I tweeted much more during the arrivals than during the show, when I wanted to pay attention to the proceedings. And the arrivals nonsense always has the most to snark about. You can still read the tweets @MajorCelebrity, and then, if you don’t already, please follow me while you’re there, so you catch all my bon mots next time.

And if you missed my review yesterday of the actual Oscars show, you can still read it right here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/awards-show-oscars-2026.

In general, there were soooo many people on the red carpet whom I have never seen before in my life! The same for Mr. X—he constantly asked me, “Who???” And we had seen most of the movies in contention! So these other people are marginally in the biz, and just got dressed-up and had their publicists place them on the carpet.

I’m not saying these people aren’t important. It’s just the only pic I had taken of one we didn’t recognize. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one above of Miles Caton and his mom.

And all four shows I watched interviewed the same C-list peeps over and over. And for long times.

I have to clarify that they were all incredibly talented artists, but when before in history have any of these shows interviewed voice artists and animation and documentary filmmakers on a red carpet??? The answer is “never.”

And all the channels did that for the duration, not just using the early-arrivers. As I explained to Mr. X, people who would not have a chance in hell to get interviewed if they showed-up to the event later, as the stars do, arrive early to get on camera. For example, Yvette Nicole Brown, who did a voice in Zootopia 2, was all over the carpet at the beginning of the shows. And the hosts kept her talking as long as they could because…there was no one else there yet!!! I have never before seen so many voice actors be interviewed on red carpets, unless it was for their movies’ premieres.

So that brings us to my quick thoughts on all the arrivals shows:

LOCAL LOS ANGELES ABC ARRIVALS

But good for Yvette Nicole Brown to have lost weight. It looks to be about a hundred pounds. I’m not angry at people who are using the weight-loss drugs, as long as they don’t deny it. (Mr. X had no idea who she is, so I showed him her “before” pix. He still didn’t recognize her from TV, but was shocked by her new look, saying, “She looks like a completely different person!”)

Poor Joelle Garguilo’s unfortunate nose job. It looks sort-of like if Pinocchio had had one. Photo by Karen Salkin.

We never saw his female host, Joelle Garguilo, before, but she has the absolute worst nose job we’ve ever seen! And, as you might imagine, being a Jewish girl from Brooklyn, I have seen more than my share of rhinoplasty!!! I was looking down writing these notes when Mr. X exclaimed about it, and I thought, “How bad could it be?” So when I looked up, I was shocked! That woman must really regret it, no matter what she looked like before—it cannot be worse than this!!!

I guess Alicia Silverstone is clueless…about what she looks like!

I was surprised to see Shaboozey on the red carpet, since he’s a music biz guy, and has never been involved in movies. But I love that he looked so handsome!!! Whoo whoo.

Eighty-nine-and-a-half-year-old Buddy Guy spoke very thoughtfully. Nice to hear.

Rose Byrne. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Rose Byrne looked the most like what a movie star is supposed to look like! Mr. X couldn’t get over how “upscale” she looks! You go, girl!

Misty Copeland looked dreadful!!! What the heck was she wearing??? Mr. X sarcastically asked, “What do her boobs look like?,” because she was totally exposing them. That was so strange because I always think of ballet dancers as so classy.

I’ve never seen Renate Reinsve before, (because I haven’t had time to see her film, Sentimental Value yet,) but from this one interview, she just became my favorite current actress! (In case you’re wondering, Gene Tierney is my all-time fave, and Meryl Streep is my fave who works now, but hasn’t done a movie in a little bit, until her The Devil Wears Prada 2 comes out in two months, anyway.)

Musician Brittany Howard made me think that it was good to see one person not be on Ozempic! And she cracked me up when she responded to a stupid query about if she had learned special steps for the big number from Sinners that night, with, “I am self-choreographed today. I’m gonna do my thing how I do it.” I love that!

Cadaver-esque Demi Moore. Photo by Karen Salkin.

This channel did have one okay host, (out of about five or six,) Whit Johnson. He’s handsome, has a great voice, and was not trying too hard, as most of the others were across the board.

