Where do I even start? I'm coming down with something so it wasn't until I woke up in the middle of the night trying to breathe that I realized what I had just witnessed. An evening that is usually epitomized by Ricky Gervais' merciless snark, a room full of old men and their tense teenage brides, whose pre-nups are running out like parking meters, and Jack Nicholson talking out of his ass, was suddenly transformed into three hours that felt like getting to catch up with my favorite girlfriends at a really nice wedding.
First there was the delicious joy of being welcomed by Tina Fey and Amy Pohler and being reunited with their real-life camaraderie and shared wit. Oh, and they looked slamming. Which makes me especially happy as Father Time is about to drag me by the ankles over the 40-yard line. I desperately need role models with faces that move. They proceeded to beautifully set the tone the way women do. They were funny and insightful (James Franco, it needed to be said) but not nasty. Ricky Gervais always seemed to enjoy making everyone nervous. A hostess knows that is no way to kick off a party.
Then, after the female head of the HFPA greeted us, and we met Mister Golden Globes (it's about time!) the estrogen started flying. Claire Danes gave the kind of dizzy acceptance speech that only the mother of a three week-old could. I completely related to that moment of panic she had toward the end. Wait -- I know I had a point -- what was I saying? -- Wow, I'm really tired -- am I still up here? And God bless her for telling Ryan Seacrest she was afraid of leaking. That's what I want to hear!
Then onto Lena. The wonderful, magical Lena. Yes, no one thought that she could walk in those shoes. But how endearing is that? She's 26, people. She needs to have something to look back on and say, never again. Next year she'll wear flats.
And then, just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, she appeared. And I was embarrassed as I watched the montage to admit I had forgotten. I think perhaps every woman in the room realized they had. I had forgotten that there would be no Zero Dark Thirty, no Girls, no Homeland, without this fearless woman who stood before us. I remembered seeing The Accused as a teenager -- the raw anger, vulnerability and determination she brought to her performance changed the way we saw women, the way we talked about rape. She was the first tough cookie of this era, wielding a gun, catching the killer, saving her child, fighting for justice -- through her choices she expanded what a generation of girls thought they could grow up to be. Her speech was honest and intimate, uniquely feminine in its scope and ambition. I was flooded with gratitude for her and I hope she will keep influencing the medium -- either in front of -- or behind -- the camera.
And even though they were women winning in female categories, I loved Jennifer Lawrence's straight shooting and Anne Hathaway acknowledging Sally Field. Between the two of them I am excited as the mother of a girl for what I can point to in the work they've done and the work we have to look forward to from them. See, Sophie, this one doesn't brook any crap and gets the job done. And this one is charming. Take a bit of both and you can never go wrong.
Then, just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore Girls took best comedy and Homeland took best drama. I know the HFPA is a quirky little group, representing publications like Good Morning Reykjavik, and they have lauded many people over the years no one has ever heard from again. But I'm allowed to be exuberant that the ladies took the house! So twice loneliness was acknowledged. What do you expect? When we get together we share how we're really feeling. And now we know millions of people want to tune into that. I was inspired. I was galvanized. I was exhausted -- it was waaaaay past my bedtime.