The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards was packed with A-list stars, but it was Chelsea Handler who stole the spotlight with her razor-sharp humor.
Held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, the ceremony featured Handler, 49, delivering a no-holds-barred opening monologue, taking playful jabs at some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
Roasting the Stars
Handler kicked things off by poking fun at the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the stars of It Ends With Us.
“No matter whose side you’re on, I think we can all agree—there’s probably not gonna be a sequel,” she quipped, adding, “It ends with us, guys.”
Ariana Grande and her relationship with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater were next on the list.
Handler jokingly called Slater a “munchkin,” referencing both his height and his role as Boq in the upcoming film adaptation.
When the crowd reacted with surprise, she reassured them, “That’s good news, everybody.”
From Nickelodeon to WWII
Chelsea then moved on to praise actress June Squibb, 95, for becoming an action star.
“From Ariana to June, to succeed this year, you had to either survive Nickelodeon or World War II,” she joked.
“And honestly, after watching that Nickelodeon documentary, I think Nickelodeon looked harder.”
Nicole Kidman’s Spicy Scenes
Nicole Kidman also became the subject of Handler’s humor, specifically her steamy scenes in Babygirl. “We had so many incredible musical performances,” Handler said.
“Zoe Saldana in Emilia Perez, Sing Sing—which I thought was a musical but isn’t—and Nicole Kidman in Babygirl, face down in a carpet.”
The punchline? “Technically, Babygirl wasn’t a musical, but she definitely hit a few notes I’ve never heard before.”
Kidman was spotted laughing with her head in her hands after the joke.
Ralph Fiennes and the “Sexy Villains”
Handler also had fun with Hollywood legend Ralph Fiennes, who starred in Conclave.
“Ralph, you’ve played a ruthless Nazi, evil Lord Voldemort, and now a celibate Cardinal—and somehow, you still made me want to sleep with you in all three movies.”
She then begged, “Please never play Vladimir Putin. I can’t do that again.”
A Jab at Melania Trump
The first lady wasn’t spared from Handler’s sharp wit either.
She jokingly introduced Anora as “the story of Melania Trump.”
In reality, Anora follows a Brooklyn stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, but Handler couldn’t resist making the connection.
Honoring the Best in Film and Television
Despite the laughs, the Critics Choice Awards is still about recognizing the best in entertainment.
Wicked and Conclave led the night with 11 nominations each, including nods for Best Picture.
Dune: Part Two and Emilia Pérez followed closely behind with 10 nominations each.
Ariana Grande was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Wicked, going up against Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Nickel Boys), and others.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo faced stiff competition in the Best Actress category alongside Angelina Jolie (Maria), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths).
On the television side, FX’s Shōgun led with six nominations, including Best Drama Series and acting nods for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai.
Abbott Elementary, The Diplomat, and Hacks also received multiple nominations.
Looking Ahead to the Oscars
The Critics Choice Awards are often considered a strong predictor of the Academy Awards, adding even more anticipation for this year’s Oscar nominations.
With its mix of laughter, celebration, and star-studded moments, the 30th Critics Choice Awards once again proved why it remains one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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