This Sunday is the Golden Globes, a time when Hollywood's biggest stars stop patting themselves on the back to gather together to pat each other on the back. For the rest of us, it's a chance to get together with our friends and take a shot every time Billy Bush says something stupid on the red carpet.
The Globes have become something of a mini-Oscars in recent years. Thing is, they are way, way better. Here's why.
1. Everybody is drunky-pants. At the Oscars, everybody sits and claps politely. But the Globes are more of a casual dinner affair, where the stars placate their nerves with sweet, sweet booze. Remember when Christine Lahti was in the bathroom when her award was announced? I don't even remember what she won for, but I do remember that she came to the stage with toilet paper on her shoe. Or Sacha Baron Cohen's memorably raunchy acceptance speech for Borat? Then there are touching moments, like when Ving Rhames gave his award to Jack Lemmon. Who knows if booze actually inspired any of these moments, but it definitely adds to the laid-back, anything-can-happen atmosphere.
2. Nobody takes the Globes seriously. The Oscars are Hollywood's big prom night, where everyone gets dressed up and tries to pretend like they aren't self-involved phonies for one night. They pretend to care about the awards that they aren't winning, and take the history and prestige of the event seriously. Meanwhile, everyone in Hollywood knows that the Globes are a joke. They are given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, an organization famously known for giving Pia Zadora the "newcomer of the year" trophy after her billionaire husband wined and dined them. (Don't know who she is? My point exactly.) Therefore, less stuffy prestige event, more rollicking party.
3. The trophy is cooler. "Funny Guy" Swaim steps in for this one: "The statue itself is cooler. And 'Golden Globe' sounds like something you get for conquering the world. 'Oscar' sounds like a salty character you meet at a truckstop diner." Agreed. Though the Emmy is the trophy I would want to have in a fight. Those wings could do some real damage.
4. TV favorites mix with movie stars. There is something hilarious about seeing Meryl Streep in the same room as the cast of Jersey Shore. Whereas the Oscars is supposed to be Hollywood's most exclusive party, the Globes are like a sloppy kegger where uptight sorority girls mix with slovenly frat boys and that creepy old dude who keeps showing up to parties even though he graduated years ago. (Ahem, Kelsey Grammar.)
5. No endless montages/dance numbers. No salutes to the history of the cowboy hat in westerns, or one of those annoying compilations where they edit all the old movie clips together to make it seem like the characters are talking to each other. And we don't have to sit through, say, the searing domestic drama of Revolutionary Road danced out by members of Mummenschanz.
Are you looking forward to the Golden Globes? Or are you saving your energy for the Oscars?
The Globes have become something of a mini-Oscars in recent years. Thing is, they are way, way better. Here's why.
1. Everybody is drunky-pants. At the Oscars, everybody sits and claps politely. But the Globes are more of a casual dinner affair, where the stars placate their nerves with sweet, sweet booze. Remember when Christine Lahti was in the bathroom when her award was announced? I don't even remember what she won for, but I do remember that she came to the stage with toilet paper on her shoe. Or Sacha Baron Cohen's memorably raunchy acceptance speech for Borat? Then there are touching moments, like when Ving Rhames gave his award to Jack Lemmon. Who knows if booze actually inspired any of these moments, but it definitely adds to the laid-back, anything-can-happen atmosphere.
2. Nobody takes the Globes seriously. The Oscars are Hollywood's big prom night, where everyone gets dressed up and tries to pretend like they aren't self-involved phonies for one night. They pretend to care about the awards that they aren't winning, and take the history and prestige of the event seriously. Meanwhile, everyone in Hollywood knows that the Globes are a joke. They are given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, an organization famously known for giving Pia Zadora the "newcomer of the year" trophy after her billionaire husband wined and dined them. (Don't know who she is? My point exactly.) Therefore, less stuffy prestige event, more rollicking party.
3. The trophy is cooler. "Funny Guy" Swaim steps in for this one: "The statue itself is cooler. And 'Golden Globe' sounds like something you get for conquering the world. 'Oscar' sounds like a salty character you meet at a truckstop diner." Agreed. Though the Emmy is the trophy I would want to have in a fight. Those wings could do some real damage.
4. TV favorites mix with movie stars. There is something hilarious about seeing Meryl Streep in the same room as the cast of Jersey Shore. Whereas the Oscars is supposed to be Hollywood's most exclusive party, the Globes are like a sloppy kegger where uptight sorority girls mix with slovenly frat boys and that creepy old dude who keeps showing up to parties even though he graduated years ago. (Ahem, Kelsey Grammar.)
5. No endless montages/dance numbers. No salutes to the history of the cowboy hat in westerns, or one of those annoying compilations where they edit all the old movie clips together to make it seem like the characters are talking to each other. And we don't have to sit through, say, the searing domestic drama of Revolutionary Road danced out by members of Mummenschanz.
Are you looking forward to the Golden Globes? Or are you saving your energy for the Oscars?
I tend to prefer the golden globes too. Mostly because they are more casual and mix the small and the big screen.
But also because both shows are broadcast in the middle on a sunday night for me, and I have to reccord them and watch the next day. Meaning I have to stay away from any kind of news programs on TV or radio, and avoid any coworkers conversations the day after the oscars.
Not as much people care about the globes here, which means it's easier to keep the surprise intact and yell stupidly the name of my favorite over and over right before they open the enveloppe :)
But anyway, I haven't been that much into award shows since "Return of the King" won it all in 2004. I don't think I can relieve this kind of "Oh my god! Yeees! Finnally!" feeling for a long long time!