Tora Sudiro, Tamara Bleszynski most popular TV actors
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Citra award-winning actor Tora Sudiro emerged on Friday evening as the overall winner of the Panasonic Awards 2005 for his comic role on Trans TV's Extravaganza, while Tamara Bleszynsky, whose winning speech closed the event, held up her popularity trophy in a joyous shriek.
The Panasonic award was the first for Tora, who claimed the most popular TV actor slot over Ari Wibowo, Primus Yustisio, Roy Marten and 2004 winner Anjasmara. Tamara again beat Agnes Monica, Jihan Fahira, Lulu Tobing and Desy Ratnasari to take her second consecutive Panasonic award.
Like last year, this year's favorite talk show host was awarded to Indy Barends for Ceriwis.
RCTI's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire once again took home the favorite quiz and game show award, while TPI's Audisi Pelawak Indonesia (Indonesian comedians audition) beat last year's winner Ngelaba in the TV comedy category.
Meanwhile, rising comedian Aming's wish for a free tour to Europe came true when he won the favorite comedian award for his role in Extravaganza.
Crime shows like TransTV's Lacak and Indosiar's Jejak Kasus dominated the current affairs category, but SCTV's Derap Hukum emerged the winner.
Unseating RCTI's Uang Kaget, a reality show that hands out money to poor people and documents their reaction, was RCTI's Bedah Rumah, which renovates dilapidated residences of the poor.
This year's Panasonic Awards introduced a new category, best reality show host, which was won by Helmy Yahya of Uang Kaget.
RCTI's Indonesian Idol was named the most popular music and variety show, topping Indosiar's talent show Akademi Fantasi Indonesia and TPI's dangdut talent show Kontes Dangdut Indonesia.
As in previous years, this year's 9th Panasonic Awards presented five nominees for each of 20 categories, with nominees selected from TV ratings provided by survey institution AGB Nielsen.
TV viewers then voted for their favorite nominee through the Panasonic Awards' website, via SMS and letters, and by filling out flyers distributed to public venues during Panasonic road shows.
To minimize bias in the outcome, Panasonic appointed consultant Ernst & Young to validate and tally the votes to come up with the final winners.