The 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards were held last night with Hollywood’s royalty turning out for another star studded evening and an opportunity to show off the glitz and glamour of the world de celebrity.
Chances are if you’re an award show junkie like me, you make a night of it. Popcorn, a special potluck with friends, maybe a party of 6-8 girlfriends to share the joy of making fun of the speeches or a chance to play fashion critic. This year’s event did not totally disappoint or leave us without content to play with. However, this year we saw a lot more feathers and funny glasses than anything resembling glitz and we missed half the words because they got bleeped out.
First, the decor. In the event industry we are always looking for the wow factor, with everything we do, so it was surprising to see the simplicity and intimacy of this classic and timeless production. In comparison to last year when the set at the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s International Ballroom shone with 30,000 Swarovski crystals flown in from Austria by Dick Clark Productions, there was no over the top table decor, no ‘theme” or “matchy matchy” decorating. It was pure simple ivory linen, mahogany chivaris and tight bouquets of multi colored floral in the center of a 66″ round. Straight up, pretty and no fuss. I for one loved it but have heard alternate views crashing twitter since the show aired less than 24 hours ago.
The entertainment. Well, there was none, so there is that! The host was supposed to provide laughter and witty banter but honestly he should have stopped at 4. Ricki Gervais was a mess. As People put it best ” Gervais’ opening monologue touched on Hollywood hot button topics like equal pay for actresses and actors and the Hollywood Foreign Press association’s dubious nomination process, but he also strayed into references about masturbation, pedophilia, the Holocaust, Jeffrey Tambor’s oversized testicles and sticking his own Golden Globe trophies up his bum. Then he’d turn around and drop some groan-worthy joke about Caitlyn Jenner. He killed the energy in the room from the second he opened his mouth. And I am a fan so you know this is true. He set this odd stage for a “sarcastic, off the cuff, politically incorrect” night which went on and on with one star after the other trying “one up” the previous with foul language, poor jokes and expletives describing most of our body parts. What happened to old Hollywood? Where was my dreamy moment as beautiful, elegant people walk the red carpet and glide up on stage, to say something poetic and memorable…. All I am going to remember is Amy Shumer and JLaw with their “I am nerdy so I am cool” routine and Amy announcing her Hollywood nickname (yep, starts with a c and rhymes with runt). Big SIGH.
This year’s decor may have lacked that POP we wanted but the meal did not disappoint. This year’s menu was arranged by the Beverly Hilton’s executive chef Troy Thompson and executive pastry chef, Thomas Henzi
“It’s an honour to create this special menu for the Golden Globe Awards,” stated Thomas Henzi “We’re happy to be able to showcase the talents of our chefs and culinary team members, who look forward to presenting a show-stopping menu for the guests of this prestigious star-studded event each year.”
The night’s special cocktail, designed by mixologist Karen Grill and featuring Moët & Chandon champagne, was a Moët Ruby Red, which a press release calls “a modern take on a French 75 cocktail and personal homage to The Wizard of Oz.”
The best moments of the night?
