Golden Globes 2009

Credit: REUTERS/Patrick Riviere/Landov; Bryan Bedder/Getty

Heath Ledger's Family 'Overjoyed' By Globe Win

Originally posted 01/11/2009 09:05PM

Although Heath Ledger's family couldn't be at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, they were there in spirit as the actor was honored posthumously for his wicked portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

"We are overjoyed for him," his father Kim Ledger told PEOPLE of his son's win for best supporting actor in a drama, and added: "It's wonderful."

Ledger, of Perth, Western Australia, cited personal reasons for not making it to the ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan accepted the award for the actor. "On behalf of all of us who worked with Heath on Dark Knight, I accept this with mix of sadness and incredible pride," said Nolan. "He will be eternally missed but he will never be forgotten."

Read More

Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Globes Glitter Again After a Year Off

Originally posted 01/10/2009 01:50PM

With a newly revamped trophy (streamlined), nominated couples (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) and an eye-pleasing roster of presenters (Zac Efron, Jennifer Lopez, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hayden Panettiere), this year's 66th Golden Globe Awards ceremony promises to shine – and perhaps even lift spirits left sagging by the economy.

One thing is already certain: Sunday's Hollywood Foreign Press Association festivities, once again being held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and broadcast on NBC at 8 p.m., will be a marked improvement over last year's ratings-deprived shadow ceremony, at which winners were MIA due to the then-ongoing Writers Guild strike.

This year, the stars will turn out. "My mom is my date to the Golden Globes," Rachel Gets Married nominee Anne Hathaway told PEOPLE this week.

The only no-show will be John Travolta, who canceled his appearance as he copes with the death of his son Jett. Travolta's animated film Bolt got a best song nomination for his duet with Miley Cyrus on "I Thought I Lost You."

Read More

Credit: Peter Kramer/AP; Evan Agostini/AP

Take a Spin of the Golden Globe Parties

Originally posted 01/09/2009 09:30AM

The Golden Globes are back – and so are the parties!

After the ceremony was canceled last year due to the writers' strike, the awards season kicks off in earnest this weekend, and PEOPLE has all the details of how the stars will party before, during and after the big show.

It all begins the day before with these Saturday fetes:

LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL
Multiple nominee Ralph Fiennes and magazine cover boy is the man of the evening at the Mondrian Hotel's Skybar. Newly engaged Alyssa Milano, Lisa Rinna, and Joey Fatone are expected to sip VeeV cocktails poolside with Fiennes at the outside soiree.

MIRAMAX
Open to Disney and Miramax nominees only, this year's party will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The guest list includes nominee Miley Cyrus, who co-wrote a song for the film Bolt.

Then, after the last Golden Globe statue is handed out in NBC's 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. telecast from the Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom, party-goers will not have far to venture, with three bashes on the hotel property and one across the street:

Read More

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Some Nip/Tuck for the New Golden Globe Statue

Originally posted 01/06/2009 03:20PM

To get ready for the Golden Globe Awards, one 66-year-old Hollywood icon had a little work done.

The venerable Globe statuettes have undergone minor changes to improve their "detail and symmetry" and to firm up the frame "so they will be more durable in transit," says Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which sponsors the awards.

The trophy also has a new marble base and an improved, velvet-lined, leather-bound carrying case.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards air Sunday on NBC at 8 p.m. – Mike Fleeman

Credit: Jemal Countess/WireImage; Ryan Miller/Getty

Blake Lively, Laurence Fishburne to Present Golden Globes

Originally posted 12/29/2008 04:00PM

Three more stars have been added to the star-studded list of presenters for next month's 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards!

Gossip Girl hottie Blake Lively, The Dark Knight's Aaron Eckhart and newly minted CSI lead Laurence Fishburne will all hand out awards at the ceremony in January.

The new presenters join an array of big- and small-screen stars like Drew Barrymore, Jake Gyllenhaal, The Mentalist's Simon Baker, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez, who had already been announced. Funnymen Sacha Baron Cohen, Ricky Gervais and Seth Rogen will also be on hand, as will new mom Amy Poehler.

Read More