It was a mix of business as usual and overwhelming sea change at the 76th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, where the film and television industry gathered to celebrate themselves — and be seen by one another at the crowded Beverly Hilton bar during commercial breaks — on live television.
The red carpet, which was more like a women’s march last year thanks to the #TimesUp movement and conversations about representation, sexism and sexual harassment, had reverted back to a nonpoliticized space, where Ryan Seacrest was safe once again to ask: “Gaga, who are you wearing?” “Diamonds by Tiffany!”
But once inside, it was clear why Hollywood appeared to have taken a step back from the fervent social activism of the past few years: the race and gender equality they’d fought for was evident everywhere.
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Jeff Bridges, who won the Cecil B. DeMille Award, in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Sunday.
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“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s” Rachel Brosnahan.
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Alfonso Cuaron, holds his two statuettes for best director - motion picture and foreign language film for “Roma.”
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“Escape at Dannemora’s” Patricia Arquette.
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“The Americans” cast and crew in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes.
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“Bodyguard’s” Richard Madden.
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The team behind “Spiderman - Into the Spider Verse.”
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Carol Burnett receives the inaugural Carol Burnett Award at the 76th Golden Globes.
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Justin Hurwitz for “First Man.”
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Tyler Perry in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt, Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson celebrate their “Shallow” victory in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes.
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Lady Gaga in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes.
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“A Very English Scandal’s” Ben Whishaw.
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“Sharp Object’s” Patricia Clarkson.
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“The Kominsky Method’s” Michael Douglas.
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“Green Book’s” Mahershala Ali.
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Saoirse Ronan in the Trophy Room.
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“Sharp Object’s” Patricia Clarkson.
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Michael Douglas, left, Al Higgins, Alan Arkin and Chuck Lorre of “The Kominsky Method” in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Ryan Murpphy (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace”) in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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“The Assassination of Gianni Versace’s” team in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace”) in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Michael Douglas, left, and Alan Arkin of “The Kominsky Methold” in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Octavia Spencer, executive producer of “Green Book,” in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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“Green Book’s” team in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Viggo Mortensen, left, Peter Farrelly, Linda Cardellini and Mahershala Ali in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”) with his wife, Amatus Sami-Karim, in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Olivia Colman from “The Favourite” in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Glenn Close (“The Wife”) in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Glenn Close (“The Wife”) in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Sandra Oh of “Killing Eve” in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton.
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Sandra Oh of “Killing Eve” in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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Rami Malek and Brian May in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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Queen guitarist Brian May, Rami Malek (who played late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Queen drummer Roger Taylor in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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Graham King in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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Rami Malek in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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Jim Beach, left, Roger Taylor, Brian May, motion picture drama actor winner Rami Malek, Graham King and Mike Myers in the Trophy Room at the 76th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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“Bohemain Rhapsody” producer and longtime Queen manager Jim Beach, left, with Queen members Roger Taylor and Brian May and producer Graham King, celebrate the film’s victory.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) FULL GOLDEN GLOBES COVERAGE: Live updates | Winners list | Show highlights
Sandra Oh was the event’s first Asian host and also the first to win lead actress in a TV drama (“Killing Eve”). The first black Spider-man won for best animated film. Glenn Close gave a stirring speech about women finding fulfillment in roles beyond mother and wife after her surprise win for lead actress in a drama, and for a film called “The Wife,” no less.
Regina King won supporting actress for her performance in “If Beale Street Could Talk,” a drama about black life in the 1960s by groundbreaking African American author James Baldwin. And Ben Whishaw dedicated his award for supporting actor in “A Very English Scandal” — a drama about the painfully closeted lives of homosexuals in 1960s England — to “queer hero” Norman Scott (the real-life figure he played in the show).
Oh, who co-hosted the event with Andy Samberg, summed it up best when she spoke about her decision to take the hosting gig: “I said yes to the fear of being on this stage tonight because I wanted to be here to look out into this audience and witness this moment of change,” she said during their opening banter.
“This moment is real. Trust me. It is real. Because I see you [pointing to women and minorities in the audience], and I see you, all these faces of change. And now, so will everyone else.”
Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg aim for laughs and tenderness in opening monologue »
And that’s exactly what happened during the three-hour-plus ceremony, where the audience was a reflection of the shifting tectonics in both television and film. The camera panned across the banquet room’s dining tables, showing the cast and/or creators of “Black Panther,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Roma,” “Killing Eve,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and “Pose” — all productions focused on groups previously sidelined, or entirely overlooked, by mainstream Hollywood and TV.