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter gave a really thoughtful answer, not making it about herself. Good for her! I did not expect that from a two-time Oscar winner!

While we’re on fashion, that is what Jessie Buckley wore to win an Oscar??? Ugh.

Miles Caton from Sinners and his uber-young-looking mom are adorbs! I love that he brought her as his date on his big night. What a happy experience for them to live and for us to witness. [That’s Miles and his mom at the top of this page. Photo by Karen Salkin.]

Good try, Demi Moore, for your attempt to hide your skeleton arms with that poof of feathers, but it didn’t work. You looked more like a cadaver than ever!

Elle Fanning. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Kieran Culkin looked like he hadn’t slept in two months, and spent all that time just eating bloating junk foods. What is up with that?! Did he forget that he was going back to the Oscars that night to present a big award?!

Elle Fanning actually had the best dress. It was very like the one that Jennifer Lawrence had worn when she won her Oscar.

LOCAL KTLA

Finally, a red carpet interviewer I actually liked! Melvin Robert was nice to everyone, and actually listened to what they were saying. And I never saw him interrupt anyone. On behalf of all awards show viewers, I thank him for that. (I didn’t realize he was the same dude that was featured on an invitation I had received just the day before! It’s to a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, and he’s one of the two guest singers! I’d love to hear him, but, as Mr. X says I always am, I’m overbooked this weekend. But you can still see them at the Saban in Beverly Hills both nights.)

I loved that Melvin was so visibly touched to meet, and sing Ask of You with, Raphael Saadiq. That was a lovely moment.

Ken Jeong is magical. When he shows up, everyone just feels better. I know that I do. I believe that he’s really happy to speak with everyone at these baloney shows.

Josh Dallas, looking like a putz, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Photo by Karen Salkin.

How did Heidi Klum get such a fat face all of a sudden? She looked weird. And her body actually looked sort-of dumpy. She looked very matronly. I guess age gets to everybody, even former models. And what was she doing at the Oscars, anyway? She has absolutely nothing to do with the film business!

Wunmi Mosaku from Sinners always seems so nice. She’s a stranger I really like.

Does Ginnifer Goodwin think that hair looks good??? And with those gigantic ears, it’s even worse. And what the heck was her husband, TV’s Josh Dallas, wearing??? He looked like a major putz.

E CHANNEL

This was weird—this show had only one interviewer! All the others had multiple hosts; some even had a half dozen!

Alicia Silverstone. Photo by Karen Salkin.

So let me discuss her first. Zuri Hall was at least okay at her job, and is good-looking, but she was so rude from time to time—talking to people about how much money they make!!! I’ve never seen anything like that on a carpet. Ewww.

Has anyone seen Alicia Silverstone and Miss Piggy together? At least there’s one person in Hollywood who’s not on Ozempic. And, not to pile on, but who did her makeup? You could fly first class with all those bags under her eyes!!! (I honestly did not have a clue that she played Jesse Plemons’ mother in Bugonia! Neither Mr. X more I recognized her in that film at all!)

Wow, this is a surprise—Mike Fontaine, a white guy, did the hair and makeup for Sinners!!! Maybe that was to do the vampire faces because otherwise that’s seems a bit like a strange hire.

Now Zuri Hall told Chase Infiniti, the young girl in One Battle After Another, who was wearing a dress that was a lilac that was so faint it was almost white, “You’re bringing the color on the carpet!!!” What?! Does she not know pastel from real color???

Jacobi Jupe and his actor dad Chris. Photo by Karen Salkin.

While those people were discussing baloney, there was my favorite actor—adorable and darling twelve-year-old Jacobi Jupe, from Hamnet. He sweetly embraced his father instead of acting all obnoxious and independent to have his dad join him on the red carpet, as many other youngsters would have done nowadays.

Is there anyone sweeter in show business than Miles Caton, the young guy from Sinners? Even Mr. X paid attention to his interview here and said, “What a nice guy. And so appreciative.” What he said.

And his co-Sinners actress, Wunmi Mosaku, is the best! I know I already mentioned her from the previous interview, but she’s so nice, I had to mention her twice.

