Ricky Gervais and David Oyelowo at HBO Golden Globes After Party 2016 (all photo credit: Filmmagic)
Once again the premium ticket after the Golden Globes award show was the HBO after party, where reportedly 1200 stars, artists, producers and executives mingled and touted the evenings results as guests, nominees and winners headed downstairs from the banquet room where the awards show is televised at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles to the lower level where multiple parties happen back to back under the highest security. Entrée to each party is of course an exclusive ticket. The HBO party took over the famed Trader Vics, patio and pool outside with a tented dance floor and DJs spinning records all night.
Oscar Issac wins best actor for HBO's Show Me A Hero
Oscar Isaac was there with his Golden Globe win for actor in a limited series for HBO's Show Me a Hero, HBO's win of the night. John Hamm, Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Elisabeth Rohm, Bryan Cranston and Larry David were there to name a few.
Jon Hamm and Matt Walsh of Veep
Ricky Gervais tore up the stage by pulling everyone's pants down with his verbally pranking style. As he said on stage with a shrug after several of his most cutting jokes: "I just don't care." But his irascible manner calls back a time when the Golden Globes was less politically correct and had more the energy of a private party where folks let off steam before everyone acted properly for the academy awards.
Ricky Gervais and Sean Bean
Sean Bean, who anchored the first season of Game Of Thrones, told me how how he's "been looking for Harrison Ford ever since he hit me in the face in Patriot Games." Of course Harrison Ford was four feet away with Calista Flockart talking to Rob Lowe and Amanda Peet, but how great that Sean Bean is the only person in the world who can make that joke.
Harrison Ford and Christina Flockhart
I asked Sean about his performance in The Martian, a winner that night with Best Actor in a Comedy for Matt Damon, and Best Picture for Ridley Scott and his team. Sean played "Mitch Henderson" one of NASA's top decision makers, in a scene where NASA determined how to rescue Damon's character with a gravity assist around the Earth. The secret math formulas had been 'code named': ELROND. "What's Elrond?" Christen Wiig's character asks the others in the room. "A secret meeting," replies Sean's character. Of course Sean Bean played Boromir in Lord Of The Rings, and was at the secret meeting in Lord of the Rings at Elrond's home where the fellowship devises the plan to drop the ring into Mount Doom. Sean laughed when I asked him if they wrote the line for him, or if it was originally in the script. "That line was there when I got the script, and I looked at it and wondered - how am I going to play that? Because - I was there... it's a secret meeting..." he said almost quizzically, and then smiled. "Really, how am I supposed to say that?" A great reminder of his range and many indelible performances.
Emilia Clarke and writer of Game of Thrones David Benioff
Game of Thrones was not a winner that night, but Emilia Clarke, who brings Daneris to life, was there, her true long brunette hair down in waves, and wearing a stunning figure hugging dress, her second dress of the evening. The first was black Valentino with a long train for the awards gala, but this one was clearly better for moving and dancing. She was speaking with Michael Lombardo, President of Programing. I asked Michael his thoughts on the evening and congratulated him on his Human Rights Campaign "Visibility Award" last year when Lena Dunam had given him a remarkably glowing and affectionate introduction. (a link to my article on that award night here) "We really strive for a feeling of family and really support that. As for us, we're looking to the future, we're focusing on innovating and moving forwards. Tonight we have this evening to celebrate with all the people who give so much and have a great time," he said.
The Silicon Valley Boys; Zach Woods, Marin Starr, Thomas Middleditch and Kumai Nanjiani
Jonathan Buss, one of the producers of Seven Days In Hell, with Andy Samberg, congratulated Michael as well, a reminder of HBOs dedication to their comedy programming, notably this season with Veep, nominated best series that night, Girls and Last Week Tonight, both winners in years past, and Silicon Valley, nominated for best comedy both last year and this, and a winner of two Emmys last year.
Also in attendance, Judd Apatow, Liev Shrieber and Jonah Hill
Natalie Dormer of Game of Thrones
Brian Cranston and Sir Patrick Stewart
HBO's Michael Lombardo and Emilia Clarke
Elisabeth Rohm from Joy
Niecy Nash, Regina King and Viola Davis nominated for How To Get Away With Murder
Larry David
Julia Louis Dreyfus
Rachel Bloom and husband Dan Gregor
Rachel Bloom came in late to the party holding her well earned trophy from her new show.
"I couldn't have done this without a million other people," she told me. "I'm taking this to set tomorrow and letting everyone hold it. That the Hollywood foreign press supports new shows - I'm so happy tonight for everyone involved."