Explore the peculiar side of Hollywood’s glitz and glamour with these odd and unbelievable Golden Globes facts. Golden Globes: formerly quirky, informal dinner party; contrasted with typical elegance of award shows. In the early years, organizers didn’t reveal winners beforehand; suspenseful announcements during the ceremony added a unique twist.
In 2008, Golden Globes tried a live press conference format due to the Writers Guild of America strike. The offbeat approach offered a backstage glimpse during industry upheaval.
1. At First, the Globe Wasn’t a Globe
At the 1944 ceremony in the 20th Century Fox studios, they indeed awarded scrolls. The first globe intended to symbolize the world was displayed in 1945 and was placed atop a cylindrical pedestal. Its appearance changed over time, with a significant redesign in 2019 that saw a metal base replace the square marble one.
2. Voters Are Scarce
Founded in 1943, the non-profit organization is composed of about 90 journalists from 55 different nations (yes, that small a group!).
To put it how we like it, members receive a ballot with a list of qualifying films, and they must choose nominees for each category by ranking the films from 1 to 5. For the formal announcement, the accounting firm Ernst & Young totals and gets ready the figures.
3. It’s had a few signigficant “firsts.”
Some argue that award ceremonies like the Golden Globes contribute to the long-standing issue of underrepresentation and lack of diversity in the entertainment industry. But significant wins at the Globes—such as Julia’s 1968 Best Actress in a Television Series victory—have helped move the needle ahead a little bit.
4. The Most Honored Star Is…
Alright, so this one isn’t odd—this is Meryl Streep. With 33 Golden Globe nominations and nine wins—if you include her 2017 Cecil B. DeMille award—she owns the record. The first was for Kramer v. Kramer in 1980. Indeed, Streep missed out on two roles this year, one in HBO Max’s Let Them All Talk and the other in Netflix’s The Prom, but the films weren’t particularly good.
5. The host or hosts
For the first 51 years of the awards, there was a presenter!
John Larroquette of Night Court and Janine Turner of Northern Exposure spearheaded the festivities in 1995. From 1996 to 2010, the HFPA followed its original pattern until Ricky Gervais took over and caused controversy for three years. From 2012 to 2014, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted, bringing more lighthearted humor to the show. They will be back in 2021 for the first-ever virtual, bicoastal ceremony. Poehler sets up shop at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, while Fey broadcasts from Manhattan’s Rainbow Room.
6. Objectors, both disputed and not
In protest against the Vietnam War, Marlon Brando declined to accept his 1973 Golden Globe for The Godfather. He turned down an Oscar two months later due to the mistreatment of Native Americans in the motion picture business. The makers of Z rejected its 1970 Globe for Best Foreign Language Film due to their upset over their movie not being included in the esteemed Best Motion Picture category.
7. A Glamorous Prelude to the Golden Globes
Guests will enjoy champagne cocktails before dinner. Before digging into the main dish of sea bass, they will start with a salad of heirloom tomatoes, frisee lettuce, and burrata cheese. Dessert consists of a sea-salted caramel-filled chocolate globe perched above a crunchy base of Italian hazelnuts, coffee biscuits, and Frangelico mascarpone, all covered in chocolate.
8. Legends Honored: A Look at the Illustrious Cecil B. DeMille Award and its Storied Recipients
The Cecil B. DeMille The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment, with previous winners including Jack Nicholson, Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Woody Allen, George Clooney, and Denzel Washington. Judy Garland became the first woman to win the award in 1962. In 2017, Meryl Streep will get the prize.
9. Exclusive Seating: Inside the Limited Access and Intimate Atmosphere of the Golden Globes Awards Ceremony
If you’re not a nominee, your chances of getting admitted to the awards ceremony are low. The Hilton’s International Ballroom, where the event takes place, has just 111 available tables. Estimators predict sending invitations to only about 1,300 people, with each table accommodating 10 to 12 individuals. In contrast, there are roughly 3,400 seats in the Dolby Theater, home of the Academy Awards.
10. Triple Triumph: Sigourney Weaver, Joan Plowright, and Kate Winslet’s Remarkable Feat at the Golden Globes
Three beautiful women hold the record for winning the most acting Globes in a single year. Best Supporting Actress (Enchanted April and Stalin) and Best Actress (Gorillas in the Mist) went to Sigourney Weaver in 1989, Best Actress (Revolutionary Road) and Best Supporting Actress (Working Girl) to Joan Plowright in 1993, and Best Actress (The Reader) to Kate Winslet in 2009.
