Chelsea Handler Blends Wit and Warmth at Critics Choice Awards
Chelsea Handler opened the 31st Critics Choice Awards with a sharp, heartfelt monologue, paying tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner and setting the tone for a night of big wins in film and television.
Comedy favourite Chelsea Handler took the reins as host at the 31st Critics Choice Awards last night, kicking things off with a monologue that mixed her trademark dry wit with a moving nod to Rob and Michele Reiner. The event, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, saw Handler balancing laughs with a genuine tribute to the late director and his wife, who were recently found dead in their Los Angeles home.
Handler addressed the crowd with warmth, saying,
"Everyone in this room knows that the nicest guy in Hollywood was Rob Reiner. Anyone who ever spent time with Rob Reiner knows that the minute that you met him, he felt like an old friend. When you were in a conversation with him, he was present, he was focused, and he was funny. I think we can all agree that we definitely need more of that, so let's use tonight as a reminder of that decency and as a reminder of everything Rob and Michele represented and fought so hard for."
Handler's Signature Humour and Industry Jabs
Never one to shy away from taking the mickey, Handler kept the room on its toes with a few cheeky digs at the industry. She quipped,
"You guys are all going to be spending the next three months together, so whoever wins tonight, get used to seeing them win."
Her jokes about the horror flick Sinners, Nicki Minaj, and Warner Bros. boss David Zaslav drew a mix of laughs and awkward glances. Handler joked,
"Sinners was a massive blockbuster. Although I haven't been invited into a black person's house since, except Nicki Minaj's, but who wants to go over there? Sinners is the story of brothers who start this really fun place for entertainment and then vampires show up, suck the life out of everybody and burn it all to the ground. Fun fact, the original name of the main vampire was David Zaslav."
Leonardo DiCaprio also copped a playful roast, with Handler saying,
"Leo almost didn't make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Bart's. It was just like the Titanic, but worse because Jeff Bezos was there."
DiCaprio was spotted having a good laugh at his own expense.
Big Winners in Film and Television
The night marked one of the first major awards shows of the year, giving punters a taste of what’s to come this awards season. The Critics Choice Association, made up of industry insiders, handed out gongs to the best in film and telly.
On the television front, Adolescence cleaned up, nabbing Best Limited Series, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. The Pitt took home Best Drama Series, along with Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress. The Studio scored wins for Best Comedy, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.
Standout Moments and Surprises
In the film categories, One Battle After Another was a standout, picking up Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. Sinners, the horror hit, walked away with Best Original Screenplay, Best Young Actor/Actress, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Score. One of the night’s surprises came when Amy Madigan took out Best Supporting Actress for Weapons, beating out favourites like Ariana Grande from Wicked: For Good and Wunmi Mosaku from Sinners.
Handler’s blend of sharp humour and heartfelt moments set the tone for a night that celebrated both the industry’s achievements and the people who make it all happen.