MovieFone
Golden Globes: Best And Worst Moments
January 13, 2013
If the Academy Awards are the wedding day of movie awards, then the Golden Globes are the bachelor party. The earlier, wilder awards show held by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has a reputation for rowdiness, partly due to the invaluable presence of free alcohol, but also due to the fact that it’s simply not quite the Oscars. From the most unruly to the truly profound, we look back at 22 of the most unforgettable moments in Globes history.
* Her Own “Golden Globes” (1980)
Bette Midler‘s double-win speech (Best Actress for ‘The Rose’ and Best New Female Star) started off innocently enough: “I am very surprised …” blah blah blah. Then it got interesting. She said she was “reminded of when Joan Crawford won her Golden Globe and said [cupping her breasts], ‘I’ll show you a pair of Golden Globes!'” Though Midler credited Crawford for the innuendo, the line has been linked to the ‘Rose’ actress ever since.
* Can’t Buy Love (1982)
Pia Zadora launched her big-screen career in the B-movie ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,’ so when she won 1982’s Best New Star of the Year Globe for her performance in ‘Butterfly,’ cynics (and realists) concluded that her billionaire hubby Meshulam Riklis had bought the award with a massive ad campaign and expensive trips for members of the HFPA. So, we guess her magnate husband also bought her the Worst Actress and Worst New Actress Razzies later that year, for the same movie? Take that, haters.
* We Smell a Rat Pack — and Whiskey (1958)
Journalists from the Hollywood Foreign Press used to present the awards until 1958, when a bored Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. stormed the stage, whiskey glasses and cigarettes in hand, and played host for the rest of the show. The crowd loved it — and so did the HFPA, enough to invite them back the next year. Why’d they do it? ‘Cuz they’re the damn Rat Pack, baby.
* A Handful of Scarlett (2006)
Openly gay E! correspondent Isaac Mizrahi raised eyebrows when he famously got a handful (and then some) of Scarlett Johansson at the ’06 Globes, blatantly fondling the actress’ left breast while interviewing her on the red carpet. Though Scarlett laughed off the incident — blushingly exclaiming “What’s going on!” — she later called it “in poor taste.” We completely agree, but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining.
* Oliver Stone: Just Getting Started (1979)
Think legendary conspiracy theorist/filmmaker Oliver Stone hasn’t always been a loose cannon? During his speech when he won a Best Screenplay Globe for ‘Midnight Express,’ Stone launched into a tirade against the U.S. government for its anti-drug policies. Over boos from the audience, host Chevy Chase could be heard advising him, “Just say ‘thank you’ and leave the stage.'” Stone did leave — but not until security guards approached.
* Best Best Picture Presentation Ever (2001)
Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor knows movie acting — but TelePrompters are an entirely different matter. The spunky actress couldn’t get the words out right when announcing the Best Picture award. We’re not sure if she forgot to wear her glasses or if her confusion was caused by some other … malady. We want to give her the benefit of the doubt, so we’ll say that her difficulty in navigating the titles was a mechanical error. Yeah, that’s it.
* The Best Actress Needs Some Rest (2001)
Renee Zellweger followed that vaunted Globes tradition of being in the restroom when her name was called as winner of Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical. But, to be fair, Zellweger couldn’t have thought she had even the remotest chance of victory that night — it was for ‘Nurse Betty,’ everyone was stunned.
* Crazy (Eloquent) Like a Foxx (2005)
From the moment Jamie Foxx took the stage to accept the Best Actor statue for ‘Ray,’ it was clear this was no “Hollywood” speech, as Foxx thanked Charles for his inspiration and led the audience in an impromptu crooning of Ray’s “Baby What I Say.” But it was his choked-up and heartfelt thanks to his grandmother, whom he was sure was “looking down,” that we — and the teary-eyed celebs present — will never forget.
* Check Out the Big Nerves on Brad (1996)
When Brad Pitt won Best Supporting Actor (for ’12 Monkeys’), first on his thank-you list was not his co-stars or girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow, but “the makers of Kaopectate” for doing “a great service for their fellow man.” He later explained that he’d needed help soothing his “nervous stomach.” TMI, Brad, TMI! Though now that he has six kids, doubtless the big K comes in even more handy.
* Niiiiiiiiiice Speech (2007)
‘Borat’ star Sacha Baron Cohen did not disappoint his fans when he took the stage to accept his Best Actor award. In a long hilarious speech, he decribed “the dark side of America” as “the anus and testicles of my co-star Ken Davitian”; credited a “rancid bubble” from Davitian’s butt with helping him win; and thanked “every American who has not sued me so far.” One word: classy.
* Disaster or Distraction? (1984)
When Cher took the stage to accept the Best Supporting Actress Globe for ‘Silkwood’ — her first win for acting — the notoriously bold fashionista was visibly flustered. Wearing a skintight, cutout mini, she begged the crowd to “Just look at my dress until I can think of something to say.” And, yes, there was plenty to see there.
* I’d Like to Give This Globe … to the Other Guy (1998)
Many winners pay lip service to “I don’t deserve this.” But Ving Rhames put his statue where his mouth was. When the star of Don King: Only in America’ went up to accept his Best Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for TV award he shocked the crowd — and his competition — by tearfully calling fellow nom Jack Lemmon on stage and handing over his statue to him. It’s the only Globe Rhames has yet to win, and the HFPA sent him a duplicate, because, yes, Lemmon kept the one he was given.
* No Glitz, No Glamour (2008)
Renowned for jaw-dropping fashion and drunken celebs (some sit at their tables and pound wine, champagne, tequila shots), the Golden Globes are always a fun party to behold. But thanks to a writers’ strike-induced boycott, the stars did not come out in ’08 — and the red-carpet ballyhoo was replaced with a brief, boring press conference to announce winners. Golden it was not.
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