For all its glamour, fashion and start power, I was reminded of the nuttiness at the center of the Golden Globe Awards when Hollywood Foreign Press Association Presidident Tho Kingma took to the podium Sunday night to give his salutations.
In his heavy Dutch accent and clumsy attempt at humor (“bathroom break!”), he was recognizable as a guy on an ABC set visit I was on. Foreign press association members are courted year-round (because yes, TV and films want to be recognized). But he always asked the must unuasual questions. His resume for the HFPA, too, notes that his first job in the industry was at projectionist. Since then he’s been a photographer for some European publications. And now, king maker!
It all helps explain that, amid some of the expected winners at the event, with “12 Years a Slave” and “American Hustle” taking top film awards, this was also the place where the simply agreeable “Brooklyn Nine Nine” took home a pair of undeserved awards — for best comedy and best comedy actor, Andy Samberg. Somewhere, lost in translation is the word acting. It must mean smirking and mugging in other countries.
Much more accepted were the awards for “Breaking Bad” as best drama, and best actor Globe for Bryan Cranston.
Being strange in voting means that some things that wouldn’t be honored elsewhere accidentally get accolades that are actually deserved, such as the one for Elisabeth Moss for her work in the splendid “Top of the Lake.” That miniseries didn’t get a huge audience or buzz, but even less came for “Dancing to the Edge,” which allowed the press association to finally bestow Jacqueline Bissett with a statue and the platform to show just how much alcohol can be consumed early in the program.
The association likes Old Hollywood and now finds itself to be among them. So Michael Douglas got the prize for “Behind the Candelabara” which he probably deserved. Jon Voight got one for his work on Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” a win that falls into the left field category.
And the association also honors those who help the association. So Amy Poehler whose work with Tina Fey in hosting the past two years have elevated the awards show with assured comedy, got her own Globe for “Parks and Recreation” that was also deserved. But she sure was surprised.
Left turns are usually no surprise at the Golden Globes.