I was sort-of surprised all evening that the trio of Korean singers of Golden are actually all…American! The little one even sounds more like a valley girl than I do! They were so cute together. (On a side note, the tall one who wore big gold balls on her fingernails, definitely could not pick her nose that night! Just saying.)

ABC NATIONAL

Note to ABC: it’s not nice to shoot people’s butts walking up the steps!

The rear view of Yvette Nicole Brown. It was so rude of ABC to open the show with that image of her walking up the Dolby’s steps! Photo by Karen Salkin.

The best comment all night from a host was what Jesse Palmer said about F1’s Damson Idris, “We say in sports, ‘look good, feel good, play good.’ He’s doing all three, and he’s built for speed, as we all know.” I’m sure Damson appreciated those sentiments.

Acting nominee, (for The Secret Agent,) Wagner Moura seems so nice.

What the heck was eventual winner, Amy Madigan, wearing??? I know she’s not young, and is very wrinkled, but she could have done waaaay better! But she speaks sooo well and everything she says is so sincere. When wished “good luck” by the red carpet host Tamron Hall, she replied with a super sincere, “Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!”

I was very surprised that when the show was beginning in just fifteen minutes, no big stars had been interviewed yet!!! And this was the official Oscars arrivals show!!! (All the other pre-shows were in the same boat.)

Sigourney Weaver could have chosen a sooo much better outfit.

Kate Hudson looked great, especially her creamy skin and her arms.

Ethan Hawke gave the best interview! He imparted true interesting information.

And that is a wrap for the 2026 awards season! Well, after I tell you about a couple of Gifting Suites in the next few days, of course. And then it’s on to sports-watching for me.

Because there were sooo many arrivals shows this year, they’ll be getting their own column here tomorrow. so all I will say about them today is this:

Presentation of the final award of the night–Best Picture. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the similar one above.

The surprising thing about the arrivals is that many of the heavy hitters, (Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothee Chalamet,) were not interviewed on any of those shows. I’m assuming that Leo just shunned them, and that Timmy’s “people” told him to steer clear so that he would not have to discuss his recent controversy. (I’ll be devoting an entire column to this sad topic next week, but if you’ve been living under a rock, this is the gist of it: In a recent interview, he sort-of maligned ballet and opera, which has made people with something to hold against him crazy.)

Mother Goldie Hawn, (who really needs to cover her age-spotted chest,) and daughter Kate Hudson.

I live-tweeted as much as I could, so if you missed any of my bon mots, you can still read them now @MajorCelebrity. (And please follow me while you’re there, so that you never miss any more of them.)

If you’re curious, here’s the most recent one: Am I the only one who thinks the Oscars producers really missed the mark by not having Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn present an award together? They were both there, for goodness sake! People would have gone nuts over the mother-daughter duo! But what is up with Goldie’s more than sun-dappled chest? When it looks like that, see a dermatologist, have it lasered, or at least cover it up!!!

Here are the rest of my thoughts on the show, with a few general ones first:

What a waste of the announcing spot. Why would they hire someone working from, any remote location, least of all across the pond in London??? And the guy is supposed to be a comedian, but I didn’t even notice him. That part is actually a good thing—I hate it when I notice the announcers for other shows, such as the Grammys. But they could have hired someone in LA. Just saying.

Oscars host Conan O’Brien. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Having even that brief segment of that guy talking to host Conan O’Brien was one just one of the many wastes of time on the show. Even though I have nothing to do with music whatsoever, I’m offended that only two of the songs got played. But they made time for that announcer talk, did a stupid taped bit about editing movies to play on phones, and a Casablanca spoof. They really need a new producer next year, such as yours truly!!!

By the way, I am impressed with all these creatives, even when I’m putting them down for one reason or another.

Now let’s get to the telecast in the order that they happened:

Mr. X and I loved, loved, loved Conan’s monologue. I was especially happy with the comical and gentle way he got the Timothee Chalamet situation out of the way early.

Amy Madigan’s great speech made me cry. A lot. Mr. X deemed it “a popular win.”

