Entertainment
The 10 Funniest, Drunkest, and Most Touching Golden Globe Speeches In History
Every pop culture fan knows the Golden Globes' shining badge of honor: BOOZE! As Ricky Gervais said when he hosted in 2012, "It's so good having a job where you can get drunk and say what you want." Celebs getting drunk and then getting on a podium to give speeches to an audience of millions? It's all we could ask for. Here are some of the most memorable speeches from Globes past. We'll see if anyone tops them on Sunday!
Bette Midler, Best Lead Actress in 'The Rose' (1980)
Adorable Bette Midler with her inimitable perm was reticent to tell a dirty joke when accepting her award for Best Actress in The Rose, but she told it anyway: “I’ll show you a pair of Golden Globes!”
Chris Colfer, Best Performance in a Supporting Role for 'Glee' (2011)
His first win and first nomination! For the occasion, he was cute, funny, and even inspiring: “To all the amazing kids that watch our show that are constantly told no… well, screw that.”
Tina Fey, Best Actress in '30 Rock' (2009)
First of all, I’d like to give Tina Fey an award for that plunging neckline. But also for her speech that relates to anyone who has ever written anything on the World Wide Web: “If you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the Internet, and you can find a lot of people there who don’t like you. And I’d like to address some of them now.”
Jim Carrey, Best Actor in 'The Truman Show' (1999)
Jim Carrey is UP there on my celebrity crush list. So sue me. He’s so hilarious but also an incredible actor, which most of us who saw The Truman Show were privy to. As he said accepting his award: “Thank you for seeing more in me than just funny faces.”
Christine Lahti, Best Actress in 'Chicago Hope' (1998)
You might not remember Christine Lahti or the show Chicago Hope but her speech, or lack thereof, is one of the best Golden Globes speeches ever. Robin Williams fills some down time on stage in Lahti’s absence, But she eventually showed up breathless, but very happy: “I was in the bathroom, mom!”
Meryl Streep, Best Lead Actress in 'The Iron Lady' (2012)
Streep seemed so shocked and stressed that she won, even though she’s won EIGHT Golden Globes alone. Knock a drink back, mama Meryl — you’re at the Golden Globes! Still, her speech was lovely and charming, paying tribute to all of the women in amazing roles that were nominated alongside her, with the cutest expletive ever: “Oh shit! Where are my glasses?!”
Sacha Baren Cohen, Best Actor in 'Borat' (2007)
The funniest speech to ever hit the Globes podium, Cohen delivered an ode to the testicles of his co-stars (which somehow sounded eloquent in Cohen’s British accent).
Mo'Nique, Best Supporting Actress in 'Precious' (2010)
I can’t even watch this without crying. I fucking love you, Mo’Nique. “I celebrate this award with all the Preciouses, with all the Marys, I celebrate this award with every person that’s ever been touched — it’s time to tell, and it’s okay.”
Jamie Foxx, Best Actor in 'Ray' (2010)
First of all, holler at Jamie Foxx in that suit. (And at Diane Keaton, who presented him the award, in THAT suit.) This speech was so beautiful, with Foxx focusing on his experience with the man he played to win his award, Ray Charles. Charles’ advice to Foxx: “Life is notes right underneath our fingers. All you gotta do is take time to play the right notes.”
BONUS: Jodie Foster Accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
“For all of you SNL fans: I’m 50!!!” Jodie Foster started her speech for her Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. But along with a sense of humor, she brought a sense of importance, coming out at the podium and speaking about the value of privacy as a public figure (albeit in a Golden Globe-patented, slurry way). And she also offered some excellent advice: “There are a few secrets to keeping your psyche intact over such a long career: Love people, and stay beside them.”
