Ricky Gervais was as insulting as ever in his Golden Globes monologue Sunday night. But he mixes in enough truth to make the insults funny.
For instance, there was this advice to those destined to win:
“Listen, if you do win tonight, remember: No one cares about that award as much as you do. Don’t get emotional — it’s embarrassing, OK? That award is, no offense, worthless. It’s a bit of metal that some nice old confused journalists wanted to give you in person so they could meet you and have a selfie with you."
He's right: No one cares about any award as much as the winner. But there is also this truth: If no one cared, awards programs wouldn't be broadcast. Nor would there be as many awards, in so many industries, as there are.
Journalism is packed with awards contests. I've entered plenty, judged plenty and won a few. I've learned one more truth: They are all subjective -- just as the Golden Globes and Oscars and Emmys and Tonys are. There is always a group of stories, or editorials, or movies, or plays that is better than the rest. Picking the top five or 10 is fairly easy.But within that group, what sets the best apart from the rest? Is "The Revenant" really a better movie than "Spotlight"? It's all in the eye of the beholder -- and why those who are nominated but not boring us with an acceptance speech are still proud of their work.
