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Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, stationed across the country, kicked off the 78th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday with understudies on the unusual format of pandemic-era television broadcasting and renewed control of the organization behind the show.
“Normally this room is full of celebrities, but tonight our audience on both coasts is made up of first responders and essential workers,” said Fey of the Rainbow Room in New York City. “We are very grateful for the work you do and for your presence here, so celebrities can stay safe in their homes.”
The coronavirus crisis forced Golden Globes producers to air a largely virtual show, with nominees beamed from their homes and hotel rooms via Zoom. Poehler, speaking to a small audience of masked guests at the Beverly Hilton in Calif., Joked that the ceremony is usually a free-wheeling champagne-infused party.
The co-hosts, featured on a split screen, also nodded at the recent criticism from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the small organization of international journalists that votes on nominees and winners – particularly the fact that the group does not have a single black member. .
“The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of about 90 non-black international journalists who frequent movie junkets every year in search of a better life,” Fey said. “We’re saying around 90, because a few of them might be ghosts, and rumor has it that the German member is just a sausage that someone has drawn a little face on.”
In the first 30 minutes of the show, which airs on NBC, three members of the group appeared on stage and pledged to diversify their ranks.
“We recognize that we have our own work to do. Just like in film and television, portrayal of black people is vital. We need to have black journalists in our organization,” said Helen Hoehne, vice president of the association.
Meher Tatna, the chairman of the board, added: “We also need to make sure that everyone from all under-represented communities has a place at our table, and we will make it happen.”
Two luminaries of the entertainment industry received the honors for their lifetime. Norman Lear, the legendary creator of seminal sitcoms such as “All in the Family,” received the Carol Burnett Award, named after the comedian of the same name. Jane Fonda, the pioneering actor and activist, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
In a passionate speech, Fonda paid tribute to the power of films to foster empathy and called on Hollywood to push for diversity on screen, behind the camera and in conference rooms.
The night included some technical issues. The first winner of the evening – Daniel Kaluuya of “Judas and the Black Messiah” – began to deliver his acceptance speech silently. Presenter Laura Dern apologized to Kaluuya, who won the award for best supporting actor for his turn as assassinated Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton.
But then the sound of Kaluuya came. He jokingly waved his finger at the camera and said, “You’re doing me dirty!”
This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.
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