“Green Book” was another surprising feature that sneaked its way in to win Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.  The film tells the story of the unlikely business transaction turned friendship of renowned pianist Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali – Best Supporting Actor) and bouncer Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) who is hired to protect Shirley when he tours the South in the early 60s.  There have been mixed reactions to the film since its release in November with criticisms that it failed to address the larger scope of racism, but the Oscars look to be gearing up to give more praise to the “Green Book” regardless.

It would have been nice to see something more edgy like “The Favourite” or “Vice” win the honor, as they are both outlandish in their own ways, but at least each of these film’s stars left a winner.  Olivia Colman gave a delightfully bashful and witty acceptance speech when she won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for role as Queen Anne in “The Favourite,” thanking her costars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz by lovingly calling them “bitches.”

Christian Bale’s metamorphosis into the detached, power hungry Dick Cheney payed off with him taking home the title of Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. While many may not look at “Vice” as a comedy, it’s bleakness in regards to authoritative power with the U.S. government in tandem with Bale’s performance make it an eerily obvious fit.  Bale thanked the Devil and his children “Banana” and “Burrito” in his acceptance speech.

Other amazing wins were given to Regina King for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in “If Beale Street Could Talk” and to a gob smacked Glenn Close for Best Actress in A Motion Picture – Drama for her role in “The Wife.”

Alfonso Cuaron won Best Director for the strikingly intimate “Roma,” while “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” took home Best Animated Motion Picture for its off-the-wall comic book form of escapism.

Then we get to the television portion of the show. 

Hosts Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh are not only two of TV’s hottest stars, but a match made in nice-meets-nice heaven.  Instead of joking about their odd pairing and dwelling on political issues, the pair gave audiences a light and enjoyable evening while avoiding the cringiness that can become complacent with such a gig.

Oh’s win for Best Performance by an Actress – Drama was a moment of sheer joy made only more impactful by her father’s beaming face in the audience.  She shouted her winning show’s title “Killing Eve!” victoriously.

Patricia Arquette won Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series for her role in the Ben Stiller directed Showtime miniseries “Escape at Dannemora,” and celebrated with a bit of profanity when commenting on her character’s false teeth and by praising Stiller in her speech.

Television’s newest darling Rachel Brosnahan took home another award for her role of Midge Maisel in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series.  Alex Borstein, who plays Susie Myerson on the streaming sensation, lost to Patricia Clarkson for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her turn in “Sharp Objects.”

Another upset came in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy.  Veteran Michael Douglas took home the Golden Globe for his role in the Chuck Lorre-directed “The Kominsky Method.”  The Globes tend to favor the familiar and Douglas is no exception.  This category, however, was filled to the brim with talent.  Jim Carrey’s performance as the “mad Mr. Rogers” stereotype Mr. Pickles in “Kidding” was a work of dark comedic genius, as was Bill Hader’s role as a disillusioned-wannabe-actor-hitman in “Barry.”

The evening’s highest honors were reserved for the stuff of legend.

The ever hip Jeff Bridges was this year’s recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award and delivered a long winded but well-intentioned speech about the work he’s done with notable actors, directors and nameless faces over the years.  Icon Carol Burnett instated the new tradition of the Carol Burnett Award with a teary-eyed recollection of her work on “The Carol Burnett Show,” commenting on how her show wouldn’t be able to make it on the air today.

This year’s Golden Globes were far from the most diverse, and were a touch frustrating due to the exclusion of some of the year’s best movies, television and coinciding performances, but there is progress.  The Golden Globes is not only one of Hollywood’s loosest nights, but is an important stepping stone to the long road to the Oscars.  And the road looks ever winding as the eventual winners remain even harder to pin down.