It appeared those who’d been locked out for so long were, for the first time, the majority in the room.
But because this is Hollywood and nothing is entirely pure, there may have been other motives for toning down from politics. This year the Golden Globes arrived in time to influence Oscar voters. Promoting one’s show, or performance, is another form of political theater, but it requires less fist pounding and more smiling.
The changes taking place across both media, however, did lay the foundation for some sharp, self-aware humor.
When Patricia Clarkson won for her performance in the limited series “Sharp Objects,” she addressed and thanked the show’s director while accepting the award. “You demanded everything of me except sex, which is exactly how it should be in our industry.”
Samberg tackled similar themes when he addressed one of the bigger questions of the night: “Some of you may be wondering why the two of us are hosting …,” he said during their opening.
“The reason is we’re the only two people left in Hollywood who haven’t gotten in trouble for saying something offensive,” said Oh.
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Danai Gurira was on fire in our style book at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. For the awards show, she wore an orange and red gown with an orange statement bow by Rodarte coupled with a bejeweled hairpiece.
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Could we expect anything less from uber-statement maker Lady Gaga? She arrived on the carpet at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills wearing an ice blue Valentino Couture gown with an extra long train that was said to evoke Judy Garland in the previous version of “A Star Is Born.” Gaga even added the color to her hair.
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Lupita Nyong’o is a regular on the best-dressed lists. On the 76th Golden Globes red carpet, she was resplendent in a Calvin Klein by Appointment cobalt-blue chain fringed dress with silver drop beads and a Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Collection metallic silver box clutch.
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Mahershala Ali, a winner for “Green Book,” was living la dolce vita in Etro on the 76th Golden Globes red carpet in Beverly Hills. We couldn’t agree more, which is why he’s on our best dressed list.
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The legendary Carol Burnett wore a long gold-sequined jacket paired with a floor-length black slit skirt by the equally iconic Bob Mackie, making her one of our top picks at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills.
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Instead of going with Queen-style flash or the colorful styles that many male stars have worn on red carpets of late, Rami Malek, the star of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” went classic Hollywood by wearing a dark fall/winter 2018 Givenchy tuxedo by designer Clare Waight Keller.
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Stephan James knows that the devil is truly in the details. That’s why he earned his place among our favorites with his velvet Ralph Lauren Purple Label tuxedo, Christian Louboutin shoes and a stunning lapel pin by Chopard at the 76th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills.
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With his fresh dark hairdo, Troye Sivan looks regal in a shawl-collar, Prussian blue Calvin Klein tuxedo at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills.
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Taraji P. Henson brings classic elegance to the 76th Golden Globes red carpet in a green velvet Vera Wang gown with a plunging neckline and a simple long choker of diamonds. Because she brought sexy back to the red carpet is why she’s on our best-dressed list.
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Idris Elba brings his best sexiest-man-alive vibes to the red carpet in a green velvet tuxedo jacket and vest combo by British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. James Bond would be jealous of his stylish look.
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Golden Globes co-host Sandra Oh is white hot in her Atelier Versace gown with ruche detailing and an asymmetrical shoulder on the carpet at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. Oh captures old Hollywood glamour that’s perfect for a host, a nominee or a winner.
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Regina King, who often brings tons of style to awards season, is an early red-carpet favorite in a gorgeous dusty plum sequined gown by Alberta Ferretti at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. She brings a dose of va va voom to the carpet.
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Jamie Lee Curtis brings new meaning to “color-blocking” at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills in this stunning white gown with silver detailing down the center and a front slit, a look that not-so-subtly matches her hair.
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We’re torn. At first glance, we loved the top of Amber Heard’s black-and-white Monique Lhuillier gown for the 76th Golden Globes, but the bottom – a full skirt -- was a real dud. It looked like two different dresses were combined into one at the last minute. It was too jarring for our eyes, and that’s why it’s on our worst list.
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Constance Wu is typically a delight but misses the mark in this whipped-up gown by Vera Wang at the 76th Golden Globes. The fancy orange fashion bow can’t save the look, which puts her square on our miss list.
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Anne Hathaway appears to have gotten lost on the way to a safari party instead of an awards show in this animal-print number by Elie Saab. It’s a look that unfortunately lands her on our worst list for the 76th Golden Globes.
