The 2026 Golden Globes closed on an emotional note as host Nikki Glaser used her final moments on stage to honor the late filmmaker Rob Reiner. Glaser paid homage to the director of This Is Spinal Tap with a visual and verbal nod during her closing remarks, offering a subtle tribute.
How Nikki Glaser paid tribute to Rob Reiner at Golden Globes
Nikki Glaser concluded the 2026 Golden Globes with a careful tribute to filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner, closing the ceremony with a series of references that acknowledged his legacy.
Glaser, who returned as host for a second consecutive year, delivered the final moments of the ceremony at the Beverly Hilton wearing a black cap embedded with Spinal Tap. It served as a clear nod to This Is Spinal Tap, the 1984 mockumentary that marked Reiner’s feature directorial debut and remains one of his well-known, celebrated works. (via E! News)
The 41-year-old continued the tribute in her closing lines. “Well, that’s our show. This one went to 11,” she said, directly referencing the film’s most iconic line. Glaser then thanked the audience for the evening before signing off with, “I hope we found the line between clever and stupid. A good Chalamet to you all! Good night.”
The tribute followed Rob Reiner’s death last month. He and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their California home in December 2025. Glaser did not address the tragedy directly during the broadcast. However, her closing gestures offered a respectful acknowledgment of Reiner’s creative legacy.
Speaking previously on CBS Mornings, Nikki Glaser reflected on how her approach has evolved this year. She acknowledged that poking fun at younger, newer performers often comes more naturally. Glaser added, “But when it’s people that I grew up admiring, it’s a different approach this year.” As a result, she was “very delicate about making jokes that aren’t going to ruin anyone’s night.”
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
