The bar wasn't set very high at Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards. After last year's host Jo Koy suffered a memorable bombing, this year's host Nikki Glazer couldn't have done worse. But she wasn't satisfied with just getting better. After workshopping her opening monologue in dozens of club appearances over the holidays, she killed it when it mattered, blasting the star on hand at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., and stealing viewers' hearts on social media. I grabbed it. The rest of the night went pretty smoothly, with a mix of expected and surprise winners. But it wouldn't be an awards show without some truly funny moments. Here are the highs and lows we've seen:
Best Host: Nikki Glaser
When Glazer began putting together her Golden Globes monologue in early December, she told the writing staff, “Don't be afraid to be weird.”
The proof was in her stunning monologue on Sunday. It included some of her familiar hard punches, including a nice insult to Paramount+ and a joke about how Sean Combs' arrest would affect the afterparty. But I also had the impression that Adam Sandler was pronouncing Timothée Chalamet's name, which was sheer stupidity. Sandler also participated. Glazer doesn't usually do impressions, but she actively participated and it worked out really well, adding to the fun, celebratory atmosphere. Kick off the night.
If there's one joke that sticks out to me from every test, it's probably when she lists some candidates. “'Wicked,' 'Queer,' 'Night Bitch.' And added: “It's not just what Ben Affleck screams after sex.” Another death occurred on Sunday. — Jason Zinoman
Glazer's night started on the red carpet wearing a billowing strapless gold ball gown. For her first stage appearance, she changed into a silver sleeveless sequined gown. By 8:30, she was wearing her third dress of the night. An hour after the ceremony began, she was wearing dress No. 5, a sequined pink sleeveless stunner. By the end of the night, she had worn what appeared to be 47 more outfits. Everything that was missing? We wish we'd seen Demi Moore's viral yellow “Substance” coat. — Sarah Barr
Freshest development: An unexpected winner
It's been an exciting and unpredictable awards season so far, and the Globes have certainly delivered a lot of hardware to already strong nominees like 'Emilia Perez' and 'The Brutalist.' But it still feels like a vast field. In the actor race, Demi Moore, Fernanda Torres, Sebastian Stan and more score unexpected wins, producing some of the most heartfelt speeches of the night, with even more predictions for the already competitive Oscar category. It became difficult. And the complete shutout of “Anora,” which ended with a bang on Sunday, means that little is set in stone this season, with the ultimate Oscar winner being decided long before the Globes began judging. It was a fun turn of events several years after what seemed like a foregone conclusion. — Kyle Buchanan
Least Fresh Development: Retro Red Carpet Looks
Considering the Hollywood awards show celebrates the art of roleplaying, it probably wasn't a huge surprise that a major trend on the 2025 Globes red carpet was…retro role-playing. Sho. Ariana Grande did her best Audrey Hepburn impression in 1966 Givenchy haute couture. Selena Gomez channeled Jackie Kennedy in an icy blue Prada and stylized bob. Nicole Kidman and Margaret Qualley wore giant bouffants from Catherine Deneuve in a sea of mostly traditional tuxedos.
Call it a return to classicism, a throwback to the past, or the legacy of Joan Rivers, who instilled fear of ridicule in celebrities around the world. But by the time Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro arrived wearing new Balmain and Dior versions of old 1950s ball gowns, the stylists and designers working behind the scenes were looking forward, not backward. I couldn't help but wish I could start convincing them. The client will be taking some additional (unscripted) risks. — Vanessa Friedman
See all the looks from the red carpet.
Most inspiring speech: Demi Moore
While the Globes are not directly related to Oscar nominations, Academy members certainly pay attention, and Demi Moore, who won for “Substance,” may have earned a slot in the Best Actress category with her enthusiastic speech. I don't know. Moore spoke poignantly, empathetically and movingly about her career struggles over more than 30 years, including being told she was a “popcorn actress.” She added that she received the “ridiculous” script for The Substance when she was at the lowest point in her career and thought it was over.
