Jimmy Fallon awed and entertained audiences Sunday night as the host of the 74th Golden Globe Awards. The show aired with a pre-recorded opening act starring Fallon, and featuring celebrities such as Justin Timberlake and Ryan Reynolds.
In the humorous musical intro, Fallon hilariously parodied the top winning show of the night, La La Land, and teased other shows, such as Stranger Things.
As Fallon walked on stage, he immediately impressed the nation with his improvisational talent. Fallon nervously remarked that the teleprompters were down, yet he seamlessly continued his monologue. He laughed off the error and resumed the show quickly and effectively. With skill, he captured the audiences’ attention. Fallon’s humor ranged from witty, to facetious impressions of celebrities and shows, to comical mockery of pop culture. After a commercial break and the teleprompter issue was resolved, the awards presentation began.
Though the presentation of awards by fellow actors provided viewers a sentimental perspective on each award-winner, it left audiences grasping for a true host. Viewers expected a significant amount of Fallon on-screen because of promotions such as commercials and the CNN website ads starring Jimmy Fallon. However, more somber acceptance speeches filled the spotlight, leaving crowds unsatisfied with the lack of Fallon’s likable personality and charm on screen.
Viola Davis touched hearts as she introduced Meryl Streep’s Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Cecil B. DeMille Award, admitting to years of bashfully admiring her and boasting about Streep’s deep and inspiring connection to her characters. Meryl Streep presented one of the most remarkable acceptance speeches of the night. She utilized her platform and position, successfully igniting a deeper conversation about the meaning of the arts. Streep took the stage, and with a hoarse tone apologized for losing more than just her voice:
“I have lost my mind earlier this year, so I have to read,” Streep said.
Streep shared her heartache toward Trump’s mockery of a disabled reporter in 2016, saying his actions gave permission for others to follow suit. Reciting a list of accomplished foreign actors including Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams and Natalie Portman, Streep claimed that Hollywood is filled with people of all backgrounds. She alluded that Trump’s immigration policies could eliminate the necessary diversity in the United States’ arts. Though the time and place were not preferable, she smartly took advantage of her opportunity to address the nation as a whole. Her wise words served as a wake-up call, warning of future problems and asking for the nation to stand together and protect the arts. In receiving an award honoring her lifetime of achievements, Streep’s made a righteous decision to discuss Trump’s threats to the acting community’s diversity and call for journalism protection. Streep deserved the chance to use her worn voice, and her desperate and heartbroken words resonated with the audience.
NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon displays a more relaxed side to Fallon than viewed on the Golden Globes. Fallon’s smile and stage presence remains constant between both shows, but his jokes fall more natural and with a focus on current events in his talk show. Subtle differences appear in his comedy, but Fallon’s ability to conduct a crowd and show remains unyielding.
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) took the stage to accept her award for best performance by an actress in a TV series, musical or comedy. Her emphasis and words moved people, and the actress delivered her speech with style and purpose. Ross thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for recognizing her achievements. Ross displayed humility in associating the heightening levels of honor colored people have reached with her awards speech, accepting her speech in honor of all colored people.
Satisfying emotional speeches and Fallon’s youthful demeanor made an exhilarating night. Fallon’s hosting was humorous, livening the concert hall and providing fun through the evening. This awards show provided satisfying speeches ranging from laughable to moving, but lacked professionalism in errors like the failed teleprompters. The next major awards show airs The Academy Awards, Feb. 26, at 8:30 p.m. EST.
For a list of award winners, click here.
The HiLights
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When: Jan. 8, 2017 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Hosted by: Hollywood Foreign Press Association