I hate to say this, because I’m a fan of so many artists in it, (such as Shaboozey, Misty Copeland, and Miles Caton,) but the Sinners nominated song number was like a bad rehearsal, with everyone warming-up at once, before the director shows up! Everyone in it was extremely underused. With all the advance hype, I was expecting sooooo much more! It was really much ado about nothing. Mr. X said the number was “less than remarkable,” which is a generous understatement.

The so-nothing Sinners musical number. Photo by Karen Salkin.

On a side note, Misty Copeland needs to mix in a sandwich or two. She looked dreadful! Retirement is not agreeing with her. (But, to her major credit, she danced—en pointe!—so beautifully just three months after hip replacement!!! You go, girl.)

That was the best Anne Hathaway ever looked!!

Neither Mr. X nor I ever knew that Anna Wintour is British!!! How did that fact escape us?! (I guess we were always just too busy wondering why she chooses to always wear sunglasses and rock that helmet hairdo!)

New Oscar winner Cliona Furey. Has anyone ever seen her and Springsteen’s wife together? Photo by Karen Salkin.

The winner for Best Costume Design for Frankenstein, Kate Hawley, seemed so grateful and lovely. But shouldn’t she have designed a better outfit for herself that night?

Is Jacob Elordi’s date his mother? Or a cougar? Either way, I’m jealous.

Once again, I was just at an event with an Oscar winner! Cliona Furey, who won for makeup on Frankenstein, (and is a Patti Scialfa doppelgänger,) and I were both guests at the Wow Gifting Suite two days prior. (You’ll read all about it in a few days.) And I had met Ernestine Hipper, who won the Oscar for Best Set Design in 2023, for All Quiet on the Western Front, at a similar event back then. I predicted that one. I guess those meetings show that all technical nominees should try to meet me from here on out!

Barbra Streisand. I know she’s an octogenarian, but she sorely needed at least lipstick and either a good blow-dry or a wig! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Poor Babs. (Barbra Streisand.) That was so brave of her to grace us with a bit of The Way We Were in honor of her late co-star, Robert Redford, when she knows she can’t sing anymore. But she’s almost eighty-five, so let’s all give her a break, shall we? (And by the way—it wasn’t just Robert Redford who called her that nickname; my Brooklyn family always did!)

There were way too many recently deceased movie business people missing from the In Memoriam segment. For instance, movie stars James Van Der Beek, Robert Carradine, and Bud Cort from the classic film Harold and Maude, Brigette Bardot, Eric Dane, (who is more known for TV, but has several good film credits,) and Canadian film producer David Keighley, who was a key figure behind the introduction of IMAX cinemas. Those omissions are shameful of whoever made the decision on whom to include.

Sigourney Weaver and Pedro Pascal. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I’m so worried that Pedro Pascal may be sick, bite my tongue. He’s only fifty, but looks to be in his late sixties!!! I feel that they paired him with seventy-six-year-old Sigourney Weaver to mask how old and frail he looks. I’m praying that he just overdid the Ozempic. I’m not joking about any of this.

I’ve seen just about every film that has a nomination this year, and feel that Frankenstein deserved wins in just about every category. I’m glad they did win many.

The on-stage escorts were the best ever. They were attractive, unobtrusive, and classy. Good for them!

Note to all actresses, especially the other four who were in the old movie, Bridesmaids: Do not ever stand near Rose Byrne!!! You will only look even worse than you already do! Poor Melissa McCarthy lost all that weight, so she erroneously thinks she’s a stick now, and wearing that mostly-white gown just showed her weird body. And Kristen Wiig looked like she was wearing a bad short dress to start, and then her mother made her put the drapes on the bottom to cover it up!

(L-R) Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper. Photo by Karen Salkin.

This was quite the surprise: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President, Lynette Howell Taylor, looked second best of the evening to Rose Byrne! I love a person with good posture!

Bill Pullman was the only one who made the big mistake of saying, “And the winner is…,” instead of the correct, “And the Oscar goes to…”

Andy Jurgensen, who won for Film Editing, for One Battle After Another, gave a nice heartfelt speech.

