The 2026 Critics Choice Awards ceremony in Santa Monica was hijacked by a moment of pure, unscripted hilarity courtesy of veteran actress Kathy Bates. The scene-stealing incident served as a cheeky tribute to nominee Timothée Chalamet and instantly became the talk of the night.
The Paddle Heard Around the World
Host Chelsea Handler set the stage for the viral moment while highlighting Timothée Chalamet’s nomination for his role as a ping pong master in Marty Supreme. Handler, 50, revealed to the audience at the Barker Hangar that someone in the room had a ping pong paddle hidden under their seat. The prize for finding it was the chance to playfully spank Chalamet at the evening’s afterparty.
Cameras quickly panned to Kathy Bates, herself nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series for Matlock, who was revealed to be the lucky paddle holder. Not one to shy away from the spotlight, Bates seized the moment with gusto. In a move that brought the house down, she seductively licked the paddle while seated, sending waves of laughter through the star-studded crowd.
Even Bates appeared momentarily stunned by her own audacity, mouthing “That’s so gross. That’s so gross” directly to the camera. “I can't believe I did that!” she later exclaimed, before turning to Handler to officially claim her prize. The host cheered from the stage, “Kathy Bates, lucky you! Yes!” cementing the moment as an instant awards season classic.
Red Carpet Roasts and Major Winners
The playful jab at Chalamet continued earlier on the red carpet, where he and girlfriend Kylie Jenner were the unmistakable inspiration for a pitch-perfect parody. Hacks co-stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs arrived dressed in meticulous recreations of the couple’s coordinated Chrome Hearts looks from the Marty Supreme premiere weeks prior.
Downs, 43, embodied Chalamet in a vibrant orange leather suit, while Stalter, 35, mirrored Jenner’s floor-length gown with daring cutouts. The duo didn’t just wear the outfits; they performed them, expertly mimicking the couple’s poses, body language, and even Jenner’s signature red carpet gestures for a hilarious full-blown send-up.
When the awards were handed out, the film Sinners led the pack with an impressive 17 nominations. The television side was dominated by the limited series Adolescence, which secured six nods. The ceremony also introduced four new categories this year: Best Variety Series, Best Casting, Best Stunt Design, and Best Sound.
In the fiercely competitive film categories, Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another. Jacob Elordi took home Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein, while Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons. The night’s big winner for Best Picture was Bugonia from Focus Features.
On the television side, The Pitt (HBO Max) won the coveted Best Drama Series award. Noah Wyle won Best Actor in a Drama Series for the same show, while Rhea Seehorn won Best Actress for Pluribus. In comedy, The Studio (Apple TV) won Best Comedy Series, with its star Seth Rogen winning Best Actor and Jean Smart winning Best Actress for Hacks.
A Night of Stars and Surprises
The 31st Critics Choice Awards, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, marked host Chelsea Handler’s return to E!, the network that once hosted her talk show. The event, launched in 1995 by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, has grown from a modest gathering into a major bellwether for the awards season, often predicting Oscar success.
Beyond the laughs provided by Bates and the Hacks cast, the night was a celebration of cinematic and television excellence. With nominees like Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ariana Grande in attendance, and presenters including Colman Domingo and Regina Hall, the 2026 ceremony proved once again that the Critics Choice Awards blend industry prestige with unforgettable moments of pure entertainment.
