Critics Choice Awards backstage: Kaley Cuoco, Ke Huy Quan, more stars - USA TODAY

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LOS ANGELES – Stars gathered Sunday astatine the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel dressed to the nines for the 2nd large amusement of awards season: the Critics Choice Awards.

“Everything Everywhere All astatine Once” emerged arsenic the night's favorite, clinching five of its 14 nominated categories. “Abbott Elementary” prima Sheryl Lee Ralph picked up a champion supporting histrion win and gave yet different almighty speech – as did Angela Bassett and Niecy Nash, erstwhile they some won supporting histrion trophies for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" respectively.

A batch happened during the telecast, but adjacent more action occurred in the ballroom that didn’t marque it connected TV. From stars hyping each different up with selfies to emotional backstage moments, here’s what went down.

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Amanda Seyfried snaps selfie with Paul Walter Hauser, Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey stock day night

In emblematic Critics Choice fashion, the 2nd the telecast deed a commercialized break, stars leaped to their feet, practically skipping crossed the ballroom to schmooze and jive with different celebs.

During 1 break, Angela Bassett chatted up Janelle Monáe. Keegan-Michael Key and his woman Elle Key made their mode to the "Abbott Elementary" table to person a speech with Quinta Brunson and Lisa Ann Walter. And Stephanie Hsu from "Everything Everywhere All At Once" shared a hearty laughter with Jenny Slate of "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On." 

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After winning their respective trophies for champion histrion and champion supporting actor in a constricted bid oregon movie made for television, Amanda Seyfried and Paul Walter Hauser stood to the broadside of the ballroom and spoke successful hushed tones and animated expressions. At the extremity of their conversation, the 2 snapped a selfie.

For immoderate stars, the amusement served arsenic a romanticist day night. Kaley Cuoco, sporting a increasing babe bump, spent most of the nighttime with her spouse Tom Pelphrey. During 1 break, 1 impermanent asked Pelphrey to drawback a photograph of herself with Cuoco, which the actor happily obliged. Nash besides worked the reddish carpet beside her woman Jessica Betts. The 2 tied the knot successful 2020.

Ke Huy Quan struggles to clasp back tears backstage

The adrenaline was palpable during the show, arsenic ecstatic stars claimed their trophies and gave heartfelt speeches for the satellite to see.

That strength carried implicit backstage successful the media room, wherever winners were instantly ushered to instrumentality questions and bespeak connected what their victories meant.

After winning champion supporting actor, "Everything Everywhere All astatine Once" prima Ke Huy Quan became affectional talking to reporters, saying the recognition surpassed his wildest dreams.

"I conscionable wanted a job," he said, his dependable faltering and bosom "still pounding."

"I'm truthful lucky," helium added, tears welling in his eyes. "I remember precise good what it was similar being an Asian histrion successful the precocious '80s and early '90s. I conscionable privation doors to beryllium unfastened for each those actors similar maine who conscionable privation thing but a dependable job, and I conscionable privation each their dreams to travel true."

Quan wasn't unsocial successful feeling overwhelming gratitude. Ralph, victor for champion supporting histrion successful a drama series, got affectional arsenic she talked about her precocious parents. "If they’re capable to look astatine maine from heaven, 'Thank you, Mommy and Daddy, due to the fact that this one’s for you,' " she said, raising her trophy to the sky.

Previously: 'Indiana Jones' prima Ke Huy Quan waited 'more than 30 years' for 'Everything Everywhere' role

In? Vibes. Out? New Year's resolutions

New year, aforesaid celebs? On the reddish carpet, stars including Kerry Washington and Ayo Edebiri told USA TODAY they aren't truly into resolutions, astatine slightest not for 2023.

“I’m large connected intentions for the year,” Washington says. Many stock the aforesaid sentiment, forgoing the age-old contented of mounting large idiosyncratic goals astatine the apical of the year.

Kate Hudson says she “decided not to bash resolutions … I didn’t bash immoderate of that this year, I’m conscionable gonna travel successful hot.”

“All American” prima Bre-Z tells america her solution was to “eat better,” but it’s not going excessively well. Why? “I conscionable don’t consciousness similar it,” Bre-Z says with a laugh. Co-star Samantha Logan shared she was trying to devour amended successful the caller year, too, on with having a amended slumber schedule, but at the extremity of the day, the duo agreed it’s each astir balance.

“The program is to beryllium happy. Whatever makes you happy,” Bre-Z says. “Life is astir balance.”

Logan adds: “My assemblage is going to fluctuate, and my tegument is going to bash immoderate it wants to do, and that makes maine human, and I don’t truly attraction anymore."

Edibiri says she besides didn’t marque immoderate resolutions, but what’s “in” for her this twelvemonth is being “nice to myself.” What’s retired for the prima of “The Bear”? Screen time, specifically TikTok.

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The Critics Choice assemblage was A-list, but the paper wasn't

What bash A-list celebrities get served for meal astatine the Critics Choice Awards? Definitely not a five-course meal.

Every array was stocked with plentifulness of Fiji water, a mates of bottles of vino and a large vessel of champagne. The nutrient options weren’t arsenic abundant arsenic the beverage selection, though: In summation to a cracker handbasket astatine each table, celebrities feasted connected an array of dips including hummus and baba ganoush.

In lawsuit hummus wasn’t filling enough, determination was plentifulness of Cold Stone crystal pick to spell around. Aside from a mini crystal pick basal close extracurricular the ballroom, Cold Stone cups were besides passed astir wrong during commercialized breaks.

It wasn’t until aft the amusement erstwhile stars yet got to indulge successful a small much sustenance. As soon arsenic the telecast ended, stars exited the ballroom to find flatbreads, sushi rolls and dessert tables flooding the reception area.

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