> At a Glance
> – Jan. 4 ceremony served red-carpet looks, sharp monologue, surprise wins
> – Chelsea Handler roasted DiCaprio, Elordi, Costner-then urged kindness
> – Sarah Snook, Miles Caton, Amy Madigan took trophies without speeches ready
> – Why it matters: Awards-season momentum starts here; early buzz shapes Oscar race
The Critics Choice Awards opened 2026’s trophy dash with chrome-orange couple dressing, a ping-pong paddle giveaway and more than a few mangled names.
Monologue & Moments
Host Chelsea Handler vowed to keep vibes friendly, then fired off height jokes at Jacob Elordi, yacht gags at Leonardo DiCaprio and a crack about Billy Bob Thornton‘s nude scene. She closed by quoting the late Rob Reiner‘s mantra: look out for one another.
- Cameras mistook Kristen Bell for Gwyneth Paltrow after a ski-slope jab.
- Kathy Bates won the under-seat contest: whoever found a paddle earned the right to spank Timothée Chalamet.
Winners Without Words
Sarah Snook admitted she forgot the show was happening and improvised her All Her Fault thank-you in 15 seconds flat.
Miles Caton (Best Young Actor) and Owen Cooper (Best Supporting Actor, Limited Series) gave earnest, anxiety-inducing speeches that charmed the theater-kid crowd.
Style & Pronunciation Snafus
Amy Madigan, Ethan Hawke and Tramell Tillman ditched basic tuxes for head-to-toe floral embroidery; Madigan and Tillman collected trophies in the same outfits.
Meanwhile, announcers mispronounced:
- Miles Caton → “Ca-ton”
- Keltie Knight → “Kelsey”
- Katherine LaNasa → “Luhnuhsa”
Relationship Sidebar
Accepting Best Actress for Hamnet, Jessie Buckley toasted on-screen husband Paul Mescal:
> “Paul, I bloody love you, man … loads of other women in this room do too, but-tough s—!”
Key Takeaways
- Timmy & Kylie’s matching Chrome Hearts orange looks were instantly memed by Hacks duo Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter.
- Rose Byrne, Jessie Buckley and Janelle James brought earring danger: mega-carat danglers sharp enough to wound.
- Early wins for Snook, Caton and Cooper shake up the limited-series Oscar conversation.
The night proved awards season can kick off with equal parts kindness calls and chaos.
