Angel

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Spike may be fading in and out of Wolfram & Hart on "Angel," but he’s front and center in the minds of Zap2it readers. James Marsters, who plays the not-all-physically-there vampire on The WB series, easily won Zap2it’s third annual Showdown of the Network Stars over his "Angel" co-star, David Boreanaz. He joins past winners Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files," 2001) and Jennifer Garner ("Alias," 2002) as the person anointed the top star in the TV universe.

The final tally wasn’t close. Marsters received close to 22,500 votes to about 4,300 for Boreanaz.

It’s also not surprising, given the level of fan ardor accorded Spike during his time on "Angel’s" predecessor, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." News that Marsters was joining the cast of "Angel" helped ensure the show’s return for a fifth season ; it had been on The WB’s bubble last spring. Marsters cruised to the win after defeating "Tru Calling" star Eliza Dushku, also a "Buffy" veteran, in the Final Four. Boreanaz topped defending champ Garner to advance to the finals.

Marsters also defeated John C. McGinley ("Scrubs"), Alexis Bledel ("Gilmore Girls"), William Petersen ("CSI") and Jennifer Aniston ("Friends") on his way to the title. Boreanaz took out Lauren Ambrose ("Six Feet Under"), Alyssa Milano ("Charmed"), Maura Tierney ("ER") and Lauren Graham ("Gilmore Girls") before facing Garner.