Critics Choice Awards Postponed to January 26 Due to Southern California Fires
by Katcy Stephan · VarietyThe Critics Choice Awards, originally set for Sunday, Jan. 12 in Santa Monica, has been postponed to Jan. 26 amid devastating fires raging across the Los Angeles area.
“This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community. All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin.
The rescheduled event will remain at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, and will broadcast live on E! and around the world. It will also be available on Peacock the next day.
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The Critics Choice Awards is among many award-related events affected in the wake of the fires. Wednesday morning’s SAG Awards nomination live announcement was also scrapped, with the nods unveiled instead via a press release. The annual starry AFI Awards luncheon on Jan. 10 is being rescheduled, while the annual BAFTA Tea Party, set for Jan. 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills, will no longer take place.
Dozens of other Hollywood events have been canceled this week, including premieres for “The Last Showgirl,” “Wolf Man,” “Better Man,” “The Pitt” and “Unstoppable.”
The fires, which started on Tuesday, broke out near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on the westside of Los Angeles and have damaged homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Two more fires, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and the Hurst Fire near the San Fernando Valley, spread later in the day, prompting California Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.
“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis are among those evacuating their homes amid the blaze, causing more than 30,000 people to flee the Pacific Palisades as well as parts of Malibu and Santa Monica.
Actor Steve Guttenberg was helping direct vehicles to clear the way for emergency personnel, KTLA reported. Pacific Palisades’ honorary mayor Eugene Levy told the L.A. Times, “The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon. I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”