Jean Smart had the critics in stitches. That's why the Hacks actress walked away with the Best Actress in a Comedy Series trophy at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler in Santa Monica, California on January 4th. And she had a message aimed directly at critics during her speech.
"The relationship between critics and artists has always been a love-hate thing," Jean said from the stage. "George Bernard Shaw famously said, 'A critic is a man who leaves no turn unstoned.' And Pauline Kael, of course, the late, fabulous Pauline Kael, was famous for her reviews—scathing and glowing, but people enjoyed her scathing ones more. She gave a particularly bad review to the great David Lean, who said after that he would never make another movie. And he waited 14 years before finally making another one, which was his last."
She added, "George Roy Hill, who received a similar treatment from Miss Kael, wrote her a personal letter that started out, 'You miserable b--ch.'"
However, Jean also highlighted the opposing side. "But a very famous critic responded, and I think this is very important," she noted. "He said, 'Ultimately, as critics, our responsibility is not to the emotional well-being of a specific artist; our responsibility is to the reader, the art form, and our work. In so doing, I believe we pay the artist respect. Our honesty and standards are an argument that the art they make matters.' So I thank the Critics Association for your appreciation of our little show, Hacks."
She also acknowledged her fellow nominees—Kristen Bell for Nobody Wants This, Natasha Lyonne for Poker Face, Rose McIver for Ghosts, Edi Patterson for The Righteous Gemstones, and Carrie Preston for Elsbeth—during her acceptance speech. "Thank you all so much and my fellow nominees, brilliant, beyond brilliant," she said.
Jean's show Hacks was also nominated for Best Comedy Series alongside Nobody Wants This, Abbott Elementary, Elsbeth, Ghosts, The Studio, Only Murders in the Building, and The Righteous Gemstones. While the TV categories at the Critics Choice Awards are separated by Comedy and Drama, the film side's Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nominees were from among the entire slate of movies in 2025.
Though some fans believe Cynthia Erivo was snubbed for her performance in Wicked: For Good, her counterpart Ariana Grande was elated to be nominated for her supporting role alongside Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Teyana Taylor. "Thank you, thank you, thank you @criticschoice for this acknowledgement," the Grammy winner wrote on her Instagram Story last month. "And for including me in this magnificent group of performances. I loved these films; I love these women. I am deeply honored."
Meanwhile, Chelsea Handler shared her excitement for the first awards show of the season when she was announced as this year's master of ceremonies. "Kicking off the year with the Critics Choice Awards feels right," she said in November. "Nothing says 'new beginnings' like a room full of critics ready to tell you how you did last year."
