On Wednesday, the Critics Choice Association stated that it had postponed its live awards ceremony due to growing worries about COVID-19 and its Omicron variation.
On Sunday, January 9, hosts Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer was scheduled to announce the winners. The ceremony will no longer take place on that date as initially planned, but it will still be televised live in person on The CW and TBS at some point.
“We have collectively concluded that the prudent and responsible decision at this point is to postpone the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for January 9, 2022,” the organization said in a statement. “We have collectively concluded after thoughtful consideration and candid conversations with our partners at The CW and TBS. We are actively searching for a new date during the forthcoming awards season to present our annual gala in person, with everyone’s safety and health continuing to be our primary priority. We are in constant contact with LA County Public Health officials. We will communicate further information to our friends and colleagues in the entertainment business as soon as we can.
The choice is a reversal from the Critics Choice Association’s earlier this week announcement that the ceremony would take place in person on January 9 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel with COVID solid standards in place due to the nation’s ongoing rise in cases.
“At this time, we are still planning to host an in-person 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards, following the strictest and safest protocols, including mandatory proof of vaccination, negative PCR tests 48 hours in advance, proper social distancing and masking requirements,” the organisation said in a statement on Monday. “The Critics Choice Associatioorganization with LA County Public Health Officials and a premier Covid Compliance service.” “As circumstances unfold, we will continue to closely monitor the situation.”
Last year, the Critics’ Choice Awards were a hybrid event that combined live performances with online appearances. While nominees came virtually from various locations worldwide, host Taye Diggs and some presenters aired from a stage in Los Angeles.
The Critics Choice Awards are one of the year’s first significant cinema award events and are seen as an essential forerunner to the Academy Awards. Due to worries regarding the increase in COVID-19 cases, the Palm Springs Film Awards have also postponed their next ceremony scheduled for January 6.
Belfast by Kenneth Branagh and West Side Story by Steven Spielberg headed the list of nominees for this year’s Critics Choice Awards. Ariana Debose and Rita Moreno received nominations for best supporting actress, while newcomer Rachel Zegler is up for best youngbest-supportingss. “West Side Story” received nominations for best picture and best director. Along with nominations for its ensemble, “West Side Story” also received nods for its screenplay, costume design, production design, editing, and cinematography. With nominations for picture, original screenplay, director, cinematography, editing, and two supporting actor spots for Jamie Dornan and Ciarán Hinds, “Belfast” has received eleven nods overall.
The movies “Dune” and “The Power of the Dog” each received ten nominations. While “King Richard” and “Don’t Look Up” each received six nominations, “Licorice Pizza” and “Nightmare Alley” both received eight.
The third season of HBO’s “Succession” leads all contenders in nominations for Critics Choice TV with eight. Another HBO program, “Mare of Easttown,” still contending in the limited series category because a forthcoming second season has not yet been confirmed, was among the other top candidates. Robert and Michelle King’s dramas “Mare” and “Evil” from Paramount Plus, which had previously been shown on CBS, each received five nominations. With 20 nominations, HBO is in first place, surpassing competitor Netflix (which scored 18).