Nikki Glaser Honors Rob Reiner at Golden Globes With ‘Spinal Tap’ Hat A Heartfelt Tribute to a Hollywood Legend

On January 11, 2026, Golden Globe Awards host Nikki Glaser delivered a subtle yet deeply meaningful tribute to the late filmmaker Rob Reiner, closing the ceremony in a way that honored his legacy while referencing one of his most iconic creations.

Rob Reiner — the celebrated director behind This Is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride — and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were tragically killed in their Los Angeles home in December 2025. Their son, Nick Reiner, was later arrested and charged in connection with their deaths. The shocking loss sent waves through Hollywood, prompting an outpouring of grief and remembrance from across the entertainment industry.

Source: CBS

A Subtle Yet Powerful Moment on Live Television

Rather than delivering a traditional monologue tribute, Nikki Glaser chose a creative and symbolic gesture. As the broadcast came to an end, she appeared onstage wearing a black “Spinal Tap” baseball cap, instantly recognizable to fans of Reiner’s legendary 1984 mockumentary.

Glaser closed the night with a single line:

“This one went to 11.”

The phrase referenced the film’s most famous scene, in which a guitarist proudly explains that his amplifier’s volume knob goes up to 11 instead of 10 — because sometimes you “need that extra push over the cliff.” The moment was brief, but it carried enormous emotional weight, transforming a comedic reference into a tribute that resonated across generations.

Why the Tribute Mattered

The gesture struck a chord with audiences and industry insiders alike. It honored Reiner not through formality, but through the humor and creativity that defined his career. Rob Reiner’s work shaped modern cinema, blending heart, wit, and humanity in ways few filmmakers ever achieve.

This Golden Globes moment followed another major tribute earlier in the awards season. At the Critics Choice Awards, host Chelsea Handler devoted part of her opening monologue to Reiner, describing him as “the nicest guy in Hollywood” and recalling how every conversation with him felt personal, thoughtful, and genuine.

Handler emphasized that Reiner and his wife lived by a single guiding principle: decency. She reminded the audience that their legacy was not only artistic, but moral — rooted in kindness, curiosity, and a belief that people should look out for one another.

A Legacy That Endures

Rob Reiner’s filmography includes some of the most beloved titles in modern entertainment history:
Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, and This Is Spinal Tap. These films continue to influence storytellers and audiences around the world.

In the days following his death, close friends and collaborators — including Billy Crystal, Larry David, Martin Short, and Albert Brooks — released a joint statement praising Reiner not only as a brilliant comic actor, but as a “master storyteller.” Their words reflected what many in Hollywood already knew: Rob Reiner was a rare combination of talent, warmth, and integrity.

A Final Note That Went “To 11”

Nikki Glaser’s closing gesture at the Golden Globes captured everything Rob Reiner stood for — intelligence, humor, originality, and heart. By invoking This Is Spinal Tap, she reminded the world that even in moments of loss, creativity and laughter remain powerful ways to honor those we’ve lost.

It was not just a joke.
It was not just a hat.

It was a farewell that went to 11.