Christina Applegate reunited with her on-screen mother Jean Smart as they led stars at Variety’s TV FYC Fest in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
During the event, Smart presented the 2023 Variety TV Fest Legacy award to Applegate for her career achievements.
They famously starred opposite one another on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who?, which ran for two seasons from 2007 to 2009.
It followed Samantha Newly, an ambitious real-estate firm VP who suffers a horrific car accident that leaves her with amnesia.
Applegate — who recently discussed the ‘possible end’ of her acting career amid her MS battle — played the show’s titular character while Smart supported as Samantha’s mother Regina.
Reunited: Christina Applegate reunited with her on-screen mother Jean Smart as they led stars at Variety’s TV FYC Fest in Los Angeles on Wednesday
They famously starred opposite one another on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who, which ran for two seasons from 2007 to 2009
Sweet: The duo posed with their arms wrapped around one another as they braved the event’s red carpet
The duo posed with their arms wrapped around one another as they braved the event’s red carpet.
Applegate looked chic in a black blazer and pants styled with a gray Led Zeppelin tee.
The Married With Children alum wore fun leopard print ballet flats and used a cane to help her get around.
She had a youthful glow and her bright blonde hair flowed down her chest in waves.
Smart looked radiant as she showed off her smile in a black velvet suit and a silky gray blouse.
The multi-Emmy Award-winner, 71, also opted for ballet flats and kept accessories simple with a pair of drop earrings.
Applegate’s TV Fest Legacy Award presentation occurred from 1:40PM to 1:50PM and she delivered an acceptance speech.
She recently spoke to Variety about potentially stepping away from the spotlight after four decades and how it was difficult for her to watch herself in the third and final season of Netflix’s Dead to Me, which dropped November 17.
‘I could see the excruciating pain I was in every day I was there and I didn’t want to relive it, she said.
‘I had to take it in little tiny doses but I think it is a beautiful piece of work. I’m so grateful to [creator Liz Feldman] for seeing I had it in me. If this is my last job, thank God it was with [Linda Cardellini].’
When MS made it difficult for Applegate – who was also an executive producer – to stand in certain scenes, she enlisted sound man Mitch Cohn had to hold her legs steady off-camera.
‘We don’t know what my future as an actress is going to be,’ the breast cancer survivor said.
Chic: Applegate looked chic in a black blazer and pants styled with a gray Led Zeppelin tee
Radiant: Smart looked radiant as she showed off her smile in a black velvet suit and a silky gray blouse
Honoree: During the event, Smart presented the 2023 Variety TV Fest Legacy award to Applegate for her career achievements
Applegate’s TV Fest Legacy Award presentation occurred from 1:40PM to 1:50PM
Smart applauded her former co-star as she delivered her acceptance speech
She recently spoke to Variety about potentially stepping away from the spotlight after four decades and how it was difficult for her to watch herself in the third and final season of Netflix’s Dead to Me, which dropped November 17
Smary shared kind words about Applegate before handing her the honor
Applegate beamed as she watched Smart address the crowd in her honor
Grateful: Applegate blew kisses at the crowd before taking the mic
‘How can I handle it? How can I go onto a set and call the shots of what I need as far as my boundaries, physically? I don’t know who is going to be as loving and understanding as this group of people were.’
For her performance as Jen Harding in the critically-acclaimed, plot-twisting drama – Christina garnered nominations for three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, four SAG Awards, and three Critics’ Choice TV Awards.
‘This is what I had always dreamed of doing. This just sat in a pocket inside my own soul that was very easy to access and portray,’ she gushed.
‘It was the most fun I had ever had,’ the Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead alum recalled.
‘Dead to Me has that place in my heart now. But after Samantha Who?, I never thought I would have another experience like that ever again. The cast and the crew were sublime. The stars aligned and we were gifted this moment in time. When it was cancelled [in 2009], I cried in bed for, like, a month.’
Last year, Christina reprised her role as Kelly Bundy by using only her voice in Family Guy executive producer Alex Carter’s potential animated spin-off Married… with Children, which she called ‘one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.’
The pilot – based on Fox’s longest-running sitcom (1987–1997) – was shopped around to networks like Fox, Hulu, and Peacock and it includes original cast members Ed O’Neill, Katey Sagal, and David Faustino.
‘I can’t really say much,’ Applegate confirmed to Vanity Fair last month.
‘But all I know is that all four of us are attached to it. It’s not in our hands now, so we’re just kind of waiting.’
