Heading into this year’s SAG Awards, Martin Short had five previous nominations. Tonight, the veteran actor-comedian won his first SAG Award at the age of 74 in the Male Actor In a Comedy Series category for his role as Oliver Putnam on Only Murders In the Building. An hour or so later, he won a second Actor when the Hulu series took the Comedy Ensemble trophy in one of the ceremony’s biggest surprises.
Short, an Emmy and Tony winner, was not on hand to receive his first SAG Award. His rep said that Short “was not able to attend due to Covid” and shared a statement form him.
“The honor of being in Only Murders In The Building is the most spectacular compliment anyone could be given,” Short said in the statement. “The honor of being awarded by your peers is even greater. Thank you so so much.”
Short and his longtime collaborator and friend — as well as Only Murders co-star — Steve Martin both appeared on the SNL50 live special last Sunday. Four days later, Martin announced on IG that Short had come down with Covid, adding “the SNL 50th Covid curse is real.”
“Unfortunately, we have to reschedule this weekend’s sold out Durham and Knoxville dates,” Martin wrote on Thuersday. The original Knoxville date was Feb. 23, the night of the SAG Awards, so the duo presumably would’ve been on stage in Tennessee during the awards show had Shot not contracted Covid.
According to reps, Martin was unable to travel to Los Angeles “due to a previous conflict in his schedule.”
L-R: Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short in ‘Only Murders in the Building’
(Disney/Patrick Harbron)
With Short and Martin not in attendance, it was their co-lead, Selena Gomez, who got to accept the show’s award for Ensemble In a Comedy Series. Looking genuinely shocked, she was seen saying “What?” after the name of the show was read as the winner.
“We never win, this is so weird,” Gomez said on stage. “Marty and Steve aren’t here because… you know, they don’t really care,” she quipped to a bg laugh from the audience.
Reminded by co-star Richard Kind to thank Short and Martin, Gomez thanked them “for helping raise me.”
She was joined on stage by Only Murders regular Michael Cyril Creighton as well as three of the big-name Season 4 stars that likely helped the show score the comedy ensemble award, Kumail Nanjiani, Molly Shannon and Kind. Also MIA were fellow winners Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria and Zach Galifianakis.
Watch Gomez’s reaction and acceptance speech below: