MTV Movie & TV Awards airs Sunday in taped format during WGA strike
The MTV Movie & TV Awards aired Sunday evening, but rather than the originally planned star-filled live ceremony from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, a taped show was presented as a show of solidarity with the Writers Guild of America strike.
Drew Barrymore stepped down as host of the planned live show in support of the striking WGA members -- and amid reports that many nominees and celebrity presenters would honor a picket line the WGA had planned to stage outside the venue.
With no live show taking place, the WGA West subsequently announced it had canceled its picketing plans.
"As we carefully navigate how best to deliver the fan first awards' show we envisioned that our team has worked so hard to create, we're pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night full of exclusive sneak peaks, irreverent categories our audience has come to expect, and countless moments that will both surprise and delight as we honor the best of film and TV over the past year," Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming and events at Paramount Global, and an executive producer of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, told the entertainment news website Deadline on Friday.
On Thursday, Barrymore told the trade publication Variety in a statement, "I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike.
"Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation," Barrymore's statement added. "And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait but I'll be watching from home and hope you will join me."
Barrymore said she would host next year's ceremony.
As for Sunday's taped program, The Hollywood Reporter said "There will still be celebrity involvement via pre-taped acceptance speeches."
"Top Gun: Maverick" will carry a leading six film nominations into the awards, while "Stranger Things" and "The Last of Us" lead the television categories with six nods.
"Top Gun: Maverick" will compete for best movie honors with "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," "Elvis," "Nope," "Scream VI" and "Smile."
"Stranger Things" and "The Last of Us" were both tabbed for best show, along with "The White Lotus," "Wednesday," "Wolf Pack," "Yellowstone" and "Yellowjackets."
The show is known for its often off-beat categories, such as best kiss, best fight and -- new this year -- best kick-ass cast. All of the categories are gender-neutral.
Nominees for best performance in a movie are Austin Butler for "Elvis," Florence Pugh for "Don't Worry Darling," KeKe Palmer for "Nope," Michael B. Jordan for "Creed III" and Tom Cruise for "Top Gun: Maverick."
For best performance in a show, nominees are Aubrey Plaza for "The White Lotus," Christina Ricci for "Yellowjackets," Jenna Ortega for "Wednesday," Riley Keough for "Daisy Jones & the Six," Sadie Sink for "Stranger Things" and Selena Gomez for "Only Murders in the Building."
"The White Lotus" star Jennifer Coolidge is expected to receive a "Comic Genius" award.
Here is a complete list of nominees:
BEST MOVIE
Scream VI
BEST SHOW
The Last of Us
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE
Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW
Jenna Ortega, Wednesday
BEST HERO
Pedro Pascal, The Last Of Us
BEST VILLAIN
Elizabeth Olsen, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
BEST KISS
Madison Bailey + Rudy Pankow, Outer Banks
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
Adam Sandler, Murder Mystery 2
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Joseph Quinn, Stranger Things
BEST FIGHT
Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) vs. Ghostface, Scream VI
MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
BEST DUO
Pedro Pascal + Bella Ramsey, The Last Of Us
BEST KICK-ASS CAST
Stranger Things
BEST SONG
Taylor Swift, Carolina (Where The Crawdads Sing)
BEST DOCU-REALITY SERIES
The Kardashians
BEST COMPETITION SERIES
RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars
BEST HOST
Drew Barrymore - The Drew Barrymore Show
BEST REALITY ON-SCREEN TEAM (presented by SONIC)
Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney, Scheana Shay, LaLa Kent - Vanderpump Rules
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
