‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Succession,’ ‘The Bear,’ ‘Beef’ win big at Golden Globes

Although the popularity of nominees “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” might have drawn more curious onlookers, “81st Annual Golden Globe Awards” host Jo Koy appeared to dare viewers to stay tuned.

It was clear early in his 12-minute monologue that the crowd was not with him as evidenced by myriad reaction shots of grim-faced celebrities, most notably “Barbie” actor Ryan Gosling after stand-up comic Koy joked, “I don’t want you guys to think that I’m a creep but it was kind of weird being attracted to a plastic doll. It’s just something about your eyes, Ryan.”

Later in the telecast, Koy joked, “The difference between the NFL and the Golden Globes is on the ‘Golden Globes’ we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” as cameras cut to a scowling, unamused Swift. “I’m sorry about that,” Koy apologized.

And that wasn’t even his first apology of the night. Three minutes into the show, Koy said, “Yo, I got this gig 10 days ago. You want a perfect monologue? Yo, shut up. … I wrote some of these [jokes] and they’re the ones you’re laughing at,” seemingly throwing the show’s other writers under the bus.

(At least Koy was more entertaining/less annoying than the “Entertainment Tonight”/Variety red carpet digital pre-show that featured an obnoxiously fawning Rachel Smith, who sounded like an Amy Sedaris character on “At Home with Amy Sedaris.”)

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the limited series sweep by Netflix’s “Beef.” Otherwise, the favorites largely won in the film (“Barbie,” “Oppenheimer”) and TV categories (“Succession,” “The Bear”).

The telecast’s best early comedic bit came from presenters Keri Russell and Ray Romano, who managed to charm with patter that could have gone sideways (he complimented her work, she didn’t seem to have seen his) but somehow it worked with a fantastic punchline.

“I’m almost caught up on ‘The Laundromat,” Romano said.

“‘The Diplomat,’” Russell replied, correcting him on the title of her Netflix series.

“Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen got laughs when he won the best supporting actor/TV drama trophy and said, “I just adored every second of playing the human grease stain that was Tom Wambsgans. Tom Waunsgams, CEO, I should say, God help us.”

In a display of what could have been if he’d been chosen to host, stand-up comic Jim Gaffigan got big laughs, including from Taylor Swift, when he said of the Globes adding a category for stand-up comedy specials, “For 80 years good-looking people threw a party and then you guys finally decided to invite the talented people.”

Although the “Globes” telecast moved at a decent clip with awards largely spread around among titles in the first 90 minutes, the show’s stage design at The Beverly Hilton was not ideal. The stage jutted out into the audience in a way that undoubtedly cut down on seating and created maze-like table placement that resulted in celebrities weaving their ways through a circuitous and too-long routes to the stage.

It was a rough night for projects with Pittsburgh ties, which largely went home empty-handed.

Filmed-in-Pittsburgh “Rustin” was nominated for two awards: best actor in a movie drama (Colman Domingo) and best original song (“Road to Freedom” by Lenny Kravitz). Domingo lost to Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and the award for original song went to a tune from “Barbie.”

Partially Pittsburgh-set “Daisy Jones the Six” was up for three nominations (best limited series, actor Sam Clafin and actress Riley Keough) and won none.

Neil Druckmann conceived of “The Last of Us” video game while a student at Carnegie Mellon University. The HBO adaptation won in none of the categories it was nominated in.

Prime Video’s “Air,” about Trafford native John “Sonny” Vaccaro’srole in signing Michael Jordan to a Nike shoe deal, was up for two awards (best comedy/musical, Matt Damon for actor in a comedy) and won neither.

Carnegie Mellon University student Dominic Sessa starred in “The Holdovers,” which was nominated for best musical/comedy (it lost to “Poor Things”), comedy actor (Paul Giamatti, who won and dedicated his award to teachers) and comedy supporting actress (Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won).

This year’s telecast marks the Globes’ first time on CBS since 1982. The show had aired on NBC since 1989 and was a proven ratings-winner until scandals rocked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Globes, which was criticized for a lack of diversity among its membership and accusations of sexual assault against an HFPA member. NBC refused to televise the awards in 2022 until the HFPA instituted reforms and aired the 2023 show on a Tuesday night, where ratings cratered. Last year the HFPA dissolved and the Globes became a for-profit enterprise as part of a slate of reforms that also included an expanded, more diverse voting body. (Multiple winners, who apparently didn’t get the memo, still thanked the HFPA.)

The 2024 Golden Globe winners were:

Best movie drama: “Oppenheimer.”

Best movie comedy: “Poor Things.”

Best director, movie: Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”).

Best screenplay, movie: Justine Triet, Arthur Harari (“Anatomy of a Fall”).

Best actor, movie drama: Cillian Murphy, (“Oppenheimer”).

Best actress, movie drama: Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).

Best actress, comedy movie: Emma Stone (“Poor Things”).

Best actor, comedy: Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”).

Best score, movie: Ludwig Göransson (“Oppenheimer”).

Best picture, non-English language: “Anatomy of a Fall” (France).

Best song, movie: “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas (“Barbie”).

Best animated movie: “The Boy and the Heron.”

Best stand-up comedy, TV: Ricky Gervais (“Ricky Gervais: Armageddon”).

Cinematic/box office achievement: “Barbie.”

Best supporting actor, movie: Robert Downey Jr. — “Oppenheimer.”

Best supporting actress, movie: Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”)

Best TV drama: “Succession” (HBO).

Best TV comedy: “The Bear” (FX).

Best actor, TV drama: Kieran Culkin (“Succession”).

Best actress, TV drama: Sarah Snook (“Succession”).

Best actress TV comedy: Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”).

Best actor in a TV comedy: Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”).

Best supporting actor, TV drama: Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”).

Best supporting actress, TV drama: Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown,” Netflix).

Best limited series, TV: “Beef” (Netflix).

Best actor, limited Series: Steven Yeun (“Beef”).

Best actress, limited series: Ali Wong (“Beef”).

‘Kingstown’ needs prisoners

Paramount+’s “Mayor of Kingstown” begins filming its third season this week and casting needs men age 18 and older (all ethnicities) to play prisoners on Jan. 16. Pay is $250 for 12 hours. Details and apply at http://www.movieextraspittsburgh.com/mayor-of-kingstown-prison-scene.html.

Kept/canceled

Max renewed Chuck Lorre comedy “Bookie” for a second season.

Disney+ canceled the excellent “American Born Chinese” after a single season and Starz axed “Minx.”

Channel surfing

All six seasons of “Northern Exposure” are now streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video. … Martin Scorsese’s awards contender “Killers of the Flower Moon” is now streaming on Apple TV+. … CBS’s “Late Late Show” replacement series, “After Midnight” hosted by comic Taylor Tomlinson debuts at 12:37 a.m. Jan. 16 on KDKA-TV. … Former NBC series “Smash” will transition to a six-week, fully stage musical workshop (for recruited audiences only) this month as a precursor to a planned debut during the 2024-25 Broadway season. … Alongside “The White Lotus” returning cast member Natasha Rothwell (she played spa manager Belinda in season one), season three of the HBO drama will star Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey and Tayme Thapthimthong. … CBS ordered a “NCIS” prequel series, “NCIS: Origins” for the 2024-25 TV season that will be narrated by original “NCIS” star as it focuses on a younger version of his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs in 1991 at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. … After MSNBC canceled “The Mehdi Hasan Show,” its host announced he’s leaving the network.

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.