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There was no debating which were the favored projects at the 39th NAACP Image Awards, where hyphenate Tyler Perry, musician Alicia Keys, and film "The Great Debaters" earned multiple kudos in an evening packed with over 50 awards.
"Debaters" -- which received eight initial film nods -- took home four wins, including actor (Denzel Washington), actress (Jurnee Smollett), supporting actor (Denzel Whitaker), and motion picture.
Focus' "Talk To Me" earned kudos for scribes Michael Genet and Rick Famuyiwa, as well as for helmer Kasi Lemmons.
In the television categories, Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" hauled home three awards for comedy series, as well as actor and supporting actor in a comedy series (LaVan Davis and Lance Gross, respectively).
Perry's other project of the year, film "Why Did I Get Married?", earned Janet Jackson a supporting actress kudo.
Funny females America Ferrera and Vanessa Williams from "Ugly Betty" prevailed in the actress and supporting actress television categories.
"I love to be part of this show because it's fun, but also because of what it stands for," Ferrara said. "It's done wonderful things for diversity in the television landscape."
The "Grey's Anatomy" team sliced through the competition with awards in best drama series, and supporting actress (Chandra Wilson). Writing kudos for the popular drama also went to scribes Shonda Rhimes and Krista Vernoff.
NAACP honored thesps in varying skeins in the drama categories, with "CSI: NY's" Hill Harper earning the actor kudo, "The Unit's" Regina Taylor in the corresponding actress category, and "House's" Omar Epps with the supporting actor award.
Musicians Alicia Keys and Chris Brown received recognition for female and male artist, respectively. Keys also picked up awards for album ("As I Am"), as well as song and music video ("Like You'll Never See Me Again").
Most recent "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks commanded "Respect" with her performance of Aretha Franklin's classic song, before Franklin picked up the 2007 Vanguard Award. Sparks then received her own distinction, named as outstanding new artist.
Franklin, who attended the first Image Awards show in 1969, called the show "sophisticated, rousing fun that rivals with the best and is second to none."
Sidney Poitier paid tribute to Chairman's Award honoree Ruby Dee in the form of a pre-taped speech. Musician nominee Angelique Kidjo also performed a song in Dee's honor.
"I accept this award on behalf of all the members, past and present, that have been led by the light of the NAACP," Dee said.
Image Awards Hall of Fame Inductee Stevie Wonder performed three songs and took the opportunity to stump for both Hilary Clinton
and Barack Obama.
TELEVISION CATEGORIES Outstanding Comedy Series Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" (TBS)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series LaVan Davis -- "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series America Ferrera -- "Ugly Betty" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Lance Gross -- "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Vanessa L. Williams -- "Ugly Betty" (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Hill Harper -- "CSI: NY" (CBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Regina Taylor -- "The Unit" (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Omar Epps -- "House" (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Chandra Wilson -- "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special "Life Support" (HBO)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Wendell Pierce -- "Life Support" (HBO)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Queen Latifah -- "Life Support" (HBO)
Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series Kristoff St. John -- "The Young And The Restless" (CBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series Christel Khalil -- "The Young And The Restless" (CBS)
Outstanding News/Information -- (Series or Special) "In Conversation: The Senator Barack Obama Interview" (TVOne)
Outstanding Talk -- (Series) "Tavis Smiley 'Crisis in Darfur'" (PBS)
Outstanding Reality -- (Series) "Run's House 4" (MTV)
Outstanding Variety -- (Series or Special) "Celebration of Gospel '07" (BET)
Outstanding Children's Program "That's So Raven" (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program -Series or Special Raven-Symoné -- "That's So Raven" (Disney Channel)
RECORDING CATEGORIES Outstanding New Artist Jordin Sparks (Jive/Zomba)
Outstanding Male Artist Chris Brown (Jive)
Outstanding Female Artist Alicia Keys (J Records)
Outstanding Duo or Group Eddie & Gerald Levert (Atlantic)
Outstanding Jazz Artist Herbie Hancock (Verve)
Outstanding Gospel Artist -- (Traditional or Contemporary) Kirk Franklin (Gospocentric)
Outstanding World Music Album Angelique Kidjo -- "Djin Djin" (Razor & Tie)
Outstanding Music Video "Like You'll Never See Me Again" -- Alicia Keys (J Records)
Outstanding Song "Like You'll Never See Me Again" -- Alicia Keys (J Records)
Outstanding Album Alicia Keys -- "As I Am" (J Records)
LITERATURE CATEGORIES Outstanding Literary Work -- Fiction "Blonde Faith" -- Walter Mosley (Little, Brown & Company)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Non-Fiction "Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond" -- Don Cheadle, John Prendergast (Hyperion)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Debut Author "The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir" -- Victoria Rowell (Harper Collins)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Biography/Auto-Biography "Obama: From Promise to Power" -- David Mendell (Harper Collins/Amistad)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Instructional "The Covenant in Action" -- Tavis Smiley (Smiley Books)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Poetry "Acolytes: Poems" -- Nikki Giovanni (Harper Collins/William Morrow)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Children "Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson" -- Sue Stauffacher,Author; Greg Couch, Illustrator (Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work -- Youth/Teens "More Than Entertainers: An Inspirational Black Career Guide" -- Charles B. Schooler, Author; Gary Young, Illustrator (Zenith Publishing)
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Denzel Washington -- "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Jurnee Smollett -- "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Denzel Whitaker -- "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Janet Jackson -- "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" (Lionsgate Films)
Outstanding Motion Picture "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.)
Outstanding Independent or Foreign Film "Honeydripper" (Emerging Pictures)
Outstanding Documentary "Darfur Now" (Warner Independent Pictures)
WRITING CATEGORIES Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Ali LeRoi -- "Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates Guidance Counselor" (CW)
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series Shonda Rhimes and Krista Vernoff -- "Grey's Anatomy: A Change is Gonna Come" (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) Michael Genet and Rick Famuyiwa -- "Talk To Me" (Focus Features)
DIRECTING CATEGORIES Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Ken Whittingham -- "The Office: Phyllis's Wedding" (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series Seith Mann -- "Friday Night Lights: Are You Ready For Friday Night?" (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) Kasi Lemmons -- "Talk To Me" (Focus Features)
ALSO:Image Awards Hall of Fame Inductee: Stevie Wonder
Vanguard Award: Aretha Franklin
Chariman's Award: Ruby Dee
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