Golden Globes 2019 opening: Andy Samberg, Sandra Oh have fun, get emotional
Tonight, the Golden Globes took a rather exciting risk with their hosting position, bringing in the one-two punch of Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh in order to host.
Why choose these two? Well, they were coming off of a great presenting gig at the Emmys and we think that for the Hollywood Foreign Press and NBC, they were looking for something that was a little bit different. This was a chance to do some cross-promotion given that Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs on NBC; meanwhile, beyond just that we think that they also just wanted to bring a new energy to the show.
At the start of the show, the two decided to do a “roast” of some Hollywood stars — this was basically Andy doing the same thing that he did at the Comedy Central Roast of James Franco, but with some help from Sandra, he managed to carry this through. Not all of them worked, but the one about how Andy wants Jeff Bridges to be his dad was legitimately funny.
There were some bumps in the road along the way, but we do think that the opening picked up a little bit of steam when Oh went on a run about Crazy, Rich Asians and the success of the movie. (Sandra Oh’s mother in the audience was precise.) Also, Sandra’s bit about First Man was great and Samberg’s joke about The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was shocking and a little bit different. (They also kicked Jim Carrey out for sitting in the film section and the reaction was very Jim Parson.)
While this wasn’t a perfect opening segment by any means, we do think that the two were funny, relatable, and also super-genuine. Sandra’s speech at the end was different as she talked about the diverse atmosphere in the room. She got emotional talking about all of the “faces of change” out there, and that probably does set the tone for the remainder of the night.
This was an uneven opening by all means, but at the same time it was a fun opening. This was a nice way to open the show and set the tone for all sorts of exciting things that are going to happen throughout the night.
What do you think about how Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh opened the 2019 Golden Globes? Be sure to share in the comments.