Jennifer Coolidge gives shoutout to striking writers during MTV Movie & TV Awards

Jennifer Coolidge addressed the elephant in the room, speaking out in support of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike during Sunday night's pre-taped MTV Movie & TV Awards.

While accepting the MTV Comedic Genius Award in a pre-taped speech, the "White Lotus" star gave a shout-out to the writers.

"Almost all great comedy starts with great writers," Coolidge said. "As a proud member of SAG (the Screen Actors Guild of America), I stand here before you tonight side-by-side with my sisters and brothers from the WGA that are fighting right now … fighting for the rights of artists everywhere."

Coolidge, whose May 20 hosting of "SNL" was also canceled due to the strike, then quoted Shakespeare "who said, 'The play is the thing.' Well, I don't want to put words in his mouth or anything but I think what he really meant is, 'it's everything.' "

The rippling effects of the WGA strike: Drew Barrymore pulls out of MTV Movie & TV Awards 'in solidarity' with striking writers

It's safe to say the WGA strikers were the real winners of Sunday's MTV Movie & TV Awards.

When the Writers Guild vowed to picket, meaning stars and presents would have to walk past demonstrating writers, MTV scrapped the live event entirely. (The WGA tweeted Friday that "the picket of the MTV Movie & Video Awards has been canceled.")

"We're pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night," said Bruce Gillmer, an MTV executive producer, in a statement. The result was a duct-taped collection of pre-taped award-winner thank yous, as well as flashback moments to past MTV moments to fill in time for the two-hour show. Some awards had no acceptance speeches at all.

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Host Drew Barrymore pulled out in support of WGA, but appeared on the show

The strike, which came after weeks of negotiations that failed to generate a contract between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), first compelled host Drew Barrymore to pull out of hosting the show "in solidarity."

"I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting … " Barrymore said in a statement. "Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait."

Barrymore, who accepted the award for best host for her eponymous talk show, is already scheduled to host the MTV & TV Movie Awards next year.

The "Santa Clarita Diet" actress appeared in pre-taped segments, including the opening number as her "Never Been Kissed" character Josie Grossie who was superimposed into 2023 movie highlights seeking her first kiss (spoiler alert: Josie Grossie found it with the "Cocaine Bear" grizzly).

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'The Last of Us' took home three awards, Pedro Pascal gave WGA shout-out

Accepting the third award for HBO's "The Last of Us," Pedro Pascal mentioned the striking writers during his pre-taped acceptance speech. "We are standing in solidarity with the WGA fighting very hard for fair wages," said Pascal.

"The Last of Us" won for best show, best duo (Pascal and Bella Ramsey) and best hero (Pascal).

Who else won an MTV Movie & TV Award?

Tom Cruise won the best performance in a movie for "Top Gun: Maverick," beating Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Michael B. Jordan and Keke Palmer. Cruise pre-taped his acceptance speech from a vintage fighter plane, thanking fans while also plugging his next "Mission: Impossible" film.

"It is a wild ride," said Cruise. "Thank you again, for letting me entertain you, it’s an absolute privilege."

"RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars" won for best competition series, and the recipients urged protection for drag acts.

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The best kiss award went to Madison Bailey and Rudy Pankow from "Outer Banks."

Best comedic performance went to Adam Sandler for Netflix's "Murder Mystery 2." The streamer received another win when Jenna Ortega took home the award for best performance in a TV show for "Wednesday."

Hulu's "The Kardashians" won the award for best docu-reality show. The best breakthrough performance went to Joseph Quinn of "Stranger Things," beating out Bad Bunny for "Bullet Train" and Ramsey for "The Last of Us."

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"Scream VI" won two key awards - for best movie and best fight for Courteney Cox (as Gale Weathers) and the franchise killer Ghostface.

Accepting the best movie award in a pre-taped segment, Ghostface quipped that there is finally an answer to the franchise question, "What is your favorite scary movie?"

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MTV Movie & TV Awards: Jennifer Coolidge shows support of WGA strike