Sunday, Jan. 11, marked the beginning of the glamorous award season with the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. The Golden Globes highlight the best actors and actresses in television and film. The hilarious best friend duo, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, hosted the show for a third and final time. The pair brought their A-game with a witty opening monologue. The two managed to keep an upbeat atmosphere while poking fun at celebrities like Emma Stone, Matthew McConaughey and Meryl Streep. Fey and Poehler joked about the controversy surrounding Sony’s “The Interview” and the recent Bill Cosby scandal. Sadly, the hosts pretty much disappeared after their impressive opening act. They appeared briefly for a wardrobe change and a mildly funny joke with comedian Margaret Cho, acting as a North Korean representative. More screen time for Fey and Poehler would have added a much-needed break between the constant stream of awards and speeches.
The first half of the show was filled with surprises. “The Affair’s” Ruth Wilson, “Jane the Virgin’s” Gina Rodriguez, “Transparent’s” Jeffrey Tambor, “The Honorable Woman’s” Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Fargo’s” Billy Bob Thornton, “Downton Abbey’s” Joanne Froggatt, and “The Normal Heart’s” Matt Bomer all earned their first Golden Globe. Three new series took home the top television prizes with “The Affair” winning Best Drama, “Transparent” winning Best Comedy, and “Fargo” winning Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
“Boyhood” earned the prize for Best Drama Motion Picture, while “Grand Budapest Hotel” unexpectedly won Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture. Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette, Julianne Moore, and J.K. Simmons all received top honors that will more than likely predict the outcome for the upcoming Academy Awards.
During this year’s Golden Globes, many celebrities left behind the typical crumpled piece of paper containing important names to thank, and instead opted for a brief moment to discuss important social justice issues. The creator of the hit show “Transparent” Jill Soloway spoke out against the harsh reality that face the transgender community and dedicated the award to a young transgender girl who recently took her life.
The theme continued throughout the night with “A Normal Heart” star Matthew Bomer discussing rights for AIDS victims, and Common and John Legend relating the issues in “Selma” to the racial injustices occurring today.
