Snagging a Golden Globe for Crazy Rich Asians — which was nominated for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy — would have been nice, but Michelle Yeoh was already rocking some serious sparkle on the red carpet, including the ring (yes, that ring) from her acclaimed film.
Many attendees at the Globes sported ribbons and wristbands in support of the Time’s Up movement, a worthy cause that aims to raise awareness and prevention of sexual harassment. But we couldn’t have rolled our eyes harder when Ryan Seacrest showed off his own bracelet during the pre-show broadcast, after he was accused of sexual misconduct by a stylist in 2018. (Seacrest remained employed at E! after an investigation yielded insufficient evidence to support the allegations.) Given the accusations against him, though, the whole scene felt icky and contrived.
We do feel a little bad for the E! intern who is likely getting fired over this gaffe. (At the very least, the points he or she was accruing to get into The Good Place just took a huge hit.) But misidentifying Jameela Jamil as Kamilah Al-Jamil, aka the fictional sister of Jamil’s Good Place character, Tahani? Un-forking-real. Or… just a meta joke? Jury’s still out!
After revealing that Taylor Swift’s music is often played on the set of The Handmaid’s Tale, Elisabeth Moss was treated to a video message from T-Swift herself, which devolved into both women giggling over their love for one another. Swift later appeared as a presenter at the Globes, so here’s hoping she and Moss met backstage for an in-person gathering of this mutual admiration society.
The Internet has recently poked some fun at Lady Gaga, who spent the entire press tour for A Star Is Born repeating the same adoration for co-star Bradley Cooper time and again: “There can be 100 people in the room, and 99 don’t believe in you, but it just takes one.” During her opening monologue with Andy Samberg, Sandra Oh couldn’t help roasting Gaga by repeating the adage, to which Gaga replied from the crowd, “It’s true!” (Are we far from the shallow now? Is that how it works?)
Oh also cracked some jokes about Hollywood’s bad habit of white-washing roles intended for Asian actors, including digs at Ghost in the Shell (starring Scarlett Johansson) and Aloha (infamously starring Emma Stone as a half-Asian character). Even better than Oh’s joke? Stone immediately yelling, “I’m sorry!” from her table (off-screen, sadly).
Steve Carell was tasked with introducing the first-ever Carol Burnett Award, which appropriately went to the TV icon for whom it was named. After reviewing Burnett’s long list of accolades, Carell remarked that the comedy vet is so nice, she “makes Tom Hanks look like an a—hole.” Impossible! As for Burnett’s acceptance speech? There aren’t enough ear tugs in the world to adequately express how much we adored it.
Sandra Oh had already gotten us choked up earlier in the broadcast, when she closed the opening monologue by reveling in Hollywood’s growing diversity. But the actress had us reaching for the Kleenex again after she won for her work on Killing Eve, ending her acceptance speech with a tearful, grateful bow to her adorable parents. (Seriously, have you ever seen something more precious than Oh’s father giving her a standing O? We’ll answer that for you: No, you haven’t.)
Nice try, Golden Globes orchestra! Though a swell of music initially interrupted King’s acceptance speech, the play-off then ceased as King made a passionate vow to include more women in all of her future projects. “I just challenge anyone out there who is in a position of power — not just in our industry, but in all industries — I challenge you to challenge yourselves and stand with us in solidarity and do the same,” King said, while we furiously fist-pumped from the couch.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of this year’s Globes was the lack of cringe-worthy banter between presenters, typically a staple of any awards show. (Seriously, we actually giggled at most of those bits!) But Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler’s extended gag, in which Rudolph “proposed” to Poehler instead of segueing right to the Best Screenplay award, fell flat. Don’t get us wrong: These ladies are two of our comedy favorites — which is why we expected more from them. (Also, we’re not sure if Poehler and Rudolph were actually mocking the on-air proposal from last year’s Emmys… but it kind of felt like they were.)
While accepting Best Actor in a Comedy for playing Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice, an animated Christian Bale thanked “Satan, for giving me inspiration for this role.” Also, we’re already looking forward to Bale’s turn as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a future biopic. Sure, it’s hypothetical for now — but imagine his physical transformation!
Let’s make something clear from the start: Jeff Bridges is cooler than any of us will ever be, and he can pretty much do whatever he wants, capisce? Having said that, we wouldn’t have minded if the veteran actor’s acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award had been about 20 percent less rambly. (OK, fine, we’ll make it 10.)
Just when you thought you were done tearing up at Sunday’s acceptance speeches, Glenn Close replied, “Not so fast!” After winning for her lead role in The Wife, Close gave an impassioned monologue about the need for women to find “personal fulfillment” beyond their relationships with significant others. “We need to say, ‘I can do that, and I should be allowed to do that,'” the actress effused, earning her a much-deserved standing ovation from the crowd.