The Golden Globes are back, and the 80^th anniversary of the awards show was a resounding success both critically and with the stars in the room. Many also let us know on social media and from the stage as winners just how happy they were to be back at the Beverly Hilton in a room full of stars and TV and film top executives. “This is a fun night,” White Lotus winner Jennifer Coolidge declared from the stage with her statue in hand. Guillermo del Toro also had a moment of giddy excitement when he said how great it was to be back “in person’ at the awards show.
Despite a very late night following the long ceremony and fun after-party downstairs, I was able to sit down with fellow HFPA members Scott Orlin and Elisabeth Sereda the morning after the event, to talk about the winners, the surprises, our favorite memories and address a few misconceptions about the HFPA and our long history for championing new talent, not just stars, something we’ve been doing for 80 years and something we did again in 2023.