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What can we say about America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts, who usually inspires on the carpet? This time she misses the mark in this Stella McCartney look, which includes black pants that look fit for the office (with a tulle train?) and a fancier asymmetrical tan-colored top, at the 76th Golden Globes. Somebody need a Band-Aid?
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We love a good gender-bending look, but Cody Fern seems lost somewhere between Aesop’s fables and a French perfume advertisement in this number complete with cloven hoof shoes by Maison Margiela at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills.
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Kate Mara throws caution to the wind with a bedazzled brassiere at the top of the chiffon floor-length Miu Miu gown for the 76th Golden Globes. Unfortunately, it reminds us a little of a fancy shower curtain.
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Timothée Chalamet looks as if he’s auditioning for a trapeze troupe in a new Cirque du Soleil show. For the Golden Globes, he wore a black button-up shirt with a mandarin collar under a shiny embellished harness from Louis Vuitton by Virgil Abloh.
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Usually a red-carpet standout, Debra Messing looks as if she’s glued to the 76th Golden Globes red carpet despite the light feathers worked into this overly heavy gown by Pamella Roland.
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Erin Lim attempts to add a sweet note to this Easter egg-colored, trifle-inspired look at the 76th Golden Globe in Beverly Hills. However, trifle isn’t a dessert that’s on our menu this season.
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Allison Brie is sending confusing sartorial messages in this embellished bra and too-busy gown by Vera Wang at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. And who needs that on a red carpet when you can make a major fashion statement in front of the world?
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Who doesn’t love Lucy Liu’s style? Often we do, but this time we don’t. If only someone had told her to lose the sheer pink cape over her pink and multicolor-detailed Galia Lahav gown before she left the house for the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. The lesson here: Not all superheroes or fashionable actresses should wear capes.
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Although she’s on trend for the night wearing green, Our Lady J, a fan favorite from “Pose” and “Transparent,” is wearing one of our least favorite looks -- a busy mermaid gown -- at the 76th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. A simpler green gown would have worked marvelously.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) A night of surprises at the Golden Globes adds twists to the Oscar race »
But both promised an evening filled with lots of fun and surprises, “And one lucky audience member will [be chosen to] host the Oscars!” They were referring of course to the recent fallout over the Oscars choice of Kevin Hart as its host and then his announcement that he was stepping down after old homophobic tweets and jokes of his surfaced.
Emotional moments abounded as well. Close, a surprise winner in her category over Lady Gaga for “A Star Is Born,” pointed out she’s been a working actor for 45 years before recalling how her mother spent her life “sublimated” to her father. The actress teared up when she said her mother, when in her 80s, told Close she felt she’d wasted her life.
“And it was so not right,” she told the crowd. “I feel like what I’ve learned from this whole experience is, women, we’re nurturers, that’s what’s expected of us. We have our children, we have our husbands if we’re lucky enough, and our partners. But we have to find personal fulfillment. We have to follow our dreams. We have to say, ‘I can do that, and I should be allowed to do that.’”
And it was, of all people, Carol Burnett who perhaps best exemplified that reality when she accepted the first Carol Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award. The show of genuine respect in the room, from everyone from millennial actor Darren Criss (who won actor in a limited series for his performance in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) to legend Dick Van Dyke, was moving.
Her speech was gracious, but it was her breakthroughs in comedy and series TV and her influence on the lives of so many women and men in the room that drove the point home. This was a night for powerful women and pathfinders like Burnett and Close.
The Golden Globes used to be considered the Oscars’ less serious half-sibling, but its looser format and inclusion of two media now makes it the more relevant awards show. It’s also more dynamic to watch given TV’s ascendance, and that half the actors up for awards move between the big and small screens — among them Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Jim Carrey and Hugh Grant.
At one point Samberg and Oh asked Carrey to move back to the TV section of the room since he was up for an award for his performance in Showtime’s “Kidding.” He skulked over to the back of the room with his plate in a skit designed to highlight the absurdities of such a hierarchy today.
That isn’t to say those in the industry who’ve campaigned for changes in the old, stratified system think the work is over. “I’m not fooling myself,” said Oh to the audience. “Next year it could be different. It probably will be. But right now, this moment is real.”
An upset victory for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and three awards for ‘Green Book’ define an unpredictable Golden Globes »
lorraine.ali@latimes.com
@lorraineali