Demi Moore. (Yes–that is she!) Photo by Karen Salkin.

Poor Demi Moore. Believe me—I understand not wanting to get old-looking. But looking like a skeleton, due to Ozempic and cosmetic surgery, is not the answer. At the very least, she needs a better plastic surgeon!!!

How did Jessie Buckley not thank her co-stars in Hamnet, Paul Mescal and Jacobi Jupe??? That’s unforgivable. She knew she was going to win, so have a speech prepared, woman! (And I have not seen these awful omissions discussed anywhere else in the media! What is up with that???)

Someone has to say it, but Michael B. Jordan forgot to thank the main reasons he won: ballet and opera!!! (Because of what people think Timothee Chalamet said against them. As I said earlier, I’ll be devoting an entire column to this ridiculousness next week.)

And, by the way, Timmy was a great sport about Michael’s win. Good for him.

Teyana Taylor putting her director, Paul Thomas Anderson, in a chokehold when they won Best Picture. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Teyana Taylor is sooo creepy. Mr. X said she’s an “inappropriate a-hole.” When One Battle After Another won Best Picture, she was the first one to run up to the stage, ahead of the producers! And she grabbed the Oscar that was supposed to go to the female producer! That was sooooo rude of her! And she put the director in a chokehold on the way up the steps, to boot! Ugh.

As sour as that note is, I have one more, for the future. This was the last year the Oscars were telecast on network TV—next year it’s moving to a streaming channel. That is so crazy. It’s bad enough that normal-people viewers have to shell out so much money just to see the films, but now they have to pay to subscribe to a streaming channel to watch the Oscars!!! Life is not fair, and this will be just another little inconvenience for the masses. What a shame.

This year’s iteration of the former SAG Awards, now named the Actors, was relatively entertaining, but they came with the de rigueur creepy arrivals interviews. They were that way mainly due to the dreadful hosts of both shows that Mr. X and I watched. We always want to vomit from the interviewers. Why can’t producers hire people who know how to ask a real question, and how to not fawn over every guest? It means nothing when you tell every person that they “look gorgeous” and that you’re “obsessed over them!” It’s mind-boggling that these nincompoops are chosen for the gigs.

Parker Posey, arriving in her nightgown and robe. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.

As proud long-time Screen Actors Guild members, this is the awards show we were actually the most interested in because we vote for the “Actors.” I don’t think that any of our choices won this time, but I didn’t expect them to. I actually correctly predicted just about every single award winner, even though I’ve seen only three television nominees! I know how these things go. Everyone was surprised by Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor win, (which was wholly undeserved,) but I knew it would happen.

And FYI, I live-tweeted some of my thoughts on those proceedings, @MajorCelebrity, so you can still read them there because I usually don’t repeat my tweets in my articles in this e-zine.

E ARRIVALS

Get those creepy hosts out of here. They’re sooo phony, especially that woman. She called Abbott Elementary’s Chris Perfetti “PerEtti,” with no “f” in the middle! How stupid for a host who should know every celeb’s name. But at least the male host was somewhat amusing, possibly by accident.

Demi Moore, looking like a cadaver. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Why did they show old videos of people walking in when it turned-out that they were clips from other shows??? Creepy. This was actually the first time I was tweeting on time, and it all tricked me into commenting on some of the guests like it was live. (But people still read them, with no negative comments, so I guess I’m safe on that front.)

Sheryl Lee Ralph is very talented, but she’s also annoying. However, I enjoyed that she tried not to “twirl” when the inane host demanded she do it, because she knew her back fat would show. Not a great look.

We had never heard of actress Yerin Ha, (still don’t know what her claim to fame is,) but we both said that she seems lovely and darling.

The Pitt’s Patrick Ball, (whose name I recognized because I reviewed him in a play last year,) looked like he literally just woke-up and grabbed his girlfriend’s skirt by accident.

Odessa A’zion, the woman who played the maybe-girlfriend in Marty Supreme, looked like a witch. What is wrong with her? Has anyone ever seen her and that creepy girl from America’s Got Talent, The Sacred Riana, together?

