I arrived at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica a few hours before the Critics Choice Awards started, which allowed me to meet other media outlets and the production crew while watching the stars trickle in.
Around 10 other outlets sat alongside me in the press room. The mix of media included legacy powerhouses like ABC and Entertainment Weekly, as well as digital-first, newer publications like Bustle. The space was about the size of a classroom and tucked away next to the main room. A huge TV was mounted on the wall with the live feed of the show, allowing us to track the winners coming to the room next.
The atmosphere was collegial. Veteran reporters from Gold Derby and Page Six Hollywood took time before the show started to share press room tips with me. They talked openly about their career paths in entertainment journalism, offering encouragement.
As host Chelsea Handler took the stage and the first winners were announced, the energy in the press room shifted from anticipation to action.
Here are the moments that defined the night:
1. “The Pitt” wins awards and steals smiles
When asked how he felt about winning Best Drama Series at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, creator of “The Pitt” R. Scott Gemmill didn’t hold back on his elation.
“GREAAAAT!” he shouted, pumping the Critics Choice award up above his head, as his crew broke out in laughter behind him. Proving that magic can certainly strike twice, the winning team of Gemmill, showrunner John Wells, and co-executive producer Joe Sachs, all worked on the hit drama series “ER,” with actor Noah Wyle.
“The Pitt” took home three awards in total Sunday: Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Wyle) and Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Katherine LaNasa), who had appeared on “ER” in a guest starring role.
The chemistry between “The Pitt” cast and crew is undeniable. Their critical recognition was especially exciting to me, as I had seen them at the 2025 Norman Lear Awards, where they were honored for their authentic portrayals of the healthcare industry through their partnership with USC’s Hollywood, Health & Society program.
The critically acclaimed HBO Max show of healthcare heroes will premiere its sophomore season on Thursday, Jan. 8, while continuing its way around the award circuit as a frontrunner.
2. The vitality of art and young artists
After earning a leading four statuettes for the Netflix limited series “Adolescence,” creator, writer and star Stephen Miller gets passionate about the importance of the arts.
“Art is important as a human species. We need to produce art,” he said in the press room.
“Sometimes we have the opportunity as actors, writers, creators, producers to come into your home and try and make you think a bit,” Miller continued. That’s what our program did. It was made with love, with integrity, with humility, with a lot of compassion for the subject we were telling.”
Responding to a question about shrinking budgets and attention for youth art programs, he stressed the significance of the next generation of artists. Sixteen-year-old Owen Cooper made history by becoming one of the youngest actors ever to win in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for TV for “Adolescence.”
“Those opportunities have to be there for children, for young people. Ultimately, they are our future. It’s a necessity to fund the [arts],” said Miller.
4. The work is mysterious, important and is keeping fans on their toes
“Severance” actor Tramell Tillman won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and remains elusive on the timing for season three of Apple TV’s thriller.
When asked about plans for a timeline, Tillman nodded and smiled, saying, “Yes, there have been discussions.”
After some laughter, he added, “I am happy that I am working for a network that is supportive of actors. I am happy I am working with a team of people who are intrepid, and bold, and audacious. We’re excited to get back to it.”
One thing’s certain: there may be a Music Dance Experience in Tillman’s (or Mr. Milchick’s) future.
5. Late night television gets a standing ovation
For the first time of the night, everyone in the ballroom was on their feet, unanimously cheering for Jimmy Kimmel, as his late night special “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” received Best Talk Show.
Following his speech, he came backstage to the press room to thunderous applause from the media. Kimmel posed for a sea of photographers and said, “Alright, what do you guys want to talk about?”
After a year of contentious showdowns between major networks, free speech and talk shows, the question on everyone’s mind was the future of late night television.
“It will be very surprising to me if it went away entirely,” Kimmel said. “I think there will be some version of a late night talk show, and in a way maybe it’ll be better because maybe there’ll be more opportunities for people of various backgrounds and ages and niche programming that I think could be a lot of fun to watch.”
6. The critics strike their chords
USC alum and “Sinners” composer Ludwig Göransson posed in the Critics Choice press room for the second time in his career. The five-time nominee won Best Score for “Oppenheimer” in 2024.
His haunting, blues score with fellow Trojan Ryan Coogler marked their fifth collaboration together. Although he was unavailable for questions, he thanked the media before heading back to watch the show.
One of the final celebrities to round out the press room was the “KPop Demon Hunters” cast and crew. I had the opportunity to ask a question about “Golden,” the catchy K-pop-esque bop that won Best Song. As it was released in July 2025, I asked how the meaning of the song changed over time to its writers and singers.
Singer-songwriter Ejae (and singing voice of Rumi) noted how her pride in the song had undergone a similar trajectory as the lyrics of “Golden.”
“It’s in sync with the intention of the song and how I felt writing it,” Ejae explained. “It resonates with a lot of people who want to reach for their goals.”
After I had asked my question and the “KPop Demon Hunters” crew exited the press room, the other outlets flashed me thumbs-up and words of encouragement.
As the night wound down and the last winners filtered through, I reflected on what surprised me most: not the celebrities themselves, but the camaraderie of the press. In a room where I, a USC student, sat alongside decades-long veterans of entertainment journalism, the hierarchy dissolved. We were all there for the same reason: to capture the stories behind the awards.
While there was little to no shock for pre-tabbed favorites like Jessie Buckley for Best Actress, the press room was surprised by Timothée Chalamet’s Best Actor win as well as Jacob Elordi’s takeaway of “Best Supporting Actor.”
Chalamet, Elordi, along with the entire “One Battle After Another” cast did not take any questions in the press room.
The Critics Choice Awards touts a separate voting body from the Academy Awards, but undoubtedly the more surprising wins will give favor in the eyes of the Oscar voters.
In the end, the night belonged to the storytellers. In the press room, writers, directors and actors reminded us why their work would endure. As the Critics Choice officially marks the beginning of awards season, giving early momentum to top seeds like “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” the journey toward gold statuettes has only just begun.
Here’s the full list of winners:
BEST PICTURE
One Battle After Another
BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)
BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
BEST COMEDY
The Naked Gun (Paramount)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Secret Agent (Neon)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST EDITING
Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)
BEST SOUND
Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix)
BEST SONG
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
BEST SCORE
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST STUNT DESIGN
Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
BEST TALK SHOW
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE
Francine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
South Park (Comedy Central)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
Squid Game (Netflix)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
BEST VARIETY SERIES
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)