Lights, camera, action! It’s awards season party people! The first entertainment industry showdown–the Golden Globe Awards–takes place on January 11th, which means it’s time to bond with your DVR and catch up on all the best TV and film had to offer last year. The nominations are in, the stars clothing is being carefully styled, the seating charts are set and the hostesses with the mostest are ready to embarrass Hollywood one by one as we watch in awe. We love the Golden Globes!
This year Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are hosting once again so prepare for some amazing zingers aimed at some of the biggest celebrities in the business. As Poehler put it last year when speaking to Matt Damon, “Matt, on any other night, in any other room, you’d be a big deal, but tonight — and don’t take this the wrong way — you’re basically a garbage person.” So as we gear up for the big show, here are 8 awesome facts you may not know about the Golden Globes. Let the awards show season commence!
1. Recurring History
This year will be the 72nd annual Golden Globes Awards show; the very first ceremony was held in 1944. Back then only achievements in filmmaking were acknowledged; it wasn’t until 11 years later that awards were presented in the television field as well.
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2. Location, Location, Location
While the location of the Golden Globes Awards ceremony has taken place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California since 1961, it has been previously hosted at the 20th Century Fox Studios and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
3. The Ushers
There wasn’t always a beautiful girl (or handsome guy) ushering presenters and winners around the stage. The concept of Miss Golden Globe wasn’t introduced until 1963. We’re assuming that before then Hollywood stars had to find their own way out of the spotlight. These days the honor of Miss Golden Globe typically goes to a daughter or son of a Hollywood celebrity who is involved in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the organization that puts on the awards). Think Jack Nicholson’s daughter, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s daughter, etc.
4. All Hail Queen Meryl
As of the 2014 awards, Meryl Streep is the actress with the most nominations ever–a whopping 28. She also has 8 wins, another a record. It’s no wonder she is such Hollywood royalty…and it makes us feel a lot better about watching The Devil Wears Prada on repeat. She’s that good!
5. That One Strike
Since the awards were first broadcast on national TV in the 1980s, they have only been cancelled one time, in 2008 due to the Writers Guild strike. The winners were announced in an hour-long press conference instead of the typical gathering of beautiful people we’re used to watching on TV.
6. Tina & Amy at the Helm
The upcoming awards will be hosted by the dynamic and hysterical duo of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. This is the 3rd time they have hosted together, first sharing the Golden Globe stage in 2013 for the 70th annual awards, then again in 2014. They claim this will be their final time rocking the Golden Globes stage, but in true Amy Poehler fashion, she also made a crack that “we’ll be the Jay Z of the Globes and never retire.” Here’s hoping.
7. Categorically Consistent
There are 5 major award categories for motion pictures: best motion picture, best actor, best actress, best director and best screenplay. The only movie to have ever taken home all 5 awards was One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1975.
8. Delightfully Unpredictable
The Golden Globe Awards show is known to be the most unpredictable of the awards shows. Like that time in 1998 when Christine Lahti had to be rushed out of the bathroom when she won the best actress in a drama TV series for Chicago Hope. Or that time last year when Emma Thompson walked onto the stage barefoot and with a cocktail in her hand. Or when Amy Poehler kissed Bono after winning best actress in a comedy TV series. This year’s show is almost here… who knows what will happen!
