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 night's most viral talking point.
The Paddle That Stole The Show
During the ceremony at the Barker Hangar, host Chelsea Handler, 50, highlighted Timothée Chalamet's nomination for his role as a ping pong master in Marty Supreme. In a playful reference to a spanking scene in the film, Handler revealed that someone in the audience had a ping pong paddle under their seat. The lucky recipient would get to 'spank Timothée at the afterparty', she joked.
The cameras quickly panned to Kathy Bates, herself nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series for Matlock, who was revealed to be holding the paddle. Without missing a beat, Bates launched into full show-stealing mode. In a gesture that brought the house down, she seductively licked the paddle while seated, sending the audience into fits of laughter.
Even Bates seemed momentarily stunned by her own audacity. She was caught on camera mouthing, 'That’s so gross. That’s so gross,' before adding, 'I can't believe I did that!' She then turned to Handler to confirm her victory. 'Kathy Bates, lucky you! Yes!' Handler cheered from the stage, cementing the moment as an awards season classic.
Red Carpet Roasts and A-List Competition
The playful ribbing of Chalamet began even before the ceremony. On the red carpet, Hacks co-stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs delivered a pitch-perfect and hilarious send-up of Chalamet and his girlfriend Kylie Jenner. The duo meticulously recreated the couple's coordinated Chrome Hearts looks from the Marty Supreme premiere weeks earlier.
Downs, 43, embodied Chalamet in a blazing orange leather suit, while Stalter, 35, mirrored Jenner in a floor-length orange gown with daring cutouts. They expertly mimicked the couple's poses and body language, with Stalter even replicating Jenner's signature hair flicks and sultry glances. The spot-on impersonation was a clear highlight of the pre-show festivities.
On the awards front, the competition was fierce. In film, Sinners led the pack with 17 nominations, including Best Picture, where it faced contenders like Bugonia, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme. Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor for Marty Supreme, facing off against Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Michael B. Jordan (Sinners).
On the television side, Adolescence led with six nominations, followed closely by Nobody Wants This with five. The drama categories featured stars like Sterling K. Brown, Keri Russell, and Bella Ramsey, while the comedy races included favourites Jean Smart (Hacks) and Seth Rogen (The Studio).
And The Winner Is...
The 31st Critics Choice Awards, which introduced four new categories including Best Stunt Design, delivered a spread of winners across film and television. The ceremony, hosted by Chelsea Handler in a return to E!, the network that aired her talk show for eight years, continues to be a key bellwether in the awards season.
In the film categories, major winners included Jacob Elordi for Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein and Amy Madigan for Best Supporting Actress for Weapons. Paul Thomas Anderson won both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another, while Ryan Coogler took Best Original Screenplay for Sinners. The night's top prize, Best Picture, went to Bugonia from Focus Features.
For television, The Pitt won Best Drama Series, with Noah Wyle securing Best Actor in a Drama. Rhea Seehorn won Best Actress in a Drama for Pluribus. In comedy, The Studio won Best Comedy Series, Seth Rogen won Best Actor, and the legendary Jean Smart won Best Actress for Hacks. Adolescence was crowned Best Limited Series.
The event, first launched in 1995, has grown from a modest gathering of film critics into a major red-carpet spectacle, often predicting success at subsequent award ceremonies like the Oscars. This year's edition, filled with viral moments, heartfelt tributes, and surprising wins, certainly lived up to its influential reputation.
