The Messy 2023 Golden Globes Failed to Justify Its Existence – Rolling Stone

If the Golden Globes airs on a weeknight and no one watches it, does it still matter? That was the question posed when the Oscars’ boozy cousin returned to television on Tuesday evening after a one-year absence.

The awards show, a cash cow for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — a strange band of international journalists from obscure publications with loose ethics who love asking celebrities for autographs and pictures at press junkets to the puzzlement of nearly everyone else — was booted from the airwaves last year, and only announced its awards via Twitter, in rather embarrassing fashion, following a series of high-profile controversies.

Among these were an investigation revealing the HFPA had no Black members; its former president Philip Berk calling Black Lives Matter “a racist hate movement” and standing accused of groping actor Brendan Fraser, who sat out this year’s ceremony in protest even though he was nominated for The Whale; and comically shameless allegations of bribery, such as Netflix treating HFPA members to a luxurious Paris vacation for Emily in Paris that resulted in a number of Globes noms for the oft-ridiculed series.

And now it’s back, proving there is absolutely nothing that will stop Hollywood from awarding itself at a glitzy party with free booze and snacks.  

Broadcast live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton in tony Beverly Hills, California, the 80^th annual Golden Globes were hosted by Jerrod Carmichael, an uber-talented Black comic who recently came out in his powerful stand-up special Rothaniel.

During his opening monologue, Carmichael joked that he was “unfireable” as the Globes’ first Black host and confronted the organization’s racism controversy, explaining the HFPA’s rationale for choosing him — and why he chose to accept the mostly thankless gig.

“Hello. Welcome to the 80^th annual Golden Globe Awards. I am your host, Jerrod Carmichael. And I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here ‘cause I’m Black,” he began.

“This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — which I won’t say they were a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single Black member till George Floyd died, so do with that information what you will.”

After comparing himself to Black FBI informants who spied on civil rights leaders in the 1960s, Carmichael ultimately said that he accepted the hosting gig because of its $500,000 paycheck and that “the industry deserves evenings like these,” whatever that means.

That was mostly it for Carmichael, save a few semi-amusing interstitial jokes about how Rihanna should ignore the haters and take her damn time on that new album (the Queen was in attendance with her partner A$AP Rocky), a dig at Tom Cruise the Scientologist for his performative display of returning his Golden Globe trophies (who was not present, which dulled its impact), and a crack aimed at Steven Spielberg about bringing Kanye West to a screening of The Fabelmans and having it change his entire perspective on Jews — as well as an incredibly ballsy one implying that Will Smith is closeted, a la Rock Hudson. Carmichael, who’s known more for his emotionally raw and perceptive brand of comedy, appeared out of his comfort zone throughout the night, and more focused on fostering a general sense of unease than landing haymakers.

It was not without its pleasurable moments. Jennifer Coolidge hilariously fumbling through her own reasoning for presenting before delivering a moving acceptance speech about hitting it big in middle age, and Colin Farrell cursing amid thanking his tiny donkey co-star, Jenny, after winning Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for The Banshees of Inisherin. Michelle Yeoh tearfully recounted her decades-long journey navigating Hollywood, and all the barriers she broke through, while accepting the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Everything Everywhere All at Once – before telling the Globes, “Shut up, please! I can beat you up,” when they attempted to play her off.

Another major show highlight was the large number of Black actors who took home awards, including Best Supporting Actress for the legendary Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series (Abbott Elementary) to Tyler James Williams, Quinta Brunson winning Best Television Actress Musical/Comedy Series (Abbott Elementary), Zendaya for Best Television Actress — Drama Series (Euphoria), and Brunson’s Abbott Elementary taking home Best Television Series Musical or Comedy. Eddie Murphy was also given the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his career…