The 2025 Critics Choice Awards honored the best in film and television on Friday, February 7, in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. The 30th annual ceremony, hosted by Chelsea Handler, saw Adam Brody and Jean Smart take home major wins in the comedy categories.
Adam Brody’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
Adam Brody won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This. His win came just days after losing his home to the LA wildfires, making his speech even more heartfelt.
“My darling, darling, darling wife Leighton [Meester],” he said. “Thank you for sharing this life with me and this journey with me. Thank you for our family. I love you with all my heart.”
Brody, 45, also thanked his co-star Kristen Bell and the show’s creator, Erin Foster, while expressing excitement for Season 2 of the series.
“We had the immense pleasure of filming this in Los Angeles. Can’t wait to run it back with you guys in a few weeks.”
Brody triumphed over strong contenders, including:
- Jordan Alvarez (English Teacher)
- David Alan Grier (St. Denis Medical)
- Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building)
- Kayvan Novak (What We Do in the Shadows)
- Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
Jean Smart’s Win & Absence
Jean Smart won Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in HBO’s Hacks. However, she did not attend the ceremony, reportedly due to filming commitments.
The Hacks cast called her from the red carpet to celebrate her win, making sure she felt included in the night’s festivities.
Her absence might also be tied to a bold statement she made last month, following the LA wildfires.
“Attention! With all due respect, during Hollywood’s season of celebration, I hope any of the networks televising the upcoming awards will seriously consider NOT televising them and donating the revenue that would have been garnered to victims of the fires and the firefighters,” she wrote on January 8.
Smart won against a competitive field, including:
- Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
- Natasia Demetriou (What We Do in the Shadows)
- Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere)
- Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale)
With Brody’s heartfelt win and Smart’s principled stance, the Critics Choice Awards 2025 delivered both emotional moments and powerful statements.