What was on TV? Sun, Jan 16, 2005

zeitgeist

5:00 Golden Globes on NBC

(Record Malcolm in the Middle and King of the Hill on Fox)

Watch the red carpet and the ceremony on Youtube

Watching the Golden Globes is kind of like playing roulette, even 20 years after the fact. There are unjust wins and cringe moments galore. But every once in awhile something strange and/or delightful happens. That's how they get you! Some of the cringiest, strangest, and most delightful moments from this year:

• Doing this project means that I've been hearing an average of five terrible Star Jones jokes per week. So strange to the the woman in the flesh! It's a sobering reminder of what counted as "fat" in the 2000s (she looks like she's in great shape, geez). I want to defend her, but she's bad at this (deceptively difficult) job. Her dress is pretty though!
• Christine Lahti is here (nominated for Jack and Bobby) so of course everyone is talking about the infamous bathroom incident.
• Lisa Ling asked Mike Nichols and Diane Sawyer if they talked about the plot of Closer???? Awkward!
• Randy Newman or someone who sounds a lot like him sings some kind of intro song??? A must watch!!
• Natalie fangirling over Mike Nichols during her acceptance speech for Closer and Meryl congratulating her when presenting, showing solidarity as a fellow Mike Nichols girl, was so cute.
• Glenn Close seemed disproportionately excited to win for best actress in a miniseries or TV movie for Showtimes's The Lion in Winter. Good for her! This was the dawn of her hardcore TV era, she was about to start her run on The Shield which led straight into Damages.
• Interesting vibes at the Desperate Housewives table.
• Nip/Tuck winning best drama is peak Globes
• Also peak Globes? Nominating Matt LeBlanc for Joey
• Robin Williams wins the Cecil B. DeMille and gives a great speech, mentioning that the Globes honored him with best newcomer and then gave the award to Zadora a few years later, keeping him humble. Everyone was praising the HFPA for their tsunami relief efforts tonight, so someone needed to remind us who the HFPA really are (were?).
• Robin Williams compares the ballroom to the set of "Star Trek the Musical" and it is hilarious and very apt.
• It was over when Clint beat Marty for best director. Congratulations on your second Oscar Clint!

8:30 Arrested Development on Fox

2x07 "Switch Hitter"

Available on Netflix

Lucille serenades J.K. Simmons and Maeby accidentally becomes a movie executive (if I remember correctly, one of the better storylines in the revival season followed up on this plotline). But for an episode centered on a softball game, the game itself isn't really funny. It feels like a wasted opportunity.

9:00 Desperate Housewives on ABC

1x12 "Every Day a Little Death" (record Carnivale on HBO and He Knew He Was Right on PBS)

Available on Hulu

Desperate Housewives has always had a conservative streak (Marc Cherry was a prominent log cabin Republican). 20 years ago, this show was perceived as anti-Conservative, since the success of such a scandalous program left the Parents Television Council and everyone who tried to take advantage of nipplegate with egg on their face. But this episode makes it crystal clear: Desperate Housewives is a conservative show. Not only is Bree is revealed to be a member of the NRA, but Carlos tampers with Gabrielle's birth control medication. Bold of the show to assume I'll ever want to see his face again after that.

And yet, Edie throwing Mrs. Huber's ashes in Susan's face is a perfect moment and reminds me why I bother watching this show (at least for now).

What Else Was On

Candice Bergen joined the cast of ABC's Boston Legal.

TiVo Status

The Masterpiece Theater miniseries He Knew He Was Right and The Lost Prince, and one episode each of Carnivale, Law and Order, King of the Hill, and Malcolm in the Middle. 11 hours total.