The Tony-nominated thespian previously voiced characters in animated projects like Father of the Pride, Farce of the Penguins, the Alvin and the Chipmunks trilogy, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Book of Life: Sugar Smash, and Ask the StoryBots.
Christina also teased a podcast she’s co-hosting with a friend who has MS so here’s hoping it turns out to be her The Sweetest Thing castmate Selma Blair, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2018.
Starry: The evening proved to be a star-studded affair, with the likes of Elle Fanning and Kerry Washington also in attendance
Stunning: Elle Fanning — who recently claimed that she lost out on a film role at age 16 for being ‘unf***able’ — stunned in a stylish off-white getup
Wow! Kerry Washington wowed onlookers as she flaunted her figure in a sleeveless brown vinyl dress
Golden girl: The Scandal star rocked chunky gold jewelry and wore her braided hair in a gorgeous half up, half down style
New mom: Gina Rodriguez — who gave birth to her first child with husband Joe LoCicero, whom she married in 2019, earlier this year — looked pretty in a low-cut blue dress
Group shot: Gina Rodriguez, Kerry Washington, Janelle James and Elle Fanning posed together for a photo on the red carpet
Busty: Niecy Nash-Betts put on a busty display in colorful jumpsuit with long, puff sleeves and bell-bottoms
Co-stars: Yellowjackets stars Samantha Hanratty and Courtney Eaton showed off their preppy fashion sense as they took on the red carpet together
Leggy: Abbott Elementary actress Janelle James beamed while rocking a fitted green button-up dress that showed off her legs
Exclusive: Variety’s TV FYC Fest is an exclusive event that gathers ‘the entertainment industry’s premier talent, creators and executives’ to discuss the latest and greatest in television; Kerri Kenney-Silver and Mary Birdsong pictured
All-day: It was held in-person and virtually on Variety.com; Carlos Alazraqui pictured
Applegate was last pictured on May 16 eating caviar in bed at her $950K Hollywood Hills home with her hairstylist David Stanwell and 12-year-old daughter Sadie Grace from her decade-long marriage to Dutch bassist Martyn LeNoble.
Variety’s TV FYC Fest is an exclusive event that gathers ‘the entertainment industry’s premier talent, creators and executives’ to discuss the latest and greatest in television.
It took place on Wednesday, June 7 at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood in Los Angeles.
It was held in-person and virtually on Variety.com.
Panels ran from 9:30AM to 6:00PM and featured a number of A-list industry figures, including Elle Fanning, Kerry Washington, and Gina Rodriguez.
Before their Disney’s Women of Comedy panel, Elle, Kerry and Gina hit the red carpet.
Elle — who recently claimed that she lost out on a film role at age 16 for being ‘unf***able’ — stunned in a stylish off-white getup.
The Maleficent star strolled around in strappy sandals and wore her golden tresses down.
Kerry wowed onlookers as she flaunted her figure in a sleeveless brown vinyl dress.
The Scandal star rocked chunky gold wrist cuffs and wore her braided hair in a gorgeous half up, half down style.
Gina Rodriguez — who gave birth to her first child with husband Joe LoCicero, whom she married in 2019, earlier this year — looked pretty in a low-cut blue dress.
The sitcom star layered up with a tan blazer and let her natural beauty shine by opting for minimal makeup.
A-list: Panels ran from 9:30AM to 6:00PM and featured a number of A-list industry figures, including Elle Fanning, Kerry Washington, and Gina Rodriguez
Elle spoke with Gina, Kerry and Janelle James during the Disney’s Women of Comedy panel
Gina famous starred in the ABC comedy Jane The Virgin
Kerry played aid to the president Olivia Pope in Shonda Rhimes’ ABC drama Disney’s Women of Comedy panel
Angelique Jackson, Senior Entertainment Writer at Variety, served as host
Elle starred as Briar Rose in the live-action Sleeping Beauty films, Maleficent, alongside Angelina Jolie
Niecy Nash-Betts put on a busty display in colorful jumpsuit with long, puff sleeves and bell-bottoms.
The comedian wore her hair in Old Hollywood-style curls and popped on a bold berry lip for the occasion.
Yellowjackets stars Samantha Hanratty and Courtney Eaton showed off their preppy fashion sense as they took on the red carpet together.
Abbott Elementary actress Janelle James beamed while rocking a fitted green button-up dress that showed off her legs.
Other attendees included: Kerri Kenney-Silver, Mary Birdsong and Carlos Alazraqui.
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