"The Artist" took home the prize of the night at the Critics Choice Awards, winning best drama of the year for the "love letter to American cinema," as the team behind the French silent film put it in their acceptance speech.

It was also night of quips. After accepting the award for best comedy on behalf of "Bridesmaids," Judd Apatow slammed Jerry Lewis, saying that the comedy he produced, in which Kristen Wiig served as star and co-writer, proved the veteran comedian wrong: "Jerry Lewis once said that he didn't think women were funny. So I'd just like to say, with all respect, f*** you."

George Clooney won best actor ("The Descendants") and revealed that his mom made him a naugahyde leisure suit when he was in sixth grade. Patton Oswalt said he'd compensate for not winning best supporting actor ("Young Adult") with lots and lots of scotch.

Here's the full list of winners:

Best picture : "The Artist"

Best actor: George Clooney, "The Descendants"

Best actress: Viola Davis, "The Help"

Best supporting actress: Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Best supporting actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best acting ensemble: "The Help"

Best director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

Best comedy: "Bridesmaids"

Best animated film: "Rango"

Best foreign film: "A Separation"

Best young actor or actress: Thomas Horn, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Best documentary feature: "George Harrison: Living in the Material World"

Best adapted screenplay: "Moneyball," Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, story by Stan Chervin

Best original screenplay: "Midnight in Paris," Woody Allen