It was a surprisingly convivial evening at the Beverly Hilton, where the Hollywood Foreign Press made 76th annual Golden Globe Awards choices that seemed to satisfy and surprise many of the guests in the ballroom. We chose some of the outstanding moments and acceptance speeches and a few missteps.
Best of the best: Carol Burnett
Not since the Cecil B. De Mille award was introduced to the Golden Globes ceremony in 1952 has the Hollywood Foreign Press Association created another award to honor the lifetime contribution of a creative artist. Acknowledging the ascendancy of television in popular culture, they did this year and picked a most worthy recipient: Carol Burnett. The HFPA even named the award after her. Steve Carell gave a gracious and funny introduction, pretending there were other nominees. When Burnett took the stage, she reminded the audience of the scope of her variety series: the size of the orchestra, how many dancers there were, two guest stars per episode, etc. — and how that would all be cost prohibitive today. The icon also movingly told the audience how she grew up seeing six to eight movies a week, and then learning to love TV and hoping that she would entertain people on it one day. Very few entertainers will ever have her career, her longevity or enjoy the esteem in which she is held.
Best shocker: Glenn Close’s win
The star’s dumbfounded expression when her name was announced as best actress in a dramatic film for “The Wife” was priceless. The Hollywood hype machine was betting on Lady Gaga. Close’s rousing speech won a well-deserved standing ovation.
Best loser: Amy Adams
The “Sharp Objects” actress proved gracious in the face of double defeat, accepting kisses on the cheek from Patricia Arquette, who won best actress in a limited series or TV movie for “Escape at Dannemora.” (Adams also lost best supporting actress in a film, for “Vice,” to Regina King, who won for “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and shouted her out: “Amy, thank you for the prayer, sweetheart.”)
Worst joke: Sandra Oh on “This Is Us”
Her introduction of the cast of “This Is Us” to present the award for best actress in a comedy series was simply tasteless. “Break out the tissues because you’ll want to masturbate to them.” Really? As they used to say in Mad magazine, “Yeccchh!”
Best acceptance speech: Christian Bale
After revealing that director Adam McKay wanted someone who was charisma-free to play Dick Cheney in “Vice” — and so naturally thought of him for the part — Bale delighted the audience by asking, “Who’s next, Mitch McConnell?” Bale was also probably the first actor to thank Satan for inspiration.
Best show of emotion: Chuck Lorre
In his acceptance speech for best comedy series, “The Kominsky Method” creator said, “This doesn’t happen to me. I’m trembling like a leaf.” Lorre was genuinely moved because, although he has created some of the biggest hits in TV history — among them “The Big Bang Theory,” which still gets 12 million viewers in its 12th season — he has been historically overlooked at awards time. The guy doesn’t even have an Emmy. “The Kominsky Method” may change that.
Worst night: Network TV
Candice Bergen, Debra Messing and “The Good Place” were among the lucky few from network television who even scored nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Unhappily, they went home empty-handed. The dominance of Netflix in film and television is now complete: Multiple Globes went to its productions “Roma” and “The Kominsky Method.” Meanwhile, FX won prizes for “The Americans” and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” If the networks hope to remain relevant, they will have to embrace the daring and invention of their cable and streaming colleagues.