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From Daily Variety: Globes more in line than in year's past Award Season Focus: The Actor & The Actress By John Anderson 'Bridesmaids,' with Golden Globe nom Kristen Wiig, left, was one of the few comedies last year to receive near unanimous acclaim. The annual eruption of critical snark set off by the announcement of the Golden Globes nominations is usually followed by a sheepish admission: Many of the choices were in line with what was expected.

Mark Held talks about designing the floral centerpieces for this year's Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15, 2012.

Anke Hofmann (left) and Zoya Malinskaya start the process of printing and issuing 1308 of the hottest tickets in town for next week's 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

More than 9000 glasses of Grand Vintage Moet & Chandon champagne will be served on the red carpet and inside the ballroom at this year's Golden Globe Awards, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, January 15, 2012.

With the 69th Annual Golden Globes ceremony only ten days away, preparations at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills have already started. Yesterday, the International Ballroom opened its backstage doors and numerous - mostly locally hired - crews will start its transformation into one of the most glamorous venues Hollywood has ever seen.

Watch Executive Pastry Chef Thomas Henzi create the delicious dessert that will top off the dinner in the Beverly Hilton Hotel Ballroom during the 69th Golden Globe Awards ceremony on January 15, 2012.

H ollywood beware! Ricky Gervais has warned that he may "really be drunk" when he hosts the Golden Globes awards show on January 15. The controversial British comedian whose remarks at last year's show offended some of the  star guests told Matt Lauer on the Today Show: "Controversy is irrelevant to me.

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It has taken six months of meticulous planning for the chefs at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to prepare for the Golden Globe ceremony on January 15.   Executive chefs Suki Sugiura and pastry chef Thomas Henzi have created an elegant and mouth-watering  menu reflecting the global nature of the Golden Globes and it will take a team of 40 chefs and 110 kitchen staff members to prepare it on show day.

  More than 1,000 mini bottles and 500 magnums of Grand Vintage 2002 Moet & Chandon champagne ----more than 9,000 glasses----will be served on the red carpet and inside the ballroom at this year;s glittering Golden Globes awards ceremony on January 15. For 21 years Moet & Chandon has provided the champagne for the 1,500 guests and this year will be celebrating its anniversary with its specially-created, award-winning 2002 Grand Vintage.