That awful host, on the right, pushing her guest’s arm down so she would stop talking! Wow. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The awful female host, Keltie Knight, had no idea who Adam Scott and Britt Lower from Severance were, (neither do I, by the way,) so she asked inane questions, such as, “How long are the hallways on set?” On top of that, when she wanted to get rid of them, but Britt was about to talk more, Keltie literally changed microphone hands so she could push Britt’s miked hand down to prevent her from speaking more, and then summarily dismissed the duo! I’ve honestly never seen such rudeness on a red carpet! (I had to look all of their names up now, including the host’s, because I had no idea who any of them are!!! But if I were hosting these shows, I’d sure as hell research everyone beforehand!)

Irina Shayk. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I was already in love with the acting of Hamnet’s Jacobi Jupe, but his red carpet interview was the absolute best one I’ve ever seen. I mean it. He’s eleven and every word he uttered was perfect. And to cap it all off, when the host ended it by saying, “Have a good time tonight,” that adorable child replied, “You, too.” I’m crying over here.

How is Bradley Cooper’s ex, Irina Shayk, a model??? Even Mr. X said, “What are her boobs doing?” They were hanging down, plus her hair was filthy and disgusting. I wouldn’t leave the house with mine looking like that. And why was she even at an acting awards show?

Good for Janelle James to say that success can buy stress relief. Most of us never thought of it like that. (Perhaps that’s why I’m always stressed!)

Teyana Taylor. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Why in hell would nominee Teyana Taylor wear a dress that has nipples painted on the boobs??? Mr. X even noticed it from afar. (The guests to the side of her when she was being interviewed on the other channel were as shocked as we were by the choice, which you can see in my tweet about it.) And we cannot understand a word she ever says.

Every time we see Demi Moore these days, Mr. X and I both say, “Oh my God. Ewww.” Does she not have a mirror in her house? Nor anyone to tell her what she looks like?

I guess that Parker Posey didn’t have time to get dressed. She rolled out of bed with her nightie and robe and just went with it. But it definitely looks like she saw how old she looked on The White Lotus and got a lot of plastic surgery since then. But in this case, good for her.

NETFLIX ARRIVALS

This was another arrivals show with weird hosts. And who were they? We never saw, nor even heard of, either one of them before. The woman is soooo nasal and has the worst voice; she sounds like someone doing an SNL skit.

The Miss Piggy doppelgänger Megan Stalter. Notice her visible panty line. And more importantly, the cigarette in her hand. How offensive! Photo by Karen Salkin!

Even worse than her voice, though, was that she had absolutely nothing interesting to say or ask. And she kept cutting-off what the interviewees were saying! She wasn’t listening to them at all. The woman was absolutely not even attempting to engage in a dialogue with anybody.

I never heard of, nor saw, the Miss Piggy look-alike, Megan Stalter, but she looked disgusting. Why would anyone choose to look like she did at an awards show??? She even brought along a dirty purse, like she was going to Walmart. Ugh. And even worse is that she was walking around with…a cigarette!!! I’m sure it’s because she feels she has to be outrageous to distract from her awful hair and body, but that was many steps beyond. (But her face is pretty and she and her co-worker were amusing on the show, so perhaps there’s hope for her. She just needs a major gym membership for a few years and to shave her head and start her hair all over again.)

Ali Larter. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Ali Larter is stunning! And did I hear right that she said she’s fifty? She looks much younger, and naturally so. Mr. X and I both said that she must have seen my Ret Turner-designed dress that I wore on my first Tonight Show appearance because hers looked very similar to mine. Great minds… (But I got mine at Cher’s garage sale, so I get extra props for that.)

Kerri Russell and Matthew Rhys seem like such a lovely couple. I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of their work, but I just may look for them now.

THE ACTORS AWARDS SHOW

Having the show on Netflix this year was very weird. Until near the end, the telecast could not be paused and you couldn’t go back. And there are commercials that you can’t barrel through! It’s like watching TV in the ’50s. I have a feeling that it was the only channel SAG could get the show on, or the least expensive, or some such business decision like that. I hope they go back to TBS, or whatever it used to be on, next year.

