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"The Great Debaters" and Tyler Perry Win Big at Image Awards
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Feb 15, 2008, 07:40

Denzel Washington accepting the award for best motion picture actor at the 39th NAACP Image Awards

"The Great Debaters" and Tyler Perry's TBS series "House of Payne" took top honors at the 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards last night.

"The Great Debaters" won four awards including best motion picture, best actor (Denzel Washington), best actress (Jurnee Smollett) and best supporting actor (Denzel Whitaker). Tyler Perry's TBS series "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" won three awards including comedy series, best actress (LaVan Davis) and supporting actor (Lance Gross).

"I'll be at that other show next week, but my heart is here," said Washington, who is a presenter at the Feb. 24 Academy Awards. "I'm just so happy to see these young people get recognized."  Washington directed "The Great Debaters," a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

Ruby Dee accepts the Chairman's Award at the 39th NAACP Image Awards

Janet Jackson won for supporting actress in a motion picture for Perry's adaptation of his own stage play, "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?"  Kasi Lemmons took the motion picture directing prize for "Talk to Me."

"Grey's Anatomy" took home three statuettes -- drama series, actress (Chandra Wilson) and writing (Shonda Rhimes).

Alicia Keys, who won two Grammys this past weekend, swept the music category with four awards — for album, song, music video and female artist. Keys was not in attendance. 

Oscar nominee Ruby Dee was honored with the Chairman's Award; Aretha Franklin was honored with the Vanguard Award; and Stevie Wonder was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.  "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.

The awards, which honor projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts, literature, motion pictures, recording and television, were telecast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and aired live on FOX. D.L. Hughley was the host.

Following is a complete list of the winners at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards:

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES:

Motion picture: "The Great Debaters."

Actor in a motion picture: Denzel Washington, "The Great Debaters."

Actress in a motion picture: Jurnee Smollett, "The Great Debaters."

Supporting actor in a motion picture: Denzel Whitaker, "The Great Debaters."

Supporting actress in a motion picture: Janet Jackson, "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?"

Directing in a motion picture: Kasi Lemmons, "Talk To Me."

Writing in a motion picture: Michael Genet and Rick Famuyiwa, "Talk To Me."

Independent or foreign film: "Honeydripper."

Documentary: "Darfur Now."

TELEVISION CATEGORIES:

Comedy series: "Tyler Perry's House of Payne."

Actor in a comedy series: LaVan Davis, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne."

Actress in a comedy series: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty."

Supporting actor in a comedy series: Lance Gross, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne."

Supporting actress in a comedy series: Vanessa L. Williams, "Ugly Betty."

Directing in a comedy series: Ken Whittingham, "The Office: Phyllis's Wedding."

Writing in a comedy series: Ali LeRoi, "Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates Guidance Counselor"

Drama series: "Grey's Anatomy."

Actor in a drama series: Hill Harper, "CSI: NY."

Actress in a drama series: Regina Taylor, "The Unit."

Supporting actor in a drama series: Omar Epps, "House."

Supporting actress in a drama series: Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy."

Directing in a dramatic series: Seith Mann, "Friday Night Lights: Are You Ready For Friday Night?"

Writing in a dramatic series: Shonda Rhimes and Krista Vernoff, "Grey's Anatomy: A Change is Gonna Come."

TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: "Life Support."

Actor in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: Wendell Pierce, "Life Support."

Actress in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: Queen Latifah, "Life Support."

Actor in a daytime drama series: Kristoff St. John, "The Young And The Restless."

Actress in a daytime drama series: Christel Khalil, "The Young And The Restless."

News/information, series or special: "In Conversation: The Senator Barack Obama Interview."

Talk series: "Tavis Smiley 'Crisis in Darfur'"

Reality series: "Run's House 4."

Variety series or special: "Celebration of Gospel '07"

Children's program: "That's So Raven."

Performance in a youth/children's program, series or special: Raven-Symoné, "That's So Raven."

RECORDING CATEGORIES:

Album: Alicia Keys, "As I Am."

Song: "Like You'll Never See Me Again," Alicia Keys.

Male artist: Chris Brown.

Female artist: Alicia Keys.

Duo or group: Eddie and Gerald Levert.

New artist: Jordin Sparks.

Jazz artist: Herbie Hancock.

Gospel artist: Kirk Franklin.

World music album: Angelique Kidjo, "Djin Djin."

Music video: "Like You'll Never See Me Again," Alicia Keys.

LITERATURE CATEGORIES:

Fiction: "Blonde Faith," Walter Mosley.

Nonfiction: "Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond," Don Cheadle, John Prendergast.

Debut author, "The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir," Victoria Rowell.

Biography/autobiography: "Obama: From Promise to Power," David Mendell.

Instructional: "The Covenant in Action," Tavis Smiley.

Poetry: "Acolytes: Poems," Nikki Giovanni.

Children: "Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson," Sue Stauffacher, author; Greg Couch, illustrator.

Youth/teens: "More Than Entertainers: An Inspirational Black Career Guide," Charles B. Schooler, author; Gary Young, illustrator.