“The running gag of the night at the SAG Awards was the surprising weight of the “Actor” statuette, juxtaposed with the show’s lighthearted moments.
The 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards kicked off with a skit featuring Jean Smart as her “Hacks” character Deborah Vance, who, along with her co-stars, mistakenly believed she was hosting.
Actual host Kristen Bell apologized to Smart (who was absent but later won an award) and then used a “Frozen” song parody to celebrate actors’ early careers.
Bell highlighted the shared dream of becoming a working artist and acknowledged Los Angeles as the backdrop to that dream, noting the city’s recent struggles, including devastating wildfires. She then performed “Do You Want To Be An Actor,” showcasing early roles of Hollywood stars.
Jamie Lee Curtis added humor while presenting an award, jokingly blaming winner Colin Farrell for giving her Covid at the Golden Globes.
Farrell, winning for “The Penguin,” admitted his guilt and humorously shifted blame to his “Banshees of Inisherin” co-star Brendan Gleeson.
A “Law & Order” drinking game was a highlight, with Mariska Hargitay introducing a montage of stars who appeared on the franchise. Keke Palmer and Colman Domingo then invited the audience to drink if they’d been on the show, leading to many stars, including Timothée Chalamet, taking a sip.
Selena Gomez, accepting an award for “Only Murders in the Building,” humorously remarked on her co-stars’ absence, saying they “don’t really care.”
Jane Fonda, receiving the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award, delivered a powerful speech, reflecting on her career and the need for empathy in challenging times, urging viewers to “give a damn about other people.”
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher also gave a passionate speech, addressing climate change and the Los Angeles wildfires, urging action against greed.”
