The 27th Critics Choice Awards, which were originally slated on January 9, 2022, but were postponed due to the COVID outbreak, have been rescheduled for March 13, 2022 – the same day as the BAFTA Awards in London, which will compel some celebrities to choose between the two.
Given the timeline, CCA president Joey Berlin told THR that there was “absolutely no other alternative.” He stated, “We have to deliver a three-hour show to The CW on a Sunday.” Live activities in Los Angeles are unlikely to return until the Super Bowl on February 13, removing that Sunday from the schedule. Then, on February 20, TBS, which will be simulcasting the Critics Choice Awards with The CW this year which has immovable obligations.
The Fairmont Century Plaza hotel is a significant partner of CCA, which will now host all of its events there, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has reserved the hotel on March 6 to set up for its Oscar Nominees Luncheon, which will be held there the following day. The Los Angeles Marathon takes place on March 20. The 94th Academy Awards will be held on March 27. Berlin insists, “Our choice is to conduct a show on March 13 or not do a show.”
Berlin gave a brief explanation for choosing the date
Berlin, who previously chastised the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for holding its 79th Golden Globe Awards on the same day as the Critics Choice Awards, tells THR that he reached out to BAFTAs leadership to explain his problem and clarify that his choice is not meant to be confrontational. He describes them as very nice. When the BAFTA Awards take place eight hours before the Critics Choice Awards, “I put out there that we’ll welcome the BAFTA nominees who are in L.A. at the Fairmont for breakfast, and they can be live by satellite,” he added.
Berlin claims that he and CCA are working hard to make this work for everyone. “We’re still talking about it. We brainstormed methods to turn these lemons into lemonade. It’s a difficult position, but we’re hoping to find a method to let people benefit from both events, whether they’re in L.A. or London.”
BAFTA gives their answer on the rescheduling
“We are aware of the date change for the Critics Choice Awards and understand the unprecedented circumstances that have led to their decision this year. There are no changes to our current plans for an in-person event for the EE British Academy Film Awards on 13 March and we look forward to welcoming everyone to London’s Royal Albert Hall for a safe and memorable event. There are no current plans for any satellite link up,” BAFTA tells THR.
All of these timeframes and goals, of course, are contingent on how COVID progresses. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the past two years of the epidemic, it’s that another reshuffle is possible.
Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer will co-host the Critics Choice Awards, which celebrate the finest in cinema and television. Belfast and West Side Story have the most nominations in the film categories, while Succession has the most nominations in the television categories.