2019 Golden Globes to be 'less politically charged'

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Actress Sandra Oh wants to bring a lighter tone to the Golden Globes after last year's awards show took a much more serious approach centered on the #MeToo movement.

Oh said on Thursday that she and fellow host Andy Samberg will provide a "moment of joy" at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on Sunday night. She and Samberg were first paired as award presenters during a comical set at the Emmys last year when Oh ripped up the winner's envelope, referencing the 2017 Oscars "La La Land" slip-up before the duo pieced together the card and announced the actual winner.

(L-R) Barry Adelman, executive vice president of Television for Dick Clark Productions, Isan Elba, Golden Globes ambassador, Sandra Oh, actress and presenter, Andy Samberg, actor and presenter, Meher Tatna, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Allen Shapiro, executive chairman of Dick Clark Productions stride over a red carpet scroll at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, January 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

"I know when Andy and I were talking about the feeling that I really want to bring, and really focus on, is just to have a moment of joy," said Oh, who is favored to win a Golden Globe award for the best actress for her "Killing Eve" role. "Honestly, with who is going to be in that audience, the nominees this year, it excites me so tremendously...mostly because of the diversity in that room."

"Everyone is depressed, and maybe that's as good a reason as any that everyone could use a little time to laugh and celebrate," Samberg said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Not to ignore anything, but we spend so much time every day wallowing in a lot of things that are happening in our world that are really depressing, and with good reason — that stuff needs to be paid attention to — but there's also power to being positive and celebratory in the tougher times as well."

Sandra Oh (L) and Andy Samberg present the Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Award during the 70th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, September 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Meher Tatna called last year's ceremony an important moment in the television and film industry as many dressed in black in solidarity with the victims of sexual harassment. But she said Sunday's awards won't be as politically charged.

Tatna said she hopes the Golden Globes can return to its roots as the "party of the year" by giving attendees an opportunity to "escape reality." The awards show is known for being a place of celebration, serving a bevy of champagne.

"I think everybody is tired of politics and maybe for one night we can have fun and not worry about the state of the world," said Tatna.

(Cover: Sandra Oh (L) and Andy Samberg (C), hosts of the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards, are interviewed during the event's preview day at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, January 3, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AP