I know everyone–including many of my colleagues here at EW–loves to hate on awards shows. In these parts, you’re better off being a fan of a bad American Idol audition than a middling acceptance speech. But last night’s Critic’s Choice Awards, broadcast on VH1 (where I’m sure you can catch it rerunning on an infinite loop), reminded me of what’s so great about kudos telecasts.
It’s not the relentless film clips, cheesy montages, or awkward host banter (though D.L. Hughley, I appreciate your valiant effort); thanks to TiVo, those annoyances whiz by in a fast-forward blur. Rather, it’s the unexpected moments: A dapper Hal Holbrook, walking down the red carpet with wife Dixie Carter, recounting his first meeting with Sean Penn on a movie set 25 years back, and how it was a simple thank-you note that sealed Penn in his good graces forever. Or Casey Affleck accepting the best supporting actress trophy on behalf of his Gone Baby Gone co-star Amy Ryan, and charmingly skipping over any parts of her speech that referenced him. Or Leslie Mann, true to her Knocked Up character, introducing best documentary in hilariously blue fashion (including an f-bomb that slipped past the censors). And then there were the few actresses who didn’t wear black–protest by forgettable fashion, perhaps?–Kyra Sedgwick arriving in a gorgeous full-skirted red-and-black number, and Katie Holmes swishing on stage in a one-shouldered glittering gown.
I even love to see the way winners script–or don’t script–their thank-you speeches, those sly glances away from the camera (I’m talking to you, Brad and Angelina), their wardrobe choices…it’s all fascinating to me. And when Daniel Day-Lewis got on stage to accept best actor, and he wasn’t the curmudgeon you might expect from all the talk of his Method, but instead, a sweetly spoken man who had something kind and specific to say about each of his fellow nominees, and something insightful and not smoke-blowy to say about the mystery within any great acting performance, it made me think, "Oh, I kind of like that Daniel Day-Lewis…hmm, maybe I should see There Will Be Blood next weekend."
And yes, I know that’s exactly what the Hollywood machinery wants, and why the threat of awards season being cancelled could mean box office disaster. But just as I have no defense against the meet-cute formula in a chick flick, I can’t help falling for a heartfelt shout-out to the parents who never stopped believing. And you know what? Come this Sunday, when the Golden Globe awards are announced in a litany from a podium with, in all likelihood no one but the press corps and maybe Rumer Willis in attendance, I, for one, am going to miss those little moments.
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Even though I don’t put a lot of value into a Golden Globe win, I will miss the ceremony for it’s entertainment value. I hope the actors realize that as part of being entertainers, they should continue to show up at these ceremonies for the sake of us –the public who pays to see their movies and TV shows. They shouldn’t punish us for something we have no control over.
While I think the Globes are the most illegimitate of the awards show (I mean, 70ish people make up all the voters?), I do enjoy it and will miss it for three reasons: movies and TV combined, no technical awards, and booze at the tables. Luv the alcohol-fueled speeches.
Oops: *illegitimate.
i am a big tv fan and an awards show junkie. so imagine by depression w/ the cancellation of the globes and the lack of good shows on tv (save for an awesome FNL ep last fri). i hate the strike. i hate the people involved with the strike (both sides). too much pride going on there. not thinking about their customers – US. geez.
I always loved the Globes more than the Oscars because both TV and movies were honored and no long string of techincal awards to sit through. I even enjoy the silly red carpet arrivals on E! Very disappointed that the show is canceled.
The Globes will be missed this year – what shall I do with myself Sunday night? The awards are nice, but it just isn’t the same without the dresses and the booze.
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As beautiful as everyone looked, the Critic’ Choice Awards were ridiculously pathetic last night: The red carpet interviews were lame, the red carpet hosts sounded like extras from “The Hills”, and DL Hughley (surprisingly) offended me with his pathetic excuse for humor. There’s a reason he didn’t get many laughs. Eddie Izzard should host next time– he was great.
And the fact that the awards were broadcast on VH1 only supports my claim that they’re pathetic
I’m going to miss the Globes telecast too. Since there’s no real time limit on the acceptance speeches, some of the stars are able to talk about things other than their parents and God and have even shed some light on their motivations, etc. And it wasn’t the Globes, but I still think James Spader’s Emmy acceptance speech last year, which was definitely off-the-cuff, was one of the smartest and funniest ones of the entire night. I’ll miss those types of moments. I wonder if we’ll still get “Worst-” and “Best-Dressed” lists the next day? I know I wouldn’t bother to wear heels and figure shapers if the show weren’t being telecast….
i love daniel day-lewis, and his speech last night only deepened my appreciation for him. i too hate everyone involved in this self-indulgent strike. i mean think about the people, US, the consumers, who enable writers and producers to even make money in the first place! we deserve our freakin entertainment!
