Life imitated art for Tricks starring Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart at the 2024 Emmys.

Sunday night’s awards ceremony was a moment that could have come straight out of a movie. Tricks script for the two actors — and it was utterly hilarious because of how authentic it was.

When Smart won her third Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as veteran comedienne Deborah Vance on the Max series (and her sixth Emmy overall), Einbinder was captured on camera in a moment that her oft-ignored character Ava is used to enduring.

As Smart stood to accept her award to a standing ovation, Einbinder started to stand up to give her co-star a hug. But Smart didn’t see her and inadvertently ignored the gesture, so Einbinder sat back down and expertly rolled with it.

If this were a scene from their Max comedy series, Deborah would have seen Ava stand up to hug her and purposely ignore her. Of course, Smart and Einbinder aren’t really their characters, and Smart clearly didn’t turn around and couldn’t see Einbinder, so it’s not like she was purposefully ignoring her co-star. Which just makes it funnier. (Watch the hilarious moment in the video above.)

Smart continued to laugh (this time intentionally) throughout her acceptance speech. “It’s very humbling, really, and I appreciate it because I just don’t get enough attention,” she said. Amid the audience’s laughter, she protested, “I mean it!”

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She went on to thank the high-ranking executives at her network, now known as Max — and take a swipe at the ever-changing name. “And Casey (Bloys), and Sarah (Aubrey), and everyone at HBO, Max, no, HBO. Sorry,” Smart continued, teasing, “Just what we needed, another network.”

Backstage, Smart told reporters in the press room that she was touched and surprised by the standing ovation she received. “I was a little stunned,” Smart said. “It was really beautiful, but not expected. It was really beautiful.”

See the full list of 2024 Emmy winners.