It was a stellar turnout for the 23rd Star Awards for Television held on Nov. 29 at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Paranaque City with majority of the winners – either as individuals or as program components – personally accepting their trophies from two or more presentors.

ABS-CBN was named Best TV Station and hauled off 27 awards. GMA-7 garnered 17 nods and its affiliate station Q11, 5 wins. TV5 got four citations while Net 25 and UNTV 37 with one each.

There was a tie in three categories, namely Best Single Performance by an Actress (Gretchen Barretto and Sunshine Dizon), Best Gag Show (“Bubble Gang” and “Banana Split”), and Best New Male TV Personality (Zaijian Jaranilla and JR de Guzman).

Vice President Noli de Castro was given the special award for excellence in broadcasting. He recalled winning his first Star Award for Best Male Newscaster 22 years ago and reiterated the importance of media in the light of the Maguindanao massacre.

The cast of “Eat...Bulaga,” led by pioneers Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, and executive producer Malou Choa-Fagar, came in full force to receive the elevation of the longest-running variety show to the Hall of Fame. Co-hosts Allan K, Julia Clarete, and Lougee also did a production number with the program’s resident dance group, EB Babes.

Johnny Manahan, recipient of the Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional works as a director and star-builder via ABS-CBN’s talent management arm Star Magic, was a no-show.

Star Magic prime talents Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz, who also co-hosted the event with Carmina Villaroel, acknowledged the recognition in behalf of the man fondly called Mr. M. Piolo also headed the production number featuring more than a dozen denizens from the Star Magic stable, including Vina Morales, Bea Alonso, Sam Milby, Jed Madela, and Rhap Salazar.

The 23rd Star Awards for TV is spearheaded by the Philippine Movie Press Club, Inc. (PMPC)’s current president, Roldan Castro. The awards night had a delayed telecast on ABS-CBN.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best TV Station: ABS-CBN

Best Drama Actress: Gina Pareno (“Tayong Dalawa,” ABS-CBN)

Best Drama Actor: Coco Martin (“Tayong Dalawa,” ABS-CBN)

Best Single Performance by an Actress: Gretchen Barretto (“Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “Salamin” episode, ABS-CBN) and Sunshine Dizon (“Obra Presents: Sunshine Dizon,” “Butch” epsisode)

Best Single Performance by an Actor: Joross Gamboa (“Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “Bisikleta” episode, ABS-CBN)

Best Primetime TV Series: “May Bukas Pa” (ABS-CBN)

Best Female TV Host: Valerie Concepcion (“Wowowee,” ABS-CBN)

Best Male TV Host: Luis Manzano (“ASAP ’08," ABS-CBN)

Best Musical Variety Show: “ASAP ’08” (ABS-CBN)

Best Drama Anthology: “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (ABS-CBN)

Best Drama Mini-Series: “Your Song Presents: My Only Hope” (ABS-CBN)

Best Daytime Drama Series: “Pieta” (ABS-CBN)

Best Comedy Actress: Rufa Mae Quinto (“Bubble Gang,” GMA-7)

Best Comedy Actor: Pooh (“Banana Split,” ABS-CBN)

Best Comedy Show: “Ful Haus” (GMA-7)

Best Showbiz-Oriented Show: “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon” (ABS-CBN)

Best Female Showbiz-Oriented Show Host: Toni Gonzaga (“Entertainment Live,” ABS-CBN)

Best Male Showbiz-Oriented Show Host: Boy Abunda (“SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon,” ABS-CBN)

Best Gag Show: “Banana Split” (ABS-CBN) and “Bubble Gang” (GMA-7)

Best Variety/Game Show: “Wowowee” (ABS-CBN)

Best Variety/Game Show Host: Richard Gomez (“Family Feud,” GMA-7)

Best Celebrity Talk Show: “Sis” (GMA-7)

Best Celebrity Talk Show Host: Janice de Belen (“Spoon,” Net 25)

Best New Female TV Personality: Maricar Reyes (“Precious Hearts Romance Presents: Bud Brothers,” ABS-CBN)

Best New Male TV Personality: Zaijian Jaranilla (“May Bukas Pa,” ABS-CBN) and JR de Guzman (“Midnight DJ,” TV5)

Best Talent Search Program: “Talentadong Pinoy” (TV5)

Best Talent Search Program Host: Ryan Agoncillo (“Talentadong Pinoy,” TV5)

Best Horror/Fantasy Program: “Midnight DJ” (TV5)

Best Youth-Oriented Program: “Ka-Blog” (GMA-7)

Best News Program: “TV Patrol World” (ABS-CBN)

Best Female Newscaster: Vicky Morales (“Saksi: Liga ng Katotohanan,” GMA-7)

Best Male Newscaster: Julius Babao (TV Patrol World,” ABS-CBN)

Best Public Service Program: “Imbestigador” (GMA-7)

Best Public Service Program Host: Ben Tulfo (“Bitag Live,” UNTV 37)

Best Documentary Special: “Walang Iwanan” (ABS-CBN)

Best Documentary Program: “I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries” (GMA-7)

Best Documentary Program Host: Kara David, Jay Taruc, Sandra Aguinaldo and Howie Severino (“I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries,” GMA-7)

Best Magazine Show: “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” (GMA-7)

Best Magazine Show Host: Jessica Soho (“Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” GMA-7)

Best Public Affairs Program: “Probe Profiles” (ABS-CBN)

Best Public Affairs Program Host: Cheche Lazaro (“Probe Profiles,” ABS-CBN”)

Best Morning Show: “Umagang Kay Ganda” (ABS-CBN)

Best Morning Show Host: Edu Manzano, Pinky Webb, Bernadette Sembrano, Rica Peralejo, Donita Rose, Kim Atienza, Alex Santos, Anthony Taberna, Winnie Cordero and Ginger Conejero (“Umagang Kay Ganda,” ABS-CBN)

Best Lifestyle Show: “Events Incorporated” (Q11)

Best Lifestyle Show Host: Tim Yap and Sam Oh (“Events Incorporated,” Q11)

Best Reality Program: “Day-Off” (Q11)

Best Reality Program Host: Paolo Bediones (“Survivor Philippines,” GMA-7)

Best Travel Show: “Balik-bayan” (Q11)

Best Travel Show Host: Drew Arellano (“Balik-bayan,” Q11)

Best Educational Program: “Matanglawin” (ABS-CBN)

Best Educational Program Host: Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (“Kap’s Amazing Stories,” GMA-7)

Best Children Show: “Art Angel” (GMA-7)

Best Children Show Host: Pia Arcangel, Tonipet Gaba and Krystal Reyes (“Art Angel,” GMA-7)

Special Award Winners

Hall of Fame for Variety Show: “Eat…Bulaga”

Excellence in Broadcasting: Vice President Noli de Castro

Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award: Johnny Manahan

Male and Female Stars of the Night: Piolo Pascual and Anne Curtis

Male and Female Faces of the Night: John Lloyd Cruz and Sunshine Dizon