Michael J. Fox. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I’m sure I wasn’t alone in getting choked-up when Michael J. Fox did one of those little “I am an actor” anecdotes at the beginning of the show. Everyone loved seeing him there.

Everyone in Hollywood seems to think it’s cute or clever to curse in public. But it’s just classless. I’m from Brooklyn, so I swear like a truck driver in real life. (Or, at least, my origin story is my excuse to do so.) But, in the almost four hundred episodes of Karen’s Restaurant Revue that I did, which was even on cable TV, I never cursed even once! And trust me, I had lots of reasons to over the years! The cursers really need to stop it.

Case in point—Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storie, (who had just hosted SNL the night before!, so good for him,) said something about “a shit ton of pills.” That was totally not necessary. And he looked so pleased with himself for doing so.

How gorgeous is Jacob Elordi??? I’m still wondering how Guillermo del Toro ever thought that this gorgeous man could play Frankenstein’s monster! (He did pull it off, of course, and beautifully.)

Lisa Kudrow. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Michelle Williams should have definitely mentioned her Dawson’s Creek “boyfriend,” James Van Der Beek, in her acceptance speech! When she started talking about how your co-stars are your family, that’s where I thought she was going. Shame that she didn’t think the same way.

How dumpy has Lisa Kudrow gotten? Sad.

I knew that Catherine O’Hara was going to win. It would have been wrong for her not to. I even almost voted for her, even though I’ve never seen the show she was on.

But Seth Rogen’s acceptance speech on Catherine’s behalf was perfect. It could not have been any better.

(L-R) Tyler the Creator, Timothee Chalamet, Odessa A’zion, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Photo by Karen Salkin.

With Timothee Chalamet the most normally-dressed of a group, you know that was one odd-looking cast presenting their film, Marty Supreme. Tyler the Creator must have mistakenly thought he was going to a clambake in winter, and, as usual, Gwyneth Paltrow thinks people want to see her bare chest and different-sized sideways breasts, and, as mentioned before, Odessa A’zion looked like a literal witch.

Harrison Ford. Give that man a tissue for his runny nose, please! Photo by Karen Salkin.

That was the best that Woody Harrelson has ever looked! Still not good, but better. And I totally felt for him when his jokes were not going over with the audience—I lived that experience myself once, when I opened for the Temptations and Four Tops! It’s a horrible feeling of inadequacy. You just want to run off the stage and hide forever.

I’ve always known that Harrison Ford is the dullest person who ever lived. And his speech proved it. It was completely devoid of humor or charm. But he is eighty-three, so I’m giving him a break. But he still needs to know enough to wipe his running nose, though.

Amy Madigan gave the best speech of the night. Her talk about the anatomies of Barbie and Ken was so real.

Sarah Paulson, looking like The Undertaker. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I guessed that the In Memoriam section was coming by what Sarah Paulson looked like. She looked like the undertaker, or like she was auditioning for Amy Madigan’s role in Weapons 2.

That was a lovely and appropriate musical interlude after In Memoriam. I paid attention to Miles Caton’s guitar-playing this time because he had said earlier that he learned guitar just for his Sinners role, which I had not known. [My image of it is at the top of this page. Photo by Karen Salkin.]

That entire several-segments-long ping-pong tournament bit was soooo stupid and time-wasting! I’ve adored young actor Jacobi Jupe since I saw him in Hamnet, but the writers of that insanity missed the mark—the winner of this fake tourney should have naturally been Timothee Chalamet! What were they thinking?!

Jacobi Jupe. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Even as the major mani lover that you know I am, I was impressed by Jessie Buckley’s and Emily Watson’s unadorned fingernails, which told us that they don’t give a fig about such things at all.

Michael B. Jordan gave a very nice and appreciative speech when he won Best Actor. Although I feel he deserved it least of all five nominees, it was nice to see him be so moved, and the entire assemblage so happy for him.

