The first major awards show of the busy season is now in the books. On Sunday night, The 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards aired on NBC. Ricky Gervais was the show’s host and he did a great job speaking truth to Hollywood power. Unfortunately, his advice to the celebrities to skip the political speeches wasn’t heeded by all.
The most obnoxious of the lectures came from actress Patricia Arquette. She won the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television in The Act. She is known for her acceptance speeches turning into political statements. She turned her thank you into a get-out-the-vote plea and an anti-war screed, along with acknowledging the fires in Australia.
Patricia Arquette: And I'm so grateful to be here and celebrate this but also I know tonight, January 5th, 2020, we're not going to look back on this night in the history books. We will see a country on the brink of war, the United States of America, a president tweeting out a threat of 52 bombs including cultural sites, young people risking their lives traveling across the world, people not knowing if bombs are going to drop on their kids' heads. And the continent of Australia on fire. So while I love my kids so much, I beg of us all to give them a better world for our kids and their kids. We have to vote in 2020. And we have to beg and plead for everyone we know to vote in 2020. Thank you.
During his opening monologue, Gervais warned he'd take a scorched earth approach, "You'll be pleased to know this is the last time I'm hosting these awards, so I don't care anymore. I'm joking, I never did." He referenced Kevin Hart getting canceled for old tweets and mentioned his own controversial ones, but told Hollywood to lighten up: "Remember, they're just jokes, we're all going to die soon and there's no sequel."
He roasted Hollywood with a Jeffrey-Epstein-didn't-kill-himself joke that ended with him admonishing the audience, "Shut up. I know he's your friend, but I don't care - you had to make your own way here, on your own plane, didn't you?" Later in the show he blamed the audience for acting like they didn't see a thing with Harvey Weinstein.
Before the show even started, some political statements were made on the red carpet as the stars arrived. And the dinner served this year was all vegan, a first for the awards ceremony, meant to send a political message about global warming.
Actress Michelle Williams decided to shout her abortion (read our article on that) and there was a lot of homosexual representation talk when Ellen DeGeneres received the Carol Burnett Award, but most of the lecturing this year was about global warming, with celebrities pointing to the Australian bush fires as evidence for climate change.
Russell Crowe started things off when he won the award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for The Loudest Voice. He was unable to attend because he was home in Australia due to the fires. He sent a message, though, and it was read by award presenter Jennifer Aniston. It was a mini-lecture on climate change.
Aniston: Russell Crowe would not be here with us tonight because he is at home in Australia protecting his family from the devastating bush fires. He sent a message in case he won. 'Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change-based, we need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way we all have a future. Thank you.'
Laura Dern ended her acceptance speech for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture by saying, "We must all come together as one for the sake of something greater, perhaps our planet, even." Before presenting an award, Australian Cate Blanchett thanked people for their support and said, "Of course, when one country faces a climate disaster, we all face a climate disaster, so we're in it together."
The award for the Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama went to Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. He, too, focused on a little climate change scolding but there’s a twist – he chided his fellow celebrities and challenged them to “make changes and sacrifices in our own lives.” He suggested they “don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs sometimes or back, please.” To be honest, his speech was hard to follow and lots of it was bleeped out.
We can only hope for more hosts like Ricky Gervais in the future. He getsthat the audience tunes in to see if their favorite movies or shows receive an award, not to hear the political hot takes from actors who read words written by other people for a living.
