My thoughts on the Golden Globe Awards

Ricky Gervais told us a few days ago at the Television Critics Association press tour that he really hadn’t prepared much material for his stint as the first Golden Globe Award host in 15 years. Maybe he should’ve prepared. From his opening monologue, Gervais was not near as funny as he can be and wasn’t near as biting as he had hinted he’d be.

But he did have a few good moments including this gem early on: “Let’s get on with [the Globes] before NBC replaces me with Jay Leno.”

And then there was this line that got a huge laugh: “One thing that can’t be bought is a Golden Globe – officially.”

And finally, with glass of beer in hand, he made this introduction: “I like a drink as much as the next man … as long as the next man is Mel Gibson.” Out came Mel!

BEST NBC DIGS: Even though the one-hour pre-show and three-hour telecast was on NBC, there were several other potshots made at The Peacock Network in connection with its disastrous handling of the Conan-Leno debacle.

Tina Fey commented on the weather on the Globes red carpet: “It’s not rain, it’s just God crying for NBC.”

Julia Roberts during pre-show: “NBC! You guys are in the toilet right now!”

Tom Hanks on pre-show: “NBC said it was going to rain at 10, but they moved it to 11:30.”

Juliana Margulies wins best actress TV drama for The Good Wife and thanks CBS’s “Les Moonves and Nina Tassler 4 believing in the 10 oclock drama.”
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Jane Lynch losing out the outstanding TV supporting actress to Chloe Sevegny. I’m sure Chloe is deserving and I’m sorry she ripped her dress as she took the stage but Jane should have won in a walk. I’m hoping the Emmy voters will have better sense.

BEST LINES IN SPEECH: Ryan Murphy, accepting the Globe for outstanding comedy or musical series for Glee: “This is for anybody and everybody who got a wedgie in high school.” Robert Downey Jr: if you start playing violins, i will tear this joint apart.”

BEST SCREW-UP: Felicity Huffman may or may not have gone to rehearsal but when she took the stage to introduce a Hollywood Foreign Press Association official, she immediately lost her place and after continued to struggle finally saying: “This was not at all how it was going to go …I, like Ricky Gervais, will never be asked to do this again.”

MOST GLAMOROUS PRESENTERS: You gotta start with Sophia Loren who is just so amazing looking for a woman of any age much less a woman in her mid-70s. Did not love the dress but loved her. Then there’s Cher! So good to have Cher finally making another movie: Burlesque. She presented with co-star Christina Aguilera and looked amazing. Cher and Sophia Loren are real stars who continue to keep us interested after all these years.

WORST HAIR: James Cameron won best director and best motion picture-drama for Avatar. He took the stage looking like Bea Arthur during the latter seasons of The Golden Girls. Get. A. Haircut. Now.

WORST ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: I was happy to see that Grey Gardens won for outstanding television movie or miniseries. But when the producers took out a written speech and felt that they had to thank every person they’d ever met personally by name, I coulda hurled. They should have left the stupid lists of names at home!

TABLE I WISH I WAS SITTING AT: Kiefer Sutherland, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. Sigh, sigh and sigh.