The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2026 Golden Globes

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The Golden Globes are known for being a bit messy behind the scenes, despite their glamorous appearance. This year’s ceremony continued that trend, introducing a new category for Best Podcast while trying to maintain the illusion of Hollywood extravagance. The result was chaotic and lacked focus. The show featured constant commentary from journalists Marc Malkin and Kevin Frazier, and a strange partnership with a betting platform. Celebrities avoided political topics, which likely pleased CBS News editor Bari Weiss and the Ellison family. Despite seeming less prestigious than usual, the Globes still offered some enjoyable Hollywood moments. Nikki Glaser proved herself a reliable host, and it was fun to see the stars relax and have a good time, even creating the impression that Hollywood is thriving. We learned Leonardo DiCaprio is a good sport, Julia Roberts loves Eva Victor, and Queen Latifah still considers Dakota Fanning a friend from their time working on The Secret Life of Bees. It’s moments like these that remind us the magic of Hollywood is still alive.

Nikki Glaser immediately won over the audience with her quick wit and humor. Returning as a Golden Globes host for the second time, she confidently took the stage and delivered a strong opening monologue. Known for her playful roasts, Glaser’s jokes mostly targeted those who could handle them. Kevin Hart was teased about his height and the Jumanji films, while Sean Penn endured a joke about his adventurous travels and alleged drug use. Glaser also didn’t shy away from poking fun at Hollywood’s corporate side, with sharp observations about the Warner Bros. sale and a playful jab at CBS News being a source of “See BS news.” It was a welcome dose of silly wordplay! —JM

When presenters tell nominees they’re all winners, it’s usually a sign the awards show is running long and the writers are struggling to fill time. Not every hosting duo can create playful tension or a competitive vibe, and when Jennifer Garner and Amanda Seyfried had to reassure the Best Supporting Actress nominees they’d already won, it was clear the writers needed something to stretch out the ceremony. It’s time for some fresh ideas! —Roxana Hadadi

The highlight of the night was Teyana Taylor’s win! Starting the Golden Globes with her victory for Supporting Actress in One Battle After Another was a brilliant move. Taylor’s speech, dedicated to Paul “Let Him Cook” Thomas Anderson, was heartfelt, witty, and full of energy – just like her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills. Her message to young women of color, encouraging them to embrace their potential and pursue their dreams, was particularly moving. And her celebratory dance to “My Boo” and confident style were a fun and memorable way to kick off the awards show. A fantastic start to the Golden Globes. —RH

It’s disappointing that Andor didn’t receive more recognition. Despite being one of the greatest TV shows ever created, it feels like it deserved to win more of the awards it was nominated for. Still, it’s alright. Thank you, Diego Luna, for the fantastic performance and the show’s lasting impact. —RH

Zoë Kravitz jokingly claimed she brought her own psychedelic mushrooms, which many considered the most refreshingly honest statement of the evening. — RH

The music choices at the event were definitely noteworthy! Nikki Glaser’s monologue was introduced with Taylor Swift’s “Style” and she left the stage to Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me.” Stellan Skarsgard walked on stage to Usher’s “Yeah!” and Noah Wyle’s exit was accompanied by “Backstreet’s Back.” It really made one person wonder if someone from their college days was in charge of the music! – JM

The broadcast suffered from overly chatty commentary by Marc Malkin and Kevin Frazier. For some reason, they were tasked with filling every silent moment as winners walked onstage. Letting the applause, music, and natural room sound breathe would have been better, but instead, viewers were subjected to trivial chatter – like comparisons between Julia Roberts and Jean Smart, or obscure facts about Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie choices – and awkward references to a betting platform integrated into the show. The constant commentary was more irritating than helpful. —NQ

The use of Polymarket betting tie-ins during the Golden Globes ceremony was unnecessary and distracting. Commentary based on betting odds doesn’t belong at an awards show! The Golden Globes should remain a celebration of artistic achievement and moral integrity, untainted by commercial interests. —JM

Nikki Glaser paid tribute to Nicole Kidman’s famous AMC ad with a hilarious podcast-themed recreation. Dressed in a similar suit, Glaser declared, “We come to our cars for podcasts!” The sketch playfully celebrated the appeal of podcasts, even highlighting the slightly awkward feeling of needing constant audio companionship during a commute (“Somehow, discourse feels good in a place like this.”). While awarding podcasts feels a bit silly, the sketch itself was genuinely funny. A brief appearance by Griffin Newman (for fans of film podcasts) added to the fun. —JM

