There was something about this year’s SAG Awards ceremony. It wasn’t as stressful as the 2021 Oscar Ceremony. It wasn’t as suffocating as the 2021 Emmys. It was spacious and, almost to a presenter, everyone was extremely happy to be there. Honestly, you can’t say that about most awards shows.
READ MORE: “CODA,” “Succession” Jessica Chastain and Will Smith among big 2022 SAG Awards winners
Granted, like all guild honors, the SAGs are a special breed. This is not only an audience of the attendees’ peers, but their union. A union, as SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, reminded those watching, which is the largest entertainment union in the world. But more on her speech later.
Overall it was a massive night for Apple TV+ with “CODA” winning Cast in a Motion Picture, the film’s Troy Kotsur taking Actor in a Supporting Role, “Ted Lasso” winning Cast in a Comedy Series and Jason Sudeikis being honored with Actor in a Comedy Series for the second year in a row. The streamer is making strides on all fronts even in a year when the actors spread the wealth a bit. Netflix? Three wins. Searchlight? A win. Warner Bros? A win. Disney? A win. Hulu? A win. HBO and HBO Max? Three wins. Surprisingly, only Focus and MGM were left out.
Keeping all that in mind, here are some moments that popped for us during the fast-moving two-hour ceremony.
Romy and Michelle’s reunion
Honestly, I gasped. Anyone who is a fan of the 1997 cult comedy “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” knew exactly what was going on when Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino came on stage in pink and blue ensembles to present an award. The actors made some major quips that referred to their characters and Sorvino even brought Post-it notes (Michelle and Romy invented them if you weren’t aware). It’s unclear why the two actors decided to bring the duo to the SAG Awards, but if Walt Disney Studios is listening, it’s time for the long-awaited sequel! We’d even take it on Hulu!
Standing ovation for Jean Smart
The Jean Smart renaissance likely peaked with her Emmy win in September, but this was her first SAG Awards win and it clearly meant something to her (her joke about acting being the “world’s oldest profession” was one of the most memorable of the telecast). It also meant something to her peers who gave her one of the few standing ovations of the night.
“Squid Game” upsets
Considering there were multiple nominees from the same programs in both their categories, in hindsight, the wins for Lee Jung-jae and HoYeon Jung probably shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise. But, to everyone watching the fact two Korean-language actors took trophies for “Squid Game” was something of a shock. It was also a massive surprise to Jung, who gave a tearful acceptance speech. For Netflix, their wins are evidence that “Squid Game” should be a major player in the Drama Series races this summer. And, sure, “Succession” took the Cast in a Drama Series trophy, but “Squid” will officially be a major Emmy player across the board.
Fran Drescher has plans
The former “Nanny” star got off to a rough start with the teleprompter, but eventually, she delivered perhaps the most activist speech ever by the president of the guild. Drescher reminded her union and those watching of the influence SAG and its members have. In her words, it’s time to “leverage that for the greater good.” She noted actors who are already assisting in environmental efforts such as Meryl Streep and called out others she hope will join in their efforts such as Rosario Dawson and Denzel Washington. Again, her delivery was a bit off, but the context of her comments and goals was eye-opening.
Michael Keaton with an all-timer speech
We’re not sure we can give truly describe how moving the “Dopesick” star and SAG Awards winner’s speech was. Keaton was actually late to accept his trophy having headed to the men’s room at the wrong time in the ceremony. He even rolled onto the stage, but his comments were not comedic. Like many in attendance, the events in Ukraine were on his mind. As was his ability to be part of a program that was trying to foster change. He noted, “I am so fortunate. We could spend a week here talking about how fortunate I am. I am so blessed to do what I do. I have a job where I can be part of a production like ‘Dopesick’ that actually spawn thought, conversation, actual change.” He also noted, “I can feel the rolling thunder of eye-rolling. Shut up and dribble. Shut up and act. The acting I’ll quit. The shutting up. Not so much.” He ended his remarks with his voice breaking as he dedicated the award to his nephew Michael and his sister Pam, “it hurts.”
Helen Mirren is most certainly a dame
The mantra of this year’s lifetime achievement winner? “Be on time and don’t be an ass.” Oh, and another zinger: “I hate to say the word SAG at my age. It’s always S-A-G for me.” And then she addressed the “actors.” “I get really peed off about actors being maligned as a group. It’s so easy, isn’t it? That lazy and false assumption of vanity. In my experience, which by now is considerable, the opposite is true. We love and admire each other’s work. Together we laugh, we weep, we worry, we change clothes, we throw up and we suffer diarrhea.” She added later, “You’re a magnificent tribe. Stretching over culture history and time.” Eloquent words from a real one.
Brian Cox takes a moment to reflect on Ukraine and Russian actors
The “Succession” actor spoke on behalf of his castmates as they received the Outstanding Cast in a Drama Series award. An actor who wonderfully has no f**ks to give, he swore within the first:30 seconds, gave credit to the show’s casting directors, and then segued to the more important news of the day, Ukraine. “It’s really awful what’s happening and it’s particularly awful when it’s affecting other people, particularly in our profession. The president of Ukraine was a comic. He was a wonderful comic performer. And to come to the presidency is amazing. But what is really distressing to me is what is happening in Russia, to my fellow actors and actresses and performers and writers and critics. They are told under pain of high treason that they cannot say a word about Ukraine. And I think that is pretty awful. And also for those people in Russia who don’t like what is going on. Particularly the artists. I think we should join in celebrating them and hoping they can actually make a shift as I believe they can.” Cue the standing ovation.
Jessica Chastain’s genuine surprise
Was there a frontrunner to win Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress in a Motion Picture this year? Not really. But it was clear from the moment the camera cut to her that Jessica Chastain was not expecting to hear her name called. The “Eyes of Tammy Faye” star was “completely stunned” and reminded people that the woman she played, Tammy Faye Bakker, “cast her arms around those cast aside and she launched herself into decades of LGBTQ love. I worked on the project for 10 years and I hope we made her story a way she would be proud of.” Chastain is already getting raves for her acceptance speech and it may be one of those key moments, that pushes her to the front of the line when the Oscars are handed out next month.
Will Smith gives Venus a shoutout
He has four Grammys. He recently won his first Golden Globe, but Will Smith has never been recognized by his peers for his cinematic catalog. Not as an actor or a producer. That changed with his first SAG Award for “King Richard.” The best part about his emotional acceptance speech, however, was his realization that he might have just experienced one of the greatest moments of his career. Not because he won, but “Because my name was called for ‘King Richard’ sitting next to Venus Williams.” He noted, “Richard Williams is a dreamer like no one you have ever known. He has a power of belief that borders on insanity. And sometimes necessary to take something from impossible to possible.” But it got better. “Venus, Serena, the Williams family, you entrusted me and our group with your story. You didn’t agree to put your name on it until you saw the final project, [but] I get that. But that’s cool, that’s real! We be messing things up sometimes.” Breathe eash Will, you did ’em proud.