A little more freewheeling than the Oscars or the Emmys, the Golden Globe Awards gather A-list celebrities and mix liberally with food, alcohol and a near three-hour live telecast.
If the Academy Awards bills itself as Hollywood's biggest night, the Globes is surely Hollywood's biggest party.
Since 1943 the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has bestowed statuettes to entertainment's biggest names and successes, and more often than not, it's the unplanned action off- and on-stage that keeps viewers tuning in year after year. From the red carpet risks to the occasionally inebriated behavior at the tables, it's a chance to see Tinseltown's boldfaced names kick back and be themselves.
Check out these moments from over the years that prove when it comes to the Golden Globes, absolutely anything can happen.
Renée Zellweger is missing in action
"Nurse Betty" star Zellweger was M.I.A. when Hugh Grant announced her as the 2001 Golden Globe best actress in a musical or comedy winner. "Where is she?" Grant asks a mumbling crowd when Zellweger fails to hit the stage to collect her statuette. "She's under the table? Renée's drunk ladies and gentlemen," Grant joked before nervously beginning to accept the award on her behalf. Talk about an ill-timed bathroom break. A shocked Zellweger finally makes it to the stage, admitting she was dealing with "lipstick on my teeth!" [[362465891,C]]
Jodie Foster (sort of) comes out
U.S. & World
"Silence of the Lambs" star Foster has always kept her private life just that. So when accepting the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award in 2013 with a rambling speech that touched on subjects as diverse as ageism in Hollywood, the support she gets from Robert Downey Jr., and her 47 years in the business, the audience perked up when she said, "I guess I just have a sudden urge to say something. Something I've never been able to air in public. A declaration that I am a little nervous about. ... I'm just going to put it out there. Loud and proud, right? ... I am single." It was Foster's way of poking fun at the rumors surrounding her sexuality for so many years. [[362466151,C]]
Jack Nicholson takes the prize, and a pharmaceutical
While accepting the 2013 Globe for best actor in a drama motion picture for "About Schmidt," a smooth-talking Nicholson thanked all the right people, had a little fun with his co-stars, and then announced to the delight of the audience that "I know the evening is getting short. I took a Valium tonight." Enough said, Jack. [[362466411,C]]
Bette Midler makes the most obvious, awesome joke
It's a double entendre always ready at the gate when it comes to referencing the Golden Globes. Back in 1980 it couldn't have been more fitting than have the Divine Miss M herself make the pun while accepting the best actress in a comedy or musical for "The Rose." It's a joke Midler credits to early silver screen star Joan Crawford. Even funnier than the joke itself? The usually ribald Midler struggling with embarrassment ahead of delivering the punch line. [[362466651,C]]
Elizabeth Taylor tries to announce the winner before the nominees
Acting legend Taylor was having quite the night when she took the stage to reveal the best picture drama winner in 2001. Perhaps it was nerves, perhaps it was a case of being over-served during the prior three hours at her table, but the "Cleopatra" star decided to open the envelope first before reading the list of contenders. Whatever the reason for her confusion, the Hollywood icon saw the humor in the situation. "I'm new at this," Taylor joked as Dick Clark came to her rescue on stage. "I usually like to get them," she added. [[362467121,C]]
The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live on Sunday, January 10, 2016, from 8:00 p.m. (ET)/5:00-8:00 p.m. (PT) on NBC.