But Moore, now 62, experienced a reversal of fortunes, with stars in the room cheering her on, with some even giving her a standing ovation. One woman told her that she thinks about “moments when I think I'm not smart enough, beautiful enough, thin enough, successful enough, or fundamentally not good enough.” said Moore. stick. ” — Nicole Sperling
Sincere Speech: Tadanobu Asano
Many of the Golden Globe nominees have visited the Beverly Hilton before. And while the Globes are now a more serious affair than they once were, actors still treat their wins with varying levels of respect. This is what made Tadanobu Asano's “Shogun'' acceptance speech stand out. It was his first win in his first pick, and it showed. “Maybe you don't know me,” he began. “I'm an actor from Japan. My name is Tadanobu Asano. Oh!” His friends stood and cheered him on. Then, grinning and clutching his prize, he added, “This is a very big present for me!” He certainly seemed to mean it. — Matt Stevens
Strangest honor: box office performance
The award, which recognizes “movie and box office performance,” was first created in 2024, and this year it was rightfully awarded to “Wicked.” The official criteria is to be the “most critically acclaimed, most grossing, and/or most viewed” feature, which basically represents all nominated films. But it must have made $150 million worldwide and at least $100 million domestically. This pretty much fits the dictionary definition of a blockbuster. (“Wicked” grossed more than $680 million worldwide in 2024.)
It's a strange award, but presenter Vin Diesel used his foreword to contrast his “Fast and Furious” series with Steven Spielberg's work (he produced a summer blockbuster with “Jaws”), made it even more bizarre. (1975). But no matter how much fun the movie was, handing out gold statues to celebrate film production banks at the box office is also a bit of a participation trophy. In the words of Don Draper, “That's what money is for.” — Alyssa Wilkinson
The biggest lesson I didn't learn
Amidst an onslaught of commercials for weight loss injections and various pharmaceutical creams, pills, drops and supplements, Nikki Glazer criticized Hollywood's penchant for plastic surgery. “I love the position of your cheekbones!” she riffed to the audience during her opening monologue.
But unlike other hosts, she admitted that she has also made some tweaks. Claiming to have started healthy habits such as “drinking more water,” she said, “I love how my eyelids go away when I meditate,” referring to the common sagging skin known as blepharoplasty. . “I didn't learn anything from 'The Substance,'” she added.
The Hall of Mirrors was even more excited that night when the film, a feminist body-horror tale, won Demi Moore her first Globe Award for playing an aging star who finds a grotesque way to rejuvenate herself. It was just that. — Melena Rydzik
The best and worst innovations: Fun facts about broadcast television
Hey, did you know that Mindy Kaling was named after the TV show Mork & Mindy? Or is Zoe Saldaña's karaoke classic “Piece of My Heart”? The Golden Globes used “pop-up videos” throughout the telecast, showing these “facts” about the winners and presenters on screen. I shared it in the text above. At first, this addition seemed semi-clever, but as the announcer shared even more facts on top of the ones we had to read, it all became too much. Even if you're into celebs, this one turns out to be TMI — Mehcad Murphy
I thought the Golden Globes trivia was refreshingly weird. Fun facts about awards season can feel canned, like who they spent time with to prepare for a role or when was the last time a nominee had a big win. TMI or not, my night was vastly improved by learning that Demi Moore is an avid doll collector with a mansion where she keeps over 2,000 vintage dolls. — Annie Aguiar
The wisest advice: “Hack”
The Globes are notorious for boozing, but after “The Hux” won the TV Comedy Award, series co-creator Paul W. Downs took issue with giving his stars celebratory drinks. I warned you. The show is currently in production on Season 4, and a 6 a.m. call time awaited the cast and crew the next morning.
“So if Jean Smart asks you for a shot, please don't give her a shot, okay?” Downs said. “Kate Winslet, wherever you are, I'm watching you. Give her some water.” The camera cuts to Winslet, who wags a finger at Downs. Downs: “Just a shot. Maybe one.” — Esther Zuckerman
Most supportive presenter: Elton John
When it was announced that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross had won Best Original Score for “Challengers,” Elton John reacted like a proud parent, letting out what appeared to be genuine joy. He was a good stand-in for an audience that was excited to see that thumping, propulsive musical triumph. When Reznor and Ross took the stage, John could be seen smiling enthusiastically behind them as if he had won himself. — Kelina Moore
strange camera work
Although it was ostensibly a glamorous ceremony, the show itself looked terrible on screen. The presenters were photographed in terrible close-up, giving everything a stern and casual feel. The swirling camera work during some of the acceptance speeches felt like a red carpet slow-motion booth popping out of its enclosure. And the presenter did not face the entire theater, but rather directly to the camera on one side. Seth Rogen called it “inelegant.” That's strange. My bald spot is visible across half the room. I would have filled it out. I said no and now I regret it. ” — Margaret Lyons
