You can be forgiven for missing Sunday’s Golden Globes ceremony. The world’s been crazy, and maybe the Golden Globes—an afterthought in a normal year—isn’t that important? But you also may have been so bored that you decided to give it a shot. Either way, here are the biggest takeaways from the 2021 Golden Globes:
The HFPA is Going to Need to Do a Lot More Than Talk to Fix Their Problems
There was a lot of talk on Sunday about the fact that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has no Black members. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler brought it up right off the bat. Multiple winners and presenters drew attention to it. The HFPA even got up on stage, affirming their mission to have black members in their organization. In fact, since 2002, there hasn’t been a single Black member of the HFPA. That’s a long time. It’s 2021, for god’s sake.
Only after a Los Angeles Time’s investigation uncovered it, and multiple actors called them out, did they commit to change. Not to say it’s not meaningful. It often takes journalists and people speaking out to force change. But now it’ll take more than the HFPA just trying to protect their image to fix their longstanding problems. And no, admitting one Black member and calling it a day isn’t going to cut it.
Lee Isaac Chung’s Daughter
There’s a lot to be said about the virtual format of the show. On the one hand, there’s a slew of tech issues that arise that can make an already awkward speech way more awkward. Not to mention those super awkward outros of the celebrities making small talk over Zoom. But on the other hand, we get some amazing moments. Just take the moment where Lee Isaac Chung won Best Foreign Film for his masterpiece, Minari. As soon as he won, his daughter leaped into his arms, screaming “I prayed! I prayed.” She didn’t let go the entire speech.
For a film about family and language, this moment couldn’t have been more perfect. Not only was it adorable, but it felt really important to his own work. It’s these moments that remind us that beyond the pomp and self-obsession that plagues award shows, there are real stories. Real lives. Real passions. And it couldn’t have happened in any other Globes ceremony.
Seriously, the Globes DON’T Predict Oscars (and Certainly Not Emmys)
A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece about how the Golden Globes don’t really predict Oscars. That’s a good reminder now, since you might be tempted to think the Oscars are set in stone. There will probably be some overlap (the acting categories tend to track well), and I would honestly be surprised if Chloe Zhao and Nomadland fall short at the Academy Awards. But expect some surprises in other categories. The Oscars use a much bigger voting pool.
If you are really looking ahead and thinking that the Globes will predict the Emmys (or maybe that the Emmys would’ve predicted these Golden Globes), I would encourage you to stop. The field of nominees is so different due to how far apart the ceremonies are. It’s unlikely “The Crown” would’ve seen such success if “Succession” had been eligible.
Tracy Morgan is a National Treasure
When you ask if Tracy Morgan can present an award, you better be prepared for anything to happen. This Golden Globes was no exception. In what was perhaps the funniest moment of the night, Tracy Morgan announces that the winner of Best Original Score is “Sal.” He quickly realizes that he meant to say “Soul,” and breaks out laughing. Definitely the line of the night. The best part is him laughing about it after, always cheerful! Mistakes happen, and on a night where too many people take themselves too seriously, Tracy Morgan is a breath of fresh air. It just beat out Tina Fey’s introduction of Morgan as “a man who’s only 4 awards away from an EGOT.”
Chadwick Boseman’s Legacy Will Stand the Test of Time
It was an emotional night for everybody who’s known or encountered Chadwick Boseman or his work. The late actor picked up a Golden Globe on Sunday for his terrific performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” His wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted it in heart wrenching speech dedicated to Boseman. She told us, “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you you can.”
But it wasn’t the only time Chadwick Boseman’s presence was felt. In a segment where La’Ron Hines interviewed a group of kids about Golden Globes stars, the kids had absolutely no idea who he was talking about. But when asked who Chadwick Boseman was, every single one of them was thrilled to say that he was “Black Panther!” and “the good guy!” It was a beautiful tribute to the impact Boseman will have for generations to come.
So, there you have it! That’s a wrap on the Golden Globes this year. Keep checking out Metaflix for more coverage as we gear up for the Oscars. And be sure to check out the work of all the nominees, since at the end of the day that’s so much more important the awards themselves.
