Chelsea Handler Kicks Off Awards Season with Touching Tribute and Sharp Wit at 31st Critics Choice Awards
Table of Contents
Airing live from Santa Monica, the 31st Critics Choice Awards saw comedian Chelsea Handler launch the 2026 awards season with a blend of heartfelt remembrance and pointed humor. The ceremony, broadcast on E! and USA Network, featured a monologue that both honored Hollywood figures and playfully skewered industry trends.
A Moment of Remembrance for Rob and Michele Reiner
Handler’s opening remarks centered on a moving tribute to the late director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner. “Everyone in this room knows that the nicest guy in Hollywood was Rob Reiner,” Handler shared with the audience, highlighting Reiner’s universally admired character. She continued, describing Reiner as someone who immediately felt like “an old friend” and who possessed a rare ability to be “present, focused, and funny” in conversation.
Handler emphasized the couple’s dedication to causes centered around decency and mutual support. “Both Rob and Michele Reiner were tireless in their devotion to causes that all revolved around decency and that everyone should be looking out for one another,” she stated. She urged the audience to carry forward their legacy, suggesting the evening serve as “a reminder of that decency and as a reminder of everything Rob and Michele represented and fought so hard for.”
Hollywood Gets Roasted
While the tribute provided a poignant moment, Handler didn’t shy away from her signature comedic style, delivering jabs at several prominent figures and industry practices. She playfully predicted a long awards season for the nominees, quipping, “You guys are all going to be spending the next three months together, so whoever wins tonight, get used to seeing them win.”
Leonardo DiCaprio was also a target of Handler’s wit. She joked about his near-miss attendance, stating, “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.”
Perhaps the most pointed commentary was directed at Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and president David Zaslav, interwoven with a reference to rapper Nicki Minaj. Handler recounted, “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?” She then revealed a playful “fun fact” about the film, stating, “The original name of the main vampire was David Zaslav,” a joke that visibly amused Sinners star Michael B. Jordan, who was seen shaking his head on screen.
The 31st Critics Choice Awards ceremony is airing live from Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar on E! and USA Network. The list of the 2026 Critics Choice film and TV nominees is being updated live. Check out the stars’ arrivals and looks.
