The 39th annual NAACP Image Awards inducted legend Stevie Wonder into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame on the same night it named “The Great Debaters” the top film. Denzel Washington picked up the trophy for Best Flm on Thursday at LA’s Shrine Auditorium.

The period drama about a debating squad that takes on Harvard also earned Washington a best actor award. His costar Jurnee Smollett was handed the best actress award.

A bald and slightly chunky Washington said:

“I’m happy for everybody up here… I’m very grateful for this one, but in particular, just happy that some of these young people are recognized for their work.”

Other awards were handed to Janet Jackson for best supporting actress in “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?”

Janet Jackson, who is releasing an album on February 29th said:

“I’m really overwhelmed and to be in the company of such incredible women. This is such an honor. I was really not expecting this.”

In television, it was ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” that was named best drama series with an award going to Chandra Wilson for her work. America Ferrera and Vanessa L. Williams won outstanding actress and supporting actress in a comedy series for “Ugly Betty” which airs on ABC.

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