'American Idol' Wins People's Choice Award

The long-running FOX series snags the trophy for favorite TV competition, besting "The Voice" and other hit shows.

5:22 AM PST 1/12/2012 by Erin Carlson

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Frank Micelotta / FOX

The people have voted, and they prefer American Idol above all other reality contests -- even without Simon Cowell.

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The Fox stalwart, coming into its 11th season sans Cowell and with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler returning to the judges' panel, picked up the trophy for favorite competition show at the 38th Annual People's Choice Awards on Wednesday. Idol bested ABC's Dancing With the Stars and NBC's America's Got Talent and The Voice, the breakout hit singing contest featuring Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton as judges. Also edged out: Fox's So You Think You Can Dance.

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Missing from the roster of nominees: Cowell's The X Factor, also on Fox, which managed to build up Idol-level buzz but attracted less viewers in its 2011 U.S. debut than the acerbic judge was used to getting on the series that made him famous.

Idol, which broke out in 2002 with winner Kelly Clarkson, previously won the People's Choice in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011. It returns with a new season -- and vicariously embarrassing slate of auditions -- on January 18, beginning in Savannah, Georgia.