After seemingly an eternity of waiting (maybe just for me), the 2017 Golden Globe Awards finally happened. It was a year ago that I took the reins as Television Editor for The Pop Break and the Golden Globes were my first article as that position. So this is a little significant for me. But nowhere near as significant as the night was to the winners.
Before we go over the winners, a few thoughts on the ceremony and the host, Jimmy Fallon. I was really impressed with the opening sketch spoofing La La Land, even though Jimmy Fallon and some of the other celebrities featured clearly aren’t the best singers. I appreciated the Jon Snow joke and the Stranger Things segment was hilarious. Seriously, people need to get over Barbara.
I wasn’t surprised that stars took shots at Donald Trump but I was surprised that Jimmy Fallon did. I wonder if it had anything to do with the fallout from his cordial interview with Trump. Meryl Streep obviously had the most to say about him. Man, are all these awards shows going to be this depressing during his term? It’ll be depressing enough with him as President.
Besides Jimmy Fallon’s impeccable Chris Rock impression, he didn’t really do much in terms of comedy. Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the turntable jamming to “24K Magic” was funnier than anything else he did. And Chris Pratt stole the “before I was an actor” segment. You might also call it tragically funny how bad the camera crew still is at cutting to the right nominee. Plus, there were the “Hidden Fences” gaffs.
Overall, it was a decent production. I’d give it a 7 out of 10, if just for the tribute to Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Now, let’s get the winners for the TV categories.
Best Television Series, Drama: The Crown (WINNER), Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, This Is Us, Westworld
I picked the wrong new show. I said that Westworld would win because it was the hottest thing going into the Golden Globes. Nope, The Crown won instead.
I imagine many of you were scratching your heads when you heard the winner. Out of all the nominees in this category, The Crown has garnered the smallest amount of buzz by the viewing public, at least here in the States. But this isn’t the People’s Choice Awards. Jimmy Fallon made his joke about honoring the popular vote, but really that award show is more akin to the popular vote. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is more like the Electoral College.
It’s easy to simply dismiss this as the elites picking a frilly historical drama because they’re snooty, but maybe the show is that good. I said the premiere was solid but a little slow when I reviewed it, but that was just the first episode. Perhaps we should all give it a chance.
Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy: Atlanta (WINNER), Black-ish, Mozart in the Jungle, Transparent, Veep
I got this right! Well, half right, if you consider the fact that I said it was a toss-up between Atlanta and last year’s winner, Mozart in the Jungle. Treat like a tie, as a half-win.
I have a feeling that Donald Glover did not expect this show to win, since he appeared to ramble at little. I guess I shouldn’t blame him for being wowed by the series’ success. Awards are one thing, but the show isn’t very high concept, compared to something like Westworld (Jurassic Park in the Old West). Even though Donald Glover has a lot of fans, it’s fascinating to see it become a mainstream success. Atlanta is about Donald Glover’s character helping his cousin make it in the Atlanta hip-hop scene, right? Forgive me for my ignorance.
Congrats, Atlanta.
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: American Crime, The Dresser, The Night Manager, The Night Of, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (WINNER)
I was seriously afraid that The People v. O.J. Simpson was going to lose The Dresser because Wolf Hall won last year. Nope, American Crime Story really was just that good. It doesn’t mean as much as winning the Emmy, but Ryan Murphy and company should be really proud of making the absurd idea of an American Horror Story spinoff work. I have my reservations about the second season, since Hurricane Katrina doesn’t come off as a crime story the way the Trail of the Century does, but we’ll see.
The Night Of need not fret over losing, as it will be a strong contender during the Emmys, where it will face new competition.
What if The Night Manager had won though? That would have been a huge upset.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Series, Drama: Rami Malek for Mr. Robot, Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul, Matthew Rhys for The Americans, Liev Schreiber for Ray Donovan, Billy Bob Thornton for Goliath (WINNER)
This was the first big shocker of the night. Pretty much everyone else in this category besides Billy Bob Thorton was on mind to win this, especially Rami Malek (who won the Emmy) and Bob Odenkirk. Apparently Bill Bob (such a wonderful name) knows Regular Bob pretty well, well enough to mention some obscure rivalry in his speech. I’ve honestly not heard that much about Goliath.
This win really does heal the sting of Bad Santa 2 for Thorton. I don’t think he’ll win come Emmy time though. That could finally be Bob Odenkirk’s moment in the sun.
Best Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy: Anthony Anderson for Black-ish, Gael García Bernal for Mozart in the Jungle, Donald Glover for Atlanta (WINNER), Nick Nolte for Graves, Jeffrey Tambor for Transparent
I don’t think Donald Glover was expecting to win this category either. He rambled again with his “people are magic” speech but it definitely was an interesting idea. His career is just on a roll right now. Donald Glover is already a well-known actor but by the end of that career I expect him be a true classic, household name.
