Emma Stone, seem to regard them with the utmost seriousness. A seemingly emotional Stone, wearing a leprechaun vest, nearly tripped on her way to collect her two awards (for favorite movie actress and favorite comedic actress) and used her time to share advice with aspiring performers. “You have to stay true to yourself,” she beseeched them. Sometimes a lack of cynicism is very nice.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)