The Screen Actors Guild differentiates itself from other award shows by shining a spotlight directly on those who are already, well, in the spotlight. Meaning we’re watching an award show full of performers who know how to keep us entertained from start to finish.
The 31st installment of the SAG Awards was streamed live on Netflix on Sunday evening. Kristen Bell once again served as host, though she also did double duty as a nominee for Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her work in rom-com series Nobody Wants This (losing to Hacks‘ Jean Smart). Also up for nominations were the casts of movies including Anora, Conclave, A Real Pain, and Wicked, and series like Shōgun, Abbott Elementary, The Bear, and Hacks. The awards are voted on by SAG-AFTRA’s members and are meant to be a celebration of the work of actors by their peers. As previously announced, Jane Fonda received the 60th SAG Life Achievement Award.
Here are some of the highlights of the show:
Read more: The 10 Best Movie Performances of 2024
Saddest Switcheroo
The show opened with Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) from Hacks prepping to host the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She and her crack team had a line-up of killer jokes about “the movie with the gay wizards” (that would be Conclave) and how to “recreate the kissing scene from Challengers with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Kathy Bates.” However, the jokes weren’t meant to be heard, because it turns out she’s been fired from the hosting gig because she hasn’t paid her SAG dues in years. No offense to Kristen Bell, but Deborah Vance was born for this role.
Greatest Hero’s Journey
Shrinking star Jessica Williams helped introduce the SAG Awards’ raison d’être of highlighting actors on their individual journeys to mastering their chosen art form. As she sat next to her co-star Harrison Ford, she recounted, “Living my dream of getting dressed in a Starbucks’ bathroom and my dream of crying in a Del Taco bathroom after.” Never forget, the stars…
