Golden Globes 2012: Best & Worst

“Glee” star Mark Salling had to stand by quietly while E! red carpet co-host Giuliana Rancic took a few moments to stare at George Clooney. Luckily, Salling took it all in stride. “I did too,” Salling said. “He’s a masterpiece.”  (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

How did Ricky Gervais’ schtick play to the crowd? A joke about the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. asking him not to mention Mel Gibson, his personal life, his politics or Jodie Foster‘s “Beaver” earned a thumbs-up from Foster. No controversy here.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Accepting the original song prize for “Masterpiece” from her film “W.E.,” Madonna gave much of the credit to her manager, Guy Oseary. She said it was Oseary who pestered her to write a tune for the film, which she initially resisted. “Please, Guy, I’m trying to focus on being a director,” she recalled pleading to her manager.

Ultimately, the song was written after the film was completed. “Thank you, Guy, for being so irritating.”

Madonna would do well to enjoy her Golden Globe moment, however, as critics have been far from kind toward “W.E.,” and the end-credits song is not eligible for an Oscar, as it was placed too far into the credits. Perhaps that explains why fellow nominee Elton John wasn’t smiling when cameras cut to him.  (Paul Buck / EPA)

Kelsey Grammer, accepting the award for lead actor in a TV drama series for “Boss,” made sure to thank his wife, Kayte Walsh. Walsh, looking very lovely, got a nice, big closeup from her seat in the audience. A thoughtful production team or a calculated effort to familiarize America with a future cast member of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”? After all, Kelsey’s ex, Camille Grammer, can’t be expected to do reality TV forever.  (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

Seth Rogen left his poor co-presenter, Kate Beckinsale, speechless when he introduced the pair by saying, “Hello, I’m Seth Rogen and I’m currently trying to conceal a massive erection.” There was no graceful way for Beckinsale to get out of that one… and she didn’t.   (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

After an evening of the same old, same old in the acceptance speech department, Michelle Williams finally broke through with her speech directed to her 6-year-old daughter, Matilda. “I consider myself a mother first and an actress second. So the person I most want to thank is my daughter, my little girl…. Thanks for suffering through six months of bedtime stories where the princess was read aloud in a Marilyn Monroe voice.” Quick-thinking directors cut to a shot of new mom Natalie Portman.   (Paul Buck / EPA)

Before his win for supporting actor in a TV series for “Game of Thrones,” Peter Dinklage said his mother confessed that she was a big, big fan of competition Guy Pearce in “Mildred Pierce.” “Thanks to our moms. They keep us humble.” Dinklage also took a moment to dedicate the award to his fellow actor, Martin Henderson, who was recently crippled in a “dwarf tossing” incident in England.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Apparently, Madonna wasn’t happy with the introduction Ricky Gervais gave her. Announcing that the “queen of pop” would soon be onstage, Gervais clarified that he didn’t mean Elton John, and then gave a string of Madonna hits, taking a little extra time on “Like a Virgin.”

Madonna was in a sparring mood. “If I’m still like a virgin, Ricky, why don’t you come down and do something about it?” When there was no sign of Gervais walking back onstage, Madonna let loose: “I haven’t kissed a girl in a few years.” And just to add some mystery for Monday’s gossip rags, she added, “On TV.” Gervais then sprinted across the stage. His destination unknown.   (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

Best clip from Morgan Freeman‘s career retrospective montage? A 1974 bit from “The Electric Company” featuring Freeman as Vincent the Vegetable Vampire taking a bubble bath in a casket and singing. It’s a long, long, long way from there to playing the president of the United States and God.   (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

“The Artist” won best picture comedy or musical, and producer Thomas Langmann began a heartfelt speech about his father, the late filmmaker Claude Berri. Meanwhile, Uggie, the cute dog from the movie, was doing tricks on the side. Though the producer was able to finish his speech, does anyone really remember what he said? When it comes to the average awards show audience, they’re way more primed to look at the cute dog doing tricks.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Ricky Gervais didn’t hold back when it came to introducing his fellow countryman Colin Firth. After listing his accomplishments, Gervais pretended to be jealous of Firth’s Oscar, and then mockingly went off on him. “What you don’t know about him,” Gervais sneered, “is he’s very racist.” If Gervais didn’t have any evidence of Firth’s racism, he did have this: “I’ve seen him punch a blind kitten.”   (Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. / EPA)

Is there anyone more comfortable on an awards show stage than George Clooney? Even when he unexpectedly wins an award, he’s unflappable, using his acceptance speech time to salute the physical endowments of fellow lead actor nominee Michael Fassbender, who did full-frontal nudity in “Shame.” “Michael, honestly, you can play golf like this with your hands behind your back. Go for it, man. Do it.”   (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)