Webby Awards: Keep it Short and ...

The Webby Awards, which honors excellence on the Internet, insists winners adhere to one simple rule when making an acceptance speech: Keep it to five words.

That’s an ingredient for keeping things interesting at the event, which took place Tuesday night at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan.

Take TBWAMedia Arts Lab, which won in the online commercial for category “Don’t Give Up on Vista,” referring to Microsoft’s operating system. “In Steve Jobs we trust,” was the agency’s poke at the Microsoft rival.

“My second best night ever,” cracked Robert Morehouse, creative director from Vermilion. His agency picked up an award in the professional services category for Boulder, CO, based Action Marketing Group’s corporate Web site.

For Trapeze, a Toronto, Canada, agency recognized for developing the Ikea Mattress Web site, had this to say, “We enjoyed sleeping with you.”

MTV Networks’ Nick.com was the People’s Voice winner for best youth site. “Sponge Bob is our sugar daddy,” said one wag.

“The New York Times” won eight awards, including one for best online newspaper. “Thank you, Elliot Spitzer,” said one NYT recipient, referring to New York’s governor who resigned after it was revealed he had a tryst with a prostitute.

The Huffington Post was named for best political blog. “President Obama sounds good, right,” said Arianna Huffington, the site’s editor-in-chief.

Obama was top of mind for another site, FactCheck.org, that checks the accuracy of candidates’ statements. “No, Obama’s not a Muslim,” said FactCheck’s designated speaker.

Was it as surprise that Flock, which bills itself as the social Web browser, was a Webby Award winner for social/networking? “No sh*t, we beat Facebook,” bragged a Flock executive. Not so fast. Facebook was the People’s Voice winner in the same category.