The Golden Globes Came and Went, and We Missed Playing our Award Show Drinking Game

As we come out of the holidays and return to every day life, the rammifications of a long-term writer’s strike are becoming more and more clear. The proliferation of utterly inane, obviously knocked off reality shows (“Make Me A Supermodel,” I’m talkin’ to you!); the lack of new episodes for shows that totally didn’t seem over in November (“House!” I miss you!); and, of course, the loss of our awards shows.

Yeah, yeah, the Golden Globes and the Oscars (especially) are out of touch; it’s all just for swag and attention; who needs a four hour red carpet preview… blah, blah, blah, I’ve heard all your arguments and I just don’t care. I love looking at gowns that I could never really even imagine touching*, nevermind owning, on the bodies of people who have the time and narcissism to commit to the gym at least 5 hours a day to get ready for an event. I love yelling at the television when they announce a winner I don’t agree with, and cheering when they actually pick someone I like. I love having friends over to play award show drinking games, and I especially love showing up at the liquor store about 2 in the afternoon to buy way too many bottles of champagne. So I was really, really sad to see the Golden Globes become the first award show casualty of the year. Especially ‘cuz they give TV awards, and I love me some TV.

And wouldn’t you know, people I liked WON!! Cate Blanchett got her first very, very deserved award for her rolse as Jude (aka Bob Dylan) in I’m Not There; Daniel Day Lewis also got a deserved award for There Will Be Blood; “Mad Men” won for best TV show, and that is awesome because that show is awesome. I was happy with last night! But it all went by without any pomp and circumstance, and dammit I want my pomp and circumstance back!!!

Everyone I know who’s in the know thinks the strike will end around June, when the SAG contracts come up for renegotiations. I hope so; maybe I can get the second half of season 4 of LOST in the near future. Because that shit’s gonna give me a coronary.

Note: For all the complaining I do about the rammifications of the strike, and for all this post waxes nostalgic for award shows, I think that SAG deserves some serious kudos for having the moral fortitude to participate in this strike on the side of the writers, knowing their contracts are up for renegotiation soon, and knowing that their careers live and die on the publicity they are currently denying themselves by supporting the strike. Thank you, SAG.

The Winners (abridged):

Best Motion Picture – Drama: Atonement
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Julie Christie, Away From Her
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Daniel Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical: Sweeny Todd
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Best Actor in a Motion Picutre – Musical or Comedy: Johnny Depp, Sweeny Todd
Best Animated Film: Ratatouille
Best Foreign Language Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men
Best Director – Motion Picture: Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Best Television Series – Drama: Mad Men
Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama: Glenn Close, Damages
Best Actor in a TV series – Drama: Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical: Extras
Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy or Musical: Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Best Actor in a TRV Series – Comedy or Musical: David Duchovny, Californication

–Sara Tenenbaum

* – When I was studying abroad in London, I went with a friend to the semi-annual Harrods sale and actually tried on the grey Grecian Lanvin dress that Natalie Portman had worn to the 2005 Oscars. It fit her way better than it fit me, and that’s about as close as I assume I’m ever going to get a dress that expensive. It was, if I remember correctly, about $7000 US.