I love the Golden Globes and will miss them very, very much. That said, I support the Writer’s Guild and I respect the actors for refusing to cross the picket line. Yes, it bites to not have scripted entertainment out there, but take a look at the issues. The writers are right to stand their ground – would you let someone make oodles of money from your work and not receive a cent yourself? I wouldn’t. And until the strike is settled, there’re tons of movies to rent and books to read.
Thanks a lot for this post Meeta.
With all the snark that naturally comes with the territory of blogging about entertainment, it’s good to see a post actually in praise of something. Particularly when that something is something that’s almost universally derided like an awards show (and with reason).
Anyway, the Globes are by far the most fun of the awards shows (they long surpassed even the MTV Movie Awards) and, despite the relative lack of merit for the awards themselves, they’re usually a hell of an entertaining show.
Oy… I have to agree that i am and awards show junkie. But not for the speeches. I am all for the nomination reel and cheesy montages. Something about seeing clips of fine acting and montages of cowboys and whatnot gets me every time. Probably the only reason I even bothered to watch the VMAs this year
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My favorite moment last night had to be the Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech from Javier Bardem. I can’t say I’ve ever seen him in anything, but he was so charming and funny and modest…I really thought he was brilliant.
I too am an awards show junkie. What can I say – I love film. My two favorite movies of the year have been represented nicely (No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood), so I’m very disappointed about the Globes and missing potentially great speeches.
(My love for Daniel Day-Lewis and his performance knows no bounds, people. GO DDL!)
Being the awards show junkies that we are, my friends and I are completely and utterly disappointed in the GG’s being cancelled. I did watch a repeat of Critic’s Choice Awards today and was pleased, but it’s just not the same. I will miss the drunken acceptance speeches, the red carpet fodder, and the general self indulgence of it all. Please people, settle this strike!!
Oh, and the best part about the telecast was the atypical “In Memoriam” portion. I nearly peed myself laughing! VERY clever!
I enjoyed the BFCA Awards myself, but deleted the People’s Choice halfway through the Tivo’d playback. ZZZZZZ!!!!
The entertainment industry is way too self-congratulatory. Sure, truly great work that enriches our culture (and eventually stands the test of time) is worthy of praise. But does there really need to be a thousand different award shows?
Count me as another awards show junkie. I’m so bummed about the Golden Globes being cancelled, I’ve even started muttering unkind gripes about the WGA under my breath, like “doesn’t promoting the industry with big, cheesy awards extravaganzas help writers, too?” and “if the entire entertainment industry goes down the toilet, what’s going to be streaming to get paid for?” Seriously, I think the WGA members are beyond reproach in what they want and the producers are being robber-baron-ridiculous, but I still feel like I’m being unfairly robbed of my glam fix. And if awards shows are evil, why are we having the SAG awards and the Independent Spirit awards? Don’t they promote the corporate product, too?
Please, please, please let the Oscars go on!!!! If I don’t get my fix with at least one big awards show I might go crazy. I want the big dresses, cheesy banter, clips, and montages!
I too will miss the Globes badly. It’s my favorite of the award shows. It’s simply the most fun since it’s probably the most unpredictable. The alcohol-fueled speeches, the presenters not following the teleprompter, the mix of movies and tv, the nominees stuck in the bathroom… It just feels so much more relaxed than most awards shows.
When I heard the Globes were cancelled I died a little inside. I’m not even exaggerating. I don’t have cable so I miss out on almost all the good awards shows . . . but I think I heard on the news this morning that they’ve announced the Oscars will go on as planned no matter what. I could be having a false, hopeful memory though . . .
And God bless youtube, because I’m about to go see if any of the moments folks have mentioned are up for viewing.
The sad thing is, 2007 was one of the BEST years for movies in recent memory. So much quality stuff. It’s a shame it had to be this year that the awards shows are suffering. Too bad it wasn’t the year “Crash” one.
And Meeta, you should ABSOLUTELY go see DDL in There Will Be Blood this weekend. His performance is the stuff of legend.
*won