Whether or not this Han Solo spinoff is any good, I’m sure he’ll be amazing regardless.
On a side note, I saw Saturday Night Live’s parody of dramedies the other night and of course it’s about Transparent. Remember, if it’s 30 minutes, it’s a comedy. But comedy or not, it’s a huge step up for Tambor from kissing a dog’s butt in Ron Howard’s Grinch. Talk about a night and day difference in the quality of work. But then who hasn’t kissed a dog’s behind for some fame in Hollywood?
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Riz Ahmed for The Night Of, Bryan Cranston for All the Way, Tom Hiddleston for The Night Manager (WINNER), Courtney B. Vance for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, John Turturro for The Night Of
Has anyone else noticed that it seems like every time Bryan Cranston shows up somewhere he’s sporting a different look? No, it’s just me? Whatever. Some celebrities go for years without changing their appearances up.
So, congrats to Courtney B. Vance for his Emmys-Golden Globes sweep. That’s what everyone thought I’d be saying. And if not that, I’d be saying congrats to John Turturro or Riz Ahmed.
Nope. We’re getting into the big Night Manager shocker of the night. It didn’t win Best Limited Series but it cleaned up at the acting awards. Like I said before, this is not the People’s Choice Awards, but The People v. O.J. Simpson had a huge impact on viewers and critics. But considering Night Manager got overlooked for other awards, they can have these.
Tom Hiddleston’s speech ran a little long, and I know some people were offended. Anyway, pretty good consolation after his break up with Taylor Swift.
R.I.P. Hiddleswift (kidding).
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Sterling K. Brown for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Hugh Laurie for The Night Manager (WINNER), John Lithgow for The Crown, Christian Slater for Mr. Robot, John Travolta for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
I saw an upset coming but it was the wrong one. It seemed like the winds were blowing in The Crown’s favor, and to a certain extent they were. But they weren’t for this category. John Lithgow will have a shot at this again during the Emmys though. Turns out Hugh Laurie can win for something other than playing Dr. House.
Sterling K. Brown doesn’t need this award. He’s got an Emmy, is on This Is Us, and he’s going to be in Marvel’s Black Panther.
Hugh Laurie, enjoy your win.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Series, Drama: Caitriona Balfe for Outlander, Claire Foy for The Crown (WINNER), Keri Russell for The Americans, Winona Ryder for Stranger Things, Evan Rachel Wood for Westworld
The other big win for The Crown, Claire Foy. It’s appropriate, since she is the main lead of the show. I noted that she was more of a background character in the premiere, but that’s part of Queen Elizabeth’s journey. She obviously stepped it up.
Yeah, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want Winona Ryder to win for Stranger Things, but hey, the show brought her back into our lives. Evan Rachel Wood, my pick, didn’t win. If Westworld truly takes until 2018 to come back, then she won’t be in this category next year. It should be interesting if she’s up again after it returns.
Best Performance by an Actress in Leading Role in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy, Rachel Bloom for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep, Sarah Jessica Parker for Divorce, Issa Rae for Insecure, Gina Rodriguez for Jane the Virgin, Tracee Ellis Ross for Black-ish (WINNER)
This was without a doubt my biggest failure of the night. I said right off the bat for this award it would not go to Tracee Ellis Ross and I was dead wrong. It was supposed to go to Issa Rae, even though I picked differently.
Tracee Ellis Ross, I apologize for underestimating you. You won and this wasn’t even the show’s first season. Be proud. Be very proud.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Felicity Huffman for American Crime, Riley Keough for The Girlfriend Experience, Sarah Paulson for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (WINNER), Charlotte Rampling for London Spy, Kerry Washington for Confirmation
If there was one award The People v. O.J. Simpson had to win besides Best Limited Series, it was this one. Sarah Paulson changed the narrative with her portrayal of Marcia Clark. Her performance was more synonymous with the miniseries than any other. This was a total lock and it was well deserved.
She also sat next to Felicity Hoffman, which I bet confused the camera crew. It was confusing enough for most people when both their shows had “American Crime” in the title. Seriously, was the camera crew drinking too?
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Olivia Colman for The Night Manager (WINNER), Lena Headey for Game of Thrones, Chrissy Metz for This Is Us, Mandy Moore for This Is Us, Thandie Newton for Westworld
The final Night Manger winner of the night. Not the most prominent award but you take what you can get.
Thandie Newton has the dilemma that Wood has where she won’t be up for next year. I guess she’ll have time for other work and to catch up on her hobbies. Maybe she’ll discover The Pop Break in the meantime. I can dream, can’t I? Stranger things have happened. *CUE THEME MUSIC*
