The 78th annual Golden Globes kicked off -virtually- with The Crown, Schitt’s Creek, Nomadland and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm some of the big winners of the night. But hey, I’m not here to talk about who won what. There’s a list for that.
What I am here to tell you about is the best bits of the awards show. The bits that made history. The bits that marked moments of change. The bits that reminded us that empathy and compassion is what we need more of right now. And there were quite a few of those….
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Let’s start with hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, who’ve co-hosted the Globes three times already, but were presenting from different coasts this year. They wasted no time highlighting the lack of Black representation within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
“Look, a lot of flashy garbage got nominated but that happens, that’s like their thing. But a number of Black actors and Black-led projects were overlooked,” Amy said.
Tina then explained that we all know awards shows are stupid but – “even with stupid things, inclusivity is important and there are no Black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press.”
There are currently 87 members who make up the HFPA and while there are women and a handful of people of colour, there are no Black members.
And the message was repeated throughout the night…..
This Is Us co-stars Sterling K. Brown and Susan Kelechi Watson had a mini reunion as they presented the award for Best TV series, Musical or Comedy, saying “it’s good to be Black – back – at the Golden Globes.”
Lol. right?
But Sterling also shared a serious and powerful message on Instagram urging the HFPA to do better:
“With the power you have HFPA, you simultaneously hold a responsibility to ensure your constituency is fully reflective of the world in which we live,” he wrote.
“When you know better, you must do better, and having a multitude of Black presenters does not absolve you of your lack of diversity. This is your moment to do the right thing It is my hope that you will.”
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Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy who accepted the award for Best TV series or Comedy, made a great speech about inclusion:
“This acknowledgment is a lovely vote of confidence in the messages Schitt’s Creek has come to stand for: the idea that inclusion can bring about love and growth to a community in the spirit of inclusion,” he said.
“I hope that this time next year, this ceremony reflects the true breadth and diversity of television being made today, there’s so much more to be celebrated.”
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Mark Ruffalo who won Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture for his role in I Know This Much Is True encouraged viewers to keep fighting for justice:
“The godly light of decency is breaking through the hideous dark storm we have been living through. We are all in this together.”
Jane Fonda who was honoured with the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award for her extraordinary career called on Hollywood to “expand that tent so that everyone rises, so everyone’s story has a chance to be heard…Let’s be leaders.”
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And even three members of the HFPA gave addresses promising to make diverse membership “the norm, not the exception.”
I mean, there really is no excuse now is there?
Meanwhile, Chloé Zhao made history, becoming the first woman of Asian heritage and the second woman in the history of the Golden Globes to win Best Director for her work on Nomadland. (Can you believe Barbra Streisand is the only other woman to have won this award – and that was back in 1984!)
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“Now this is why I fell in love with making movies and telling stories. Because it gives us a chance to laugh and cry together. And it gives us to learn from each other and have more compassion for each other.”
Another equally outstanding moment was when Taylor Simone Ledward accepted the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture on behalf of her late husband, Chadwick Boseman for his work on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom making him the first Black posthumous Golden Globes winner.
“He would thank God,” she began.
“He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices. He would say something beautiful,” Taylor continued holding back tears.
“Something inspiring. Something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you you can. That tells you to keep going. That calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”
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Taylor took a moment to thank some of Chadwick’s mentors and colleagues including Denzel Washington and Viola Davis before reminding us all to never take life for granted:
“I don’t have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love, so thank you, HFPA, for this opportunity to do exactly that. And hon? You keep ’em coming.”
The Crown’s Emma Corrin honoured Princess Diana in her acceptance speech for Best Actress in a TV series or Drama:
“Most of all, thank you so much to Diana. You have taught me compassion and empathy beyond any measure that I can ever imagine…And on behalf of everyone who remembers you so fondly and passionately in our hearts, thank you.”
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Sean Penn and his humanitarian organisation CORE were honoured for their work in providing access to life-saving services across America during the COVID-19 pandemic:
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And finally, there was good old Sacha Baron Cohen, who thanked the people who don’t normally ever get thanked in an awards speech!
From his bodyguard (who apparently stopped him from getting shot…twice) to members of his cast and crew who believed “so deeply in releasing this movie before the election to show the danger of lies, hate, conspiracies and the power of truth, empathy and democracy.”
He also thanked his “co-star” whom he described as a “fresh, new talent who came from nowhere and turned out to be a comedy genius.”
Who could it be exactly?
“I’m talking, of course, about Rudy Giuliani. I mean, who can get more laughs out of one unzipping? Incredible.”