Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were fearless in delivering the Golden Globes monologue Sunday with jabs at the HFPA’s diversity problem, James Corden and Kate Hudson among other remarks.
Fey, 50, was broadcasting from New York City’s Rainbow Room, while Poehler, 49, was at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, as the celebrities remained at home via remote streams, with first responders and essential workers in attendance, seated at socially distanced stations.
Fey brought up the controversy that unfurled amid the recent revelation there were no black journalists amid the 87 members in the HFPA.
The latest: Tina Fey, 50, and Amy Poehler, 49, were fearless in delivering the Golden Globes monologue Sunday with jabs at the HFPA’s diversity problem, James Corden and Kate Hudson among other remarks
‘The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of around 90 international – no black – journalists who attend movie junkets each year in search of a better life,’ Fey said. ‘So, let’s see what these European weirdos nominated this year.’
Poehler said, ‘This is probably something we should’ve told you guys about earlier. Everybody is understandably upset at the HFPA and their choices. Look, a lot of flashy garbage got nominated but that happens, okay? That’s like their thing. But a number of black actors and black-led projects were overlooked.’
Fey said, ‘Look, we all know award shows are stupid … the point is, even with stupid things, inclusivity is important and there are no black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
‘I realize, HFPA you many not have gotten the memo because your workplace is the back booth of a French McDonald’s, but you got to change that.’
Fey brought up the controversy that unfurled amid the recent revelation there were no black journalists amid the 87 members in the HFPA
Double trouble: Fey was broadcasting from New York City’s Rainbow Room, while Poehler was at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles
Repeat: Poehler and Fey returned to host for the fourth time; the comedy duo did the honors in 2013, 2014 and 2015
Queens of comedy: The duo headlines the first-ever awards show to be broadcast from two separate coasts
Poehler said she is ‘looking forward to that change.’
In a subsequent segment on the show, HFPA officials acknowledged the issues and pledged to focus their efforts on improving things moving forward.
‘We’ll look feared to a more inclusive future,’ HFPA President Ali Sar said. ‘That means creating an environment where diverse membership is the norm, not the exception.’
Ex-HFPA President Meher Tatna said, ‘We must ensure everyone from all underrepresented communities get a seat at our table -and we are going to make that happen.’
Celebs including James Corden and Kate Hudson also made for fodder in the monologue.
Fey said of the late night host, ‘The Queen’s Gambit is … whatever James Corden was up to in The Prom I guess,’ in reference to controversy of Corden playing a gay character in the film.
They also joked, ‘Sia’s Music is nominated for best international flop-eroonie … and I don’t want to get into guys, but it’s real problematic, and Twitter is saying that it’s the worst casting since Kate Hudson became a Weight Watchers spokesperson.’
Jokes: Fey said of the late night host, ‘The Queen’s Gambit is … whatever James Corden was up to in The Prom I guess’
The joke was a reference to controversy of James Corden playing a gay character in the film
Yikes! Kate Hudson’s efforts in Sia’s Music fell under scrutiny from the duo
This year’s ceremony, which usually takes place in early January, was pushed back to February 28 as Hollywood continues to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic and new safety guidelines.
Poehler and Fey returned to host for the fourth time. The comedy duo did the honors in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
It is the first ever awards show to be broadcast from two separate coasts.
Netflix smash-hit Emily in Paris found itself as one of the more controversially nominated shows, landing a nomination for best TV series, musical or comedy. The show’s star, Lily Collins, also got a nod for best actress.
Much of the uproar surrounding the nomination stems from the snubbing of Michaela Coel, whose HBO drama I May Destroy You failed to land any nominations.
Deborah Copaken, one of the writers of Emily in Paris, even spoke out to criticize the Hollywood Foreign Press for shunning Coel.
Copaken tweeted that it was ‘just wrong’, and later expanded on her thoughts in an op-ed for the Guardian.
Coast-to-coast: Fey, 50, was broadcasting from New York City’s Rainbow Room, while Poehler, 49, was at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles
‘Am I excited that Emily in Paris was nominated? Yes. Of course. I’ve never been remotely close to seeing a Golden Globe statue up close, let alone being nominated for one,’ she wrote.
‘But that excitement is now unfortunately tempered by my rage over Coel’s snub. That I May Destroy You did not get one Golden Globe nod is not only wrong, it’s what is wrong with everything.
‘We need art that reflects all of our colors, not just some. But we also need to give awards to shows (and music and films and plays and musicals) that deserve them, no matter the color of the skin of their creators,’ she went on to write.
Last year’s 77th Golden Globes, hosted by Ricky Gervais, averaged 19.2 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched network telecasts of 2020.