Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Golden Globes at 75: Goofy glory shines
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would be perfect awards-show hosts this season. They could skewer Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood hypocrisy with flair. Instead, the task will fall to Seth Meyers (Jan. 7 at the Golden Globes on NBC) and Jimmy Kimmel (March 4 at the Oscars on ABC). Meyers may have an easier time because he can draw on former “SNL” colleagues Fey and Poehler and the Globes are more freewheeling than the Oscars.
The Globes will be presenting their 75th edition, and NBC will celebrate the milestone with a two-hour special at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
The hosts are Eric McCormack and Debra Messing of “Will & Grace,” so expect a breezy tone. The special interviews Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams.
The special arrives after the Globe nominations for 2017 are announced Monday. Movies generating the most buzz include “Lady Bird,” “Call Me by Your Name,” “The Shape of Water” and “The Post.” On the TV side, “Game of Thrones,” “Big Little Lies” and “Veep” should do well.
The Globes special also enlists Christine Lahti, whose 1998 victory for “Chicago Hope” remains a top moment. She was in the ladies’ room when her win was announced. Robin Williams charged the stage and vamped until she arrived.
For bawdy fun, it’s had to top Bette Midler’s speech for “The Rose” in 1980, when she spoofed Joan Crawford.
The most emotional speech in Globes history? My choice is Ving Rhames’ 1998 salute to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon. Rhames handed the trophy to the veteran actor, an unusual display of generosity in awards season.
The Globes make room for veteran performers with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Meryl Streep generated headlines this year with her forceful criticism of Donald Trump. Denzel Washington and George Clooney were other recent winners. The Oscars have pushed such tributes off their sprawling telecast, losing a connection to longtime fans.
The Globes remain less stuffy, possibly because they mix movie and TV luminaries. The show rolls along on high spirits because nominees have been drinking. Their blissful goofiness can make the back-patting more bearable.