The Golden Globe Awards

None of Gervais’s jokes were as cutting as, say, when Sacha Baron-Cohen likened Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to the protagonist of “Jojo Rabbit” (“a naïve, misguided child who spreads Nazi propaganda and only has imaginary friends”). ... The microclimate in the room for the night was breezy with patches of sincerity. ... But the room truly came together for the Cecil B. DeMille award speech from Tom Hanks.

It was two shows in one. For the most part, the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards on NBC was a better-than-average awards show, with surprise winners, humorous touches and some heartfelt speeches. But then there was that other show, the one with Ricky Gervais as the supposed host of the festivities. ... [Gervais] came off like the guy sitting at the back of the auditorium who’s had one too many, and keeps yelling out unfunny, sarcastic remarks.

[The Golden Globes] felt more grown-up than usual in its 2020 outing. ... Its reputation, perhaps, was always a bit inflated on the basis of a few instances of ragged speeches and stars caught in the bathroom, but the ceremony had, historically, felt like a respite from the awards season’s particular gravity. Inasmuch as a show more professionally produced than ever before can be said to have been a victim, the Globes may be a victim of its own success.

Ricky Gervais was so consumed with reminding us this was his fifth and final time hosting the Globes, so intent on congratulating himself for being edgy and not caring the least about anything, so obsessed with taboo, bleep-inducing zingers, he forgot something. He forgot to be funny. ... Not that the broadcast was lacking in memorable moments. ... These Golden Globes should be remembered for a more lasting legacy: singling out truly outstanding work in nearly every category.

Despite the preshow line about Gervais being a “controversial,” unpredictable host — hyped unpredictability is the most predictable thing about the Golden Globes — what he did was totally expected. ... Fortunately, there were other moments in the evening that genuinely were surprising and made hanging in for the duration of the three-hour broadcast less of a slog than it was in the beginning.

The 2020 Golden Globes gave plenty of pretty good reasons for its existence (when Joaquin Phoenix wasn’t eradicating the Hollywood awards machine altogether), but none gripping enough to overcome its black hole of a host.

There weren't many barbs to [Gervais'] supposedly sharp humor, merely a few weak jabs at Apple and political celebrities. More than anything else, it was dull. ... [Tom Hanks'] speech made the pursuit of acting and filmmaking feel like a noble one, captivating the audience in the room and at home. ... Michelle Williams, Jared Harris, Patricia Arquette and even Russell Crowe – in a statement all the way from Australia – got political and moving in their speeches, without a hint of exploitation or grandstanding.

Minus some memorable victory speeches—particularly Michelle Williams (winning for Fosse/Verdon) emphasizing the importance of women’s right to choose; and whatever sort of Joker-esque barn-burning Phoenix did—the 2020 broadcast of the Golden Globes felt like a staid one.

The most memorable awards of the evening, and most entertaining interludes, involved the HFPA’s heritage prizes. ... Actor Tom Hanks accepted the DeMille Award with a speech that was moving, if rambling. ... As for the awards, most seemed to barely move the excitement needle for viewers at home as the show nudged past 11 o’clock.

The three-hour-plus ceremony, the kickoff to awards season, was characterized by escapist highs and rude reality checks.

The last thing anyone needed was for the smirking master of ceremonies to reprimand them for having hope, or taunt the room for trying to use their influence to change things for the better. Almost immediately, however, it became clear Gervais wasn’t the funniest guy in the room at the 77th Golden Globes — and he wasn’t running the show, either. ... Politics aside, the telecast’s strongest comedic moment erupted when Gervais was off stage.