The new Best Podcast category at the awards show was… unusual, to say the least. From Snoop Dogg presenting the award to playing clips from the nominated podcasts (something other categories didn’t get), and the strange mix of nominees like NPR’s Up First alongside SmartLess, the whole thing felt off. It didn’t help that this category likely meant the Best Score category wasn’t shown, adding to the feeling that things are going downhill. —NQ

Okay, let’s talk about the Golden Globes – specifically, how heavy those things are! Several people on the red carpet, including Teyana Taylor, Ejae, and Maggie Kang, all seemed genuinely surprised by the weight. Seriously, is it made of solid gold? It got me thinking… in these uncertain economic times, could we maybe, just maybe, repurpose them if things really go south? A little cynical, perhaps, but it’s a thought! – RH

Someone noticed that Rose Byrne’s husband, Bobby Cannavale, wasn’t at the awards show when she won. Apparently, he was at a reptile convention called Repticon in New Jersey! It’s an unusual reason to miss the event, but understandable, according to the source. —NQ

Leonardo DiCaprio’s playful finger movements are stealing the show. Whether he’s pointing at his own or someone else’s eyes, or quickly moving his finger from side to side and towards his lips, his antics during commercial breaks are definitely entertaining. —NQ

The presenter was clearly impressed by Queen Latifah! It feels like the show Adolescence aired ages ago, but a funny moment occurred when Stephen Graham was seemingly distracted by a clip from The Equalizer while giving his acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Limited Series. By the way, Stephen Graham is currently starring in a great show called A Thousand Blows. —RH

Wanda Sykes delivered a sharp and witty introduction to the nominees for the comedy award. She playfully pointed out Kevin Hart’s success and competitive drive, joking that he embodies the American spirit. She also quipped about Kumail Nanjiani proving that comedians can be both funny and attractive. Her highlight was a joke about accepting the award on behalf of Ricky Gervais, imagining his acceptance speech would include thanks to both God and the transgender community. —JM

Jafar Panahi’s film, It Was Just an Accident, was considered a strong contender for several Golden Globe awards, receiving nominations for Best Director, Best Non-English Language Film, and Best Drama. However, it didn’t win any of those categories, while two other Neon films, Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent, did take home awards. Amidst all of this, the ongoing and significant protests in Iran feel far more important.

Apparently, some A-list celebrities aren’t familiar with the buzz around the hit HBO Max series, Heated Rivalry! Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the show’s stars, recently presented an award at the Golden Globes, playfully referencing the show’s steamy scenes and how widely viewed they’ve been. However, their joke didn’t land well with the audience, likely because many attendees have been preoccupied with campaigning. As the author points out, even Leonardo DiCaprio might not have time to catch up on streaming shows!

HIGH: Rhea Seehorn wins for Pluribus!
I’m also counting this for Better Call Saul. —NQ

One of the most noticeable issues with the awards show was the seating arrangement. While viewers at home could see where nominees were sitting thanks to a Google Maps-style display, this didn’t actually do anything for the audience. It also seemed like writers and creators were deliberately placed further back this year. Rhea Seehorn had trouble finding Vince Gilligan to thank him during her acceptance speech, and Noah Wyle had to wait for the creators and executive producer of The Pitt to reach the stage. Many wondered why those who actually made the shows weren’t seated closer to the front, or at least with their cast, instead of having the front rows filled with executives.

A low moment was Marc Malkin repeatedly mispronouncing Martin Scorsese’s name. It’s pronounced “seh-zze,” not “say-zee.” It’s pretty cringeworthy, especially when Fox Nation gets it right but he doesn’t. — RH

The Golden Globes had a memorable high and low point. Julia Roberts stole the show when she presented the award for Best Musical or Comedy. She seemed relaxed and playful, clearly enjoying the champagne, and gave a delightfully rambling speech, thanking Kevin Hart and offering a shout-out to Eva Victor and a show called Sorry, Baby before announcing One Battle After Another as the winner. It was a classic, unforced moment of Hollywood charm.

On the other hand, the ceremony notably lacked any significant discussion of current political events. Despite a month filled with serious issues – including events involving ICE, international politics, and protests in Iran – the Globes remained largely apolitical. While some attendees wore political pins and the opening monologue included a few pointed remarks, most winners, even those with platforms to speak out like The Secret Agent and The Pitt, kept their acceptance speeches light and celebratory. Perhaps everyone is simply worn out, or maybe the presence of David Ellison influenced the mood.

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2026-01-12 08:56