Host Joel McHale generally avoids politics at People's Choice Awards

Host Joel McHale speaks at the People's Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision/AP) (2017 Invision)

People's Choice Awards host Joel McHale took a very different approach than Golden Globes host Jimmy Fallon and generally steered clear of politics at Wednesday night's show broadcast live on CBS from the Microsoft Theater.

He did reference current events by saying the People's Choice Awards were "the one night of the year where Hollywood reacts positively to what the middle of the country thinks."

"2016 was a very interesting year," McHale said. "We all watched as a longtime government insider squared off against an egotistical billionaire. I'm speaking, of course, about 'Captain America: Civil War.'"

Ellen Degeneres was the night's big winner, setting a record picking up three trophies for a career total of 20 wins.

Other stars taking home crystal statuettes this year included Jennifer Lopez, Johnny Depp, Sofia Vergara, Kevin Hart, Melissa McCarthy and Justin Timberlake. Tyler Perry received the humanitarian award.

A selected list of winners follows:

Movie: "Finding Dory"

Movie actor: Ryan Reynolds

Movie actress: Jennifer Lawrence

Action movie: "Deadpool"

Action movie actor: Robert Downey, Jr.

Action movie actress: Margot Robbie

Animated movie voice: Ellen DeGeneres, "Finding Dory"

Comedic movie actor: Kevin Hart

Comedic movie actress: Melissa McCarthy

Dramatic movie actor: Tom Hanks

Dramatic movie actress: Blake Lively

Movie icon: Johnny Depp

TV show: "Outlander"

Network TV comedy: "The Big Bang Theory"

Comedic TV actor: Jim Parsons

Comedic TV actress: Sofia Vergara

Network TV drama: "Grey's Anatomy"

TV crime drama: "Criminal Minds"

TV crime drama actor: Mark Harmon

TV crime drama actress: Jennifer Lopez

Competition TV show: "The Voice"

Daytime TV host: Ellen DeGeneres

Late night talk show host: Jimmy Fallon

Male music artist: Justin Timberlake

Female music artist: Britney Spears

Group: Fifth Harmony

Male country artist: Blake Shelton

Female country artist: Carrie Underwood

Country group: Little Big Town

Hip-hop artist: G-Eazy

R&B artist: Rihanna

Song: "Can't Stop the Feeling," Justin Timberlake

Social media celebrity: Britney Spears

Humanitarian: Tyler Perry

The Associated Press contributed to this report.