Blame it on the rain, or the lack of Mariah-levels of over-imbibing, but the Golden Globes were a relatively subdued — dare I say classy — affair Sunday night. The soggy weather coupled with serious world events made for far fewer wacky Globes moments (à la Christine Lahti and the world’s worst timed bathroom). Still the stars managed to shine and some were downright Glee-ful.
Several celebrities wore ribbons in support of Haiti. Others — including Olivia Wilde, Meryl Streep and Amy Poehler — are auctioning off their Golden Globes dresses to raise money for earthquake relief efforts. Sadly, Olivia does not come with her dress.
The evening’s first big winner set the emotional tone for the night. Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture winner Mo’Nique have a heartfelt speech that touched her film Precious‘ themes of abuse and redemption. “I celebrate this award with every person that’s ever been touched,” she said. “It’s now time to tell. And it’s okay.”
Toni Collette took home the Globe for Best Actress in a TV Comedy. Though it remains to be seen which of her United States of Tara personalities will get to keep it.
Julianna Margulies gave ER fans a long-awaited Nurse Hathaway/Dr. Ross reunion as she planted one on her former co-star George Clooney on her way up to the podium. She also got in one of the night’s many jabs at host network NBC and its recent late-night TV fiasco saying, “Thanks CBS for believing in the 10 o’clock drama.”
Cher and Christina Aguilera provided a sneak peek of why Kristen Bell is “99 percent sure” she will leave the set of their movie Burlesque a lesbian.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical Meryl “Call me T-Bone” Streep, beat herself in the same category (she won for Julie & Julia and lost for It’s Complicated). In her acceptance speech she reflected the conflict many had on the night of celebrating glitz amid larger tragedies saying:
That’s when I have my mother’s voice coming to me: “Partners in Health, shoot some money to Partners In Health, put the dress on, put on a smile and be damn grateful you have the dollars to help.”…And I am grateful. I’m really grateful.
Best Actress in a Mini-Series winner for Grey Gardens Drew Barrymore was Drew Barrymore, being all endearing and joking about her lisp. Sophia Loren was Sophia Loren, still super sexy at 75. And Jennifer Aniston was Jennifer Aniston, except with a lot more leg showing than normal.
Mad Men made it a threepeat, winning Best TV Drama again. Though you’ll have to excuse me if I’m hazy on the details of the rest of the telecast, I was distracted by Christina Hendricks for some unknown reason.
And while Big Love actress Chloe Sevigny is a delightful actress who sometimes makes equally delightful bizarre fashion choices, I’m upset at her highway robbery of Jane Lynch for Best Supporting Actress in a TV series. I can hear Sue Sylvester screaming: “You think that’s hard? Try losing to the Golden Globe to a polygamist, that’s hard.”
Speaking of Jane, the out actress looked lovely in a flowing green gown with pockets — she’s still a lesbian, mind you. She also got her revenge when Glee won for Best TV Comedy/Musical. Series creator Ryan Murphy saying the show was for “anybody and everybody who got a wedgie in high school” made up for it beating my beloved 30 Rock.
In the process, Jane also gave us the night’s biggest mystery: Who was that woman sitting beside her she gave a big wet kiss when the show won? A girlfriend? A friend-friend? Lesbian and bisexual women everywhere need to know if our hearts have now been broken.
UPDATE I: Looks like the mystery gal is indeed Jane’s girlfriend. She referenced her briefly in this red carpet interview with Ryan Seacrest. (Hat tip, Andrea!) And Jane also references a committed relationship in this interview with The Guardian. (Hat tip, Jst_a_Grrl!) Got more scoop? Let us know.
UPDATE II: Well, ladies, prepare to be heartbroken (but happy for Jane at the same time. She told The New York Times Carpetbagger blog that she was getting married to her partner Lara in May. Congratulations, ladies. (Hat tip, Rachel!)
The night’s big male winners included Michael C. Hall (actor, TV drama), Alec Baldwin (actor, TV comedy), Jeff Bridges (actor, film drama) and Robert Downey Jr. (actor, film comedy). James Cameron won for director and his movie Avatar for best drama (The Hangover won Best Comedy). Though, in the dozen years that have passed since he crowned himself “king of the world” with Titanic, Cameron hasn’t solved his ego problem as his acceptance speech was both self-congratulatory and smug.
Fresh off her make-out session with Meryl Streep at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards Friday night, Sandra Bullock was her charming self picking up the Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama trophy.
And finally, a big thank you to Halle Berry and Mariah Carey for reminding us why the show is called the Golden Globes in the first place.
So, what did you think of the Globes (no, not those globes — the show, people, the show). Also, how’d you like Ricky Gervais as host? I thought he could have been meaner, but then, that’s me.
