The awards season has kicked off when the Golden Globes take place. Among the year’s highest honors in film and television, the awards ceremony is almost always making news – not only for the winners, losers but the controversies that take place. Hosted by Ricky Gervais, who returned as host for the first time since 2016, the 77th edition was highly entertaining—from the presenters to the winners and the candid moments in between. Here are the most memorable moments from the annual extravaganza…
Ricky Gervais’s opening monologue
The host’s opening monologue was quite provocative with several jokes that left the star-studded audience stunned. Before the assembled crowd of nominees and assorted entertainment industry dignitaries, Gervais talked about Felicity Huffman’s involvement in the college admissions scandal; a nod to the room’s most feared figure, Ronan Farrow; and a “Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself” joke. Leonardo DiCaprio’s history of dating was also discussed and later he turned his attention to Martin Scorsese, taking the legendary director’s recent comments of comparing superhero films and theme parks. “I don’t know what he’s doing hanging around theme parks. He’s not big enough to go on the rides,” Gervais said.
He also acknowledged the absence of female directors in nominations for Best Director.
Joaquin Phoenix wins the award for Best Actor for Joker
The actor took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for his turn as heckled comic-turned mass murderer Arthur Fleck in Joker. The star took the stage to accept the award, giving a rambling speech that saw him thanking, among others, the film’s director Todd Phillips and his fiance, Rooney Mara. “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t want to rock the boat,” said Joaquin Phoenix. “But the boat has been f***ing rocked.” He expressed appreciation for the stars who took time to remind the room at the Beverly Hilton of the devastating wildfires in Australia, “but we have to do more than that,” he said, admitting that he has “not always been a virtuous man,” and is learning to do better. “It’s great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives.” For example? “We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs! I’ll try to do better and I hope you will too.”
Tom Hanks’s speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award
To introduce Tom Hanks, this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient, Charlize Theron recalled when he cast her in one of her first roles, in his first directorial effort, 1996’s That Thing You Do! After her emotional introduction, Hanks took the stage and thanked his family before sharing some of the lessons he’s learned over the course of his long career. “You just have to somehow put it all together, have faith in the process, and go there,” he said, adding that punctuality is the most “liberating” virtue for an actor.
Awkwafina becomes the first Asian woman to win Best Actress Golden Globe
The rapper and actress won the 2020 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role in Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, becoming the first Asian woman to win in that category. During her acceptance speech, she thanked Wang, among a number of people, calling her an “incredible director” and dedicated her award to her father, her grandmother and her late mother.
Michelle Williams’ acceptance speech
Actress Michelle Williams accepted the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Limited Series and gave a powerful speech in which she celebrated a woman’s right to choose. “I’ve tried my very best to live a life of my own making. Not just a series of events that happened to me, but one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over it,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without employing a woman’s right to choose. To choose when to have my children and with whom.” She encouraged everyone watching — especially women — to remember this in November. “Women, 18 to 118, when it is time to vote, please do so in your own self-interest. It’s what men have been doing for years. Which is why the world looks so much like them. But don’t forget we are the largest voting body in this country. Let’s make it look more like us.”
A shout-out to Barack Obama
One of the highlights of the awards ceremony was when Fleabag creator-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge accepted the Globe for Best TV Series — Musical or Comedy and gave a special thanks to a famous fan of the series. “Personally, I’d like to also thank Obama for putting us on his list,” she said after thanking her collaborators, referring to the former POTUS’ list of 2019 pop culture favorites.
