ALL THAT GLITTERS …

Golden Globes highlights

BEVERLY HILLS Acerbic British comedian Ricky Gervais kicked off the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday with cutting jokes about the rise of streaming services, diversity in Hollywood and the sexual misconduct scandal that has roiled the industry.

Gervais, hosting the awards ceremony for a fifth time, threw caution to the wind with jokes that drew mostly nervous laughter in the room of A-list celebrities.

Gervais quipped that many actors had abandoned traditional television networks and movie studios for streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Studios and Apple TV+.

The remainder opted for superhero movies, he said.

“Their job isn’t acting anymore. Their job is going to the gym twice a day and taking steroids,” he joked.

Gervais noted that the room was packed with entertainment executives “They are all terrified of Ronan Farrow. He’s coming for you,” he said, referring to the American journalist whose reports helped fuel the sexual misconduct scandal that has swept Hollywood over the past two years.

While preparing for the show’s traditional In Memoriam segment, Gervais said he resisted. “When I saw the list of people who died, it wasn’t diverse enough. I thought ‘Nah. Not on my watch.’ ”

Gervais ended his monologue by telling the stars, “So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a political platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything, you know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg. So, if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your God and f--- off. OK?”

PAUL DRINKWATER/NBC UNIVERSAL “I really do feel honoured to be honoured with you,” Joker’s Joaquin Phoenix told his fellow nominees in a lengthy speech after winning best actor in a drama film at the Golden Globes.

PAUL DRINKWATER/NBC UNIVERSAL “It’s the journey that matters, and the work that matters,” Renee Zellweger said while accepting the Golden Globe for best actress in a drama film for Judy.

PAUL DRINKWATER/NBC UNIVERSAL “Showing up on time is one of the greatest liberating acts you can give yourself in a movie,” said a teary Tom Hanks while accepting the Cecil B. demille Award.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES “All I ever wanted to do was make people feel good and laugh,” Ellen Degeneres said as she accepted the Carol Burnett Award. She said she’s “so, so grateful” to be part of TV.

PAUL DRINKWATER/ NBC UNIVERSAL Double winner Phoebe Wallerbridge gave props to Barack Obama, who voted her hit Amazon series Fleabag his top show of 2019. “I’d like to also thank Obama for putting us on his list.”

PAUL DRINKWATER/NBCUNIVERSAL Golden Globe Awards host Ricky Gervais hit the ground running with a brash opening monologue at Sunday night’s ceremony.