WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 LIFE3D
From red-carpet interviews, to the nominees
and winners, to last call at the after-parties,
our coverage is like the Oscars of the Oscars.life.usatoday.com
YOU’LL BE
SEEING STARS.
A lot can happen in six hours.
For a Golden Globe Awards at-
tendee who arrives on time, that’s
about how long you spend in the
Beverly Hilton ballroom to cele-
brate those whom the Hollywood
Foreign Press Association deems
the best in TV and film.
Those six hours can have emo-
tional extremes. Here’s a gamut
of strong feelings you might have
at the schmoozy, boozy awards
soiree if you’re a first-time guest.
(This reporter was a bit feverish,
which may explain some of the
heightened emotions.)
EXCITEMENT
You’re there at 2:30 p.m., when
the invitation said cocktails are
served. The ballroom is empty,
save a handful of photographers.
You wait for them to finish so you
can take photos of your own and
examine who is sitting where:
Film stars get prime spots closest
to the stage, TV actors are one
level up, members of the HFPA
are a row up from there, and
you’re another step away.
LONELINESS
At 4, you’re still the only person
at your table for 10. (Later, you’ll
learn other journalists are seated
at Table 316, but they know not to
arrive so early.) The dozens of
other tables have only a couple of
guests each. You eat your entrée
of fish and steak alone. You miss
the waiter when he leaves.
ADMIRATION
Half an hour later, “talent” begins
arriving. You find some of your
favorite stars in the bars outside
the ballroom. Sylvester Stallone
looks friendlier and younger than
you imagined. He orders bourbon
as you comment to his brother,
Frank, about those mini cham-
pagne glasses with the attached
sippers. Frank pretends to play
one like a trombone.
You’re distracted by a stunning
yellow gown. You realize it be-
longs to Emily Ratajkowski, who
avoids eye contact with you when
you consider complimenting her.
Michelle Williams and Natalie
Portman stand out in the crowd.
Even if you didn’t know who they
were, you’d know they were spe-
cial — faces kind; skin perfect;
body language
approachable.
You see a person you
later realize is Casey
Affleck, but for a mo-
ment think he’s an
old friend you can’t
place. You recognize
a hoarse voice asking
for directions to the
bathroom as belong-
ing to Cuba Gooding
Jr., and turn to direct
him. He gives you an ap-
preciative smile, perhaps
grateful you didn’t make a
“show me the restroom” joke.COMPASSION
It’s 5, time for the show. The ball-
room is vast but not as big as it
looks on TV. The Hilton manages
to cram more humans into it than
a fire marshal might consider
safe. Stars aren’t immune to the
tight traffic: You accidentally
brush into Carl Weathers and
Hugh Grant as you try to traverse
the room.
Stars win awards, they thank
lots of people. You can tell where
the winning studios and casts are
sitting, based on the loudest ap-
plause. You feel a vicarious thrill.JEALOUSY
Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek tells
Modern Family ’s S o fi a Ve r g a r a ,
“Congratulations on all of your
wins over nine years.” Colin Far-
rell and Bryan Cranston embrace.
Justin Timberlake and Pharrell
talk to each other in high-pitched
voices. It’s some inside joke.
It looks like something you’dlike to be a part of, but you’re not
— you’re press; you’re just observ-
ing. You hear Naomie Harris
complain that her dress gives her
little room to breathe. You shoot
her a sincere, sympathetic look
even though you’re not in her
conversation. You think about
how fun this would be if you were
celebrating your own accom-
plishment with your own friends.GREED
By 7, you realize you should take
advantage of the food and drink
stations. You score a “dark choco-
late with hazelnut ganache” bite
(that’s what the woman in the chef
hat calls it) from the chocolate
bar. You try an espresso from the
coffee bar and may have acciden-
tally cut the line to get it. You get a
vodka soda from the bar-bar. You
know you’ll probably ditch that
drink soon and order another one,
because ordering drinks is fun.You don’t smoke, but kinda wish
you did so you could schmooze
Heidi Klum, who’s focused on cap-
turing a good selfie on the smoking
deck overlooking the pool.RESPECT
After indulging, you’re full and
ready to listen. Remember, that’s
the reason you’re there.
Though the crowd at the bar is
loud, as Matt Damon comments
when he takes the podium, you
stop hearing those people when
Viola Davis presents the Cecil B.
DeMille Award to Meryl Streep.
Then, Streep makes an impas-
sioned speech about diversity,
politics and art. The room gives
her the biggest standing ovation
of the night, with several ap-
plause moments throughout.
People are nodding emphatically.HAPPINESS
La La Land was your favorite film
of 2016, so it delights you that it
keeps winning trophies. You seeothers win, including Tracee Ellis
Ross, Casey Affleck and Donald
Glover. You want them all to keep
winning at life!EXHAUSTION
There’s an announcement during
commercial break: “We are run-
ning way over. Work with us and
we’ll work with you.” Not what
you want to hear at 8 p.m.
You realize how tired you are,
though all you’ve done is walk, eat
and sit. Oh yeah, you’re sick.GRATITUDE
You see Sunny Pawar, the 8-year-
old star of Lion , shivering in an
oversize tuxedo jacket that clearly
doesn’t belong to him. You’re told
that he’s not feeling well. You just
want to hug the kid.
Instead, you congratulate every
winner you walk by, including
Tom Hiddleston, Billy Bob Thorn-
ton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. You
mean it. They smile graciously
while gripping their Globes.ENTERTAINMENT
Carly Mallenbaum
@thatgirlcarly
USA TODAY
USA TODAY
USA TODAY reporter Carly Mallenbaum powered through six
hours of Golden Globes celebration — and a fever.WE SAT IN THE GOLDEN GLOBES
BALLROOM. HERE’S WHAT
IT’S LIKE DOWN THERE