10 post-show thoughts on the 2015 Golden Globes

Posted by on Jan 12, 2015 09:00

As George Costanza once learned, it’s best to leave on a high note. From the outset of the 2015 Golden Globes, hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler reminded us that this would be their last turn emceeing Hollywood’s other, less prestigious, but far more fun awards show.

“We are so happy to be hosting the 72nd and final Golden Globes,” Poehler began. Late in the telecast, Meryl Streep called for a round of applause for the hosts, asking the room how much they’d miss Amy and Tina. It’s been a great three-year run for those two, and the next hosts have some big shoes to fill (and jokes to make).

Fey and Poehler’s third turn as hosts may not have been as memorable as last year’s, but the Golden Globes were certainly a far better show because of their presence. Unfortunately, the program dragged considerably when the pair virtually disappeared midway through the show, as always happens with Globes hosts. Eventually, the jokes become less important than just moving things along. By the end, the show was rushed as 11 p.m. approached on the east coast.

However, Fey and Poehler still shined during their opening monologue, quickly hitting on key themes such as North Korea’s denouncement of The Interview and sticking up for women and how they’re often viewed compared to men in Hollywood.

“Patricia Arquette is here, so wonderful in the film Boyhood,” said Poehler. “Boyhood proves that there are still great roles for women over 40, as long as you get hired when you’re under 40.”

Then Fey zinged George Clooney, who was receiving the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award.

Tina Fey is still swinging at Bill Cosby: But the knives came out when the hosts took on a subject most might have guessed they’d avoid: Bill Cosby and the multiple rape allegations against him.

“I put the pills in the people,” said Fey, imitating Cosby’s signature cadence. “The people did not want the pills in them.”

Poehler followed with her own impersonation. Yet no one should have been surprised Fey would go after Cosby. She’s been doing this for years, long before the allegations against Cosby became mainstream news fodder. For instance, here’s a shot Fey took at Cosby on Saturday Night Live‘s “Weekend Update” in 2005: 

Then in 2009, there was this scene on 30 Rock:

(Thanks to Slate for both clips.)

Fargo stole True Detective‘s thunder: For all the hype and discussion True Detective received from writers and fans during its eight-episode run on HBO for its murder mystery and Matthew McConaughey’s philosophizing as Rust Cohle, FX’s Fargo may have actually been the deeper, richer series for 10 episodes.

The Golden Globes and Hollywood Foreign Press that chooses the winners seemed to think so, as Fargo scored the Best Miniseries or TV Movie award over True Detective. In perhaps even more of a surprise, Billy Bob Thornton beat out McConaughey for the Best Actor trophy in that same category. McConaughey’s year was last year, apparently. 

Transparent is this year’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Last year, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was a surprise winner for Best TV comedy, while Andy Samberg won the Best Actor award in the same category. That gave the fledgling sitcom a much-needed boost among viewers and helped the show get renewed for a second season. Could Amazon’s series Transparent receive the same benefit? First of all, it’s notable that a series not produced by a traditional TV network scored an awards win. 

If you’re not familiar with Transparent (and I’m guilty of not watching the show yet, despite an endorsement from a trusted friend and the show streaming free for Amazon Prime members), starring Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) as a retired professor who comes out as transgender to his family, here is a trailer:

Frances McDormand would have rather stayed home: Many of us probably wouldn’t look good if a camera cut to us throughout an awards dinner. (Though at a televised show like the Golden Globes, it’s probably best to assume a camera could always be on you.) But McDormand either didn’t care or was just trying her best to endure the evening. A funny meme throughout the show was the actress’ seeming lack of amusement for mention or praise.

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Don’t fish for praise, people. Just move along.

The LEGO Movie didn’t win Best Animated Movie? How to Train Your Dragon 2 was a surprise winner for Best Animated Movie over The LEGO Movie and Big Hero 6. Was it because spoiler alert most of The LEGO Movie‘s ending took place in live action? Possibly. Regardless, the Hollywood Foreign Press was not swayed by “Everything is Awesome.” Or maybe they just didn’t get The LEGO Movie.

The Margaret Cho-North Korea gag had a one-joke life: Fey and Poehler didn’t do as many in-crowd gags as in previous years, but one they tried involved a North Korean member of the Hollywood Foreign Press who contributes to Movies Wow! magazine, General Cho Yung-Ja.

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As a fan of comedian Margaret Cho, I’m always happy to see her. But this sight gag had its moment as one joke. OK, two jokes when Yung-Ja asked to pose for a picture with Meryl Streep (taken by Michael Keaton, with a photobomb by Benedict Cumberbatch). That should have been it for the night, yet Fey and Poehler brought Cho on the stage twice more and it just wasn’t that funny.

Ladies and Gentleman — Prince: The room at the Golden Globes — and social media — just about lost their minds when Prince presented the award for Best Original Song (Motion Picture). How often does he appear in public, let alone at award shows? Was it preordained that “Glory” by Common and John Legend from Selma would win that category? Prince’s presence did seem more special.

But above all, this tweet and Photoshop won the internet for the night:

Everyone fears Ricky Gervais: You could feel the room cringe when the former three-time Golden Globes host took the stage. What would he say? Who would he skewer (with far less mercy than Fey and Poehler)? Gervais knew it too and seemingly tried to be a good boy, but did get in a clever swipe. 

Gervais followed that up with “Clooney. I’m not even looking at Katie Holmes.” Oh, we miss you, Ricky. Someone has to be mean to celebrities at least once in a while.

C’mon — George Clooney played Batman! Clooney did indeed get his lifetime achievement award with its accompanying victory lap montage. The man has made some impressive movies and played some memorable roles since using ER as a springboard to Hollywood leading man. (My top five Clooney movies: Three Kings, Michael Clayton, Out of Sight, O Brother Where Art Thou?, and Up in the Air. But I could probably go 10 deep here.)

But there was something missing in that highlight clip. Where was Batman and Robin? Clooney played Batman! Are we all just trying to forget that?

Of course, Clooney’s roles on The Facts of Life and Roseanne were overlooked too, so his turn in the Caped Crusader’s tights wasn’t the only snub. But Clooney is in some select Bat-company there. Don’t forget it!

Boyhood looks like the Oscar Best Picture favorite: During last year’s awards season, 12 Years a Slave and Gravity emerged as the favorites for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, fueled by their wins at the Golden Globes. Yet no clear front-runner had emerged among this year’s crop of movies. That is, until Boyhood took the lead with Richard Linklater winning Best Director (Drama), Patricia Arquette scoring Best Actress and the film nabbing Best Picture.

Birdman and Selma appear to have fallen back in the race. Unless Thursday’s Oscar nominations say otherwise. Maybe The Grand Budapest Hotel is a sleeper rival, having won Best Picture (Comedy or Musical). Yet Boyhood topped many critics’ best of 2014 lists, so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s now separating from the pack as the Best Picture favorite.

You can see the complete list of 2015 Golden Globe winners here.

About Ian Casselberry

Ian is a writer, editor, and podcaster. You can find his work at Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He's written for Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation.

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