And then my favorite moment of the night came when his film, Sinners, won for Best Ensemble. Not because of its victory, (because it’s an awful movie,) but because I got to witness the chivalry of its young star, Miles Caton, who helped not one of his female co-stars up the steps to the stage, but two of them at the same time! Lovely young man.

Miles Caton helping his co-stars up to the stage. Photo by Karen Salkin.

So many winners that night were shaking. I guess that means they’re just like everybody else, which is a good thing.

And to end on as non-classy a note as the show did, I was wondering how Special Packages Producer Patrick J. Doody made it through high school, if you get my drift.

Thanks for coming! I’ll be here all week.

I’m so sorry that it’s taken me a week to finally get to my review of this year’s Golden Globes. I had planned it for this past Friday, but then on Wednesday, January 14th, I decided to take the rest of my birthday week off after that day’s festivities. In the immortal words of Dickens’ Bob Cratchit, “I was making quite merry.”

Jennifer Lopez, looking the most like a movie star! And she didn’t even know she was on camera yet! Photo by Karen Salkin.

And I have to say that the usually very fun Globes were pretty boring for the most part this year, so my mind kept going to sleep as I was working on this article about it. But, never fear—here we are now! And better late than never, am I right?

Actually, last Sunday, right in the middle of one of the biggest sports days, I had to make the hard decision to pause a couple of football play-off games, and postpone watching the sure-to-be-dramatic announcement of the Olympic figure skating team, (with accompanying Skating Spectacular,) to watch the Golden Globes on time, in order to live-tweet about them a bit.

But, of course, I could not share even a tenth of my many thoughts on that platform that night. (Especially since the app on my phone wouldn’t work!) You might want to check-out my tweets from that night because I didn’t want to copy them here. (If you don’t yet follow me on Twitter, my handle on there is @MajorCelebrity.)

My overriding thought on the whole shebang is that this was a bunch of mostly mieskeits, making believe they’re someone. Most Golden Globes guests aren’t sparkling celebrities anymore, (as this show used to consist of.) Now they’re just somewhat-working actors.

Because I’m time-constrained while writing this, these are my raw notes, as I jotted them down that night. (But no worries for the future—I plan to write full reviews of all the major awards shows that are coming up in the next six or so weeks.)

That also means that I watched less than half of the arrivals, and I just could not force myself to peruse them on my DVR in the ensuing days.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas on the stairs. Photo by Karen Salkin.

E CHANNEL ARRIVALS

Amongst all the baloney, Janelle James looked gorgeous.

What’s up with all the short men with much taller wives? (I’m talking about you, Benny Blanco with Selena Gomez, and Nick Jonas with Priyanka Chopra.)

Are those short husbands the reason for those steps on the red carpet?

No one really looks great.

CBS ARRIVALS

Kathy Bates actually looked the best! She looked adorable in her little prom dress.

Kathy Bates. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I appreciated that the woman interviewer and Kristen Bell complained about how hot it was on the red carpet, which was inside this year. And then they discussed that they’re perimenopausal, which was more than a tad odd.

I love Jean Smart, especially having met her a few times. (Back in the day, Mr. X had done a sitcom episode with her, and then another one with her husband, during which she and I sat together. Then, just a few years ago, we bonded over some pretty shirts at a gifting event, so much so that the reps thought that Jean and I were besties!) I love that on this red carpet she bemoaned how horrible things are in this world right now. She was the only one I heard talking about the sad situation at that point in the arrivals. She said, “It’s very concerning.” Everyone should have been saying it! At least most of the arrivees looked sort-of subdued and depressed, as all normal folks are these days, which I understood, of course, and appreciated.

Amanda Seyfried on the right. But Mr. X thought the interviewer looked even worse! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Several guests, such as Amanda Seyfried, (of whom I’m actually a fan,) need posture lessons.

Pamela Anderson was torturous to the male interviewer, giving just one or two word answers. Weird. But good for her! Those interviewers are sooo annoying!

Jennifer Lopez looks the most like what a movie star should look like!

SHOW

I was glad to see how little applause the not-great host, Nikki Glaser, received when she walked out. (That dearth was most likely due to her offensive monologue on SNL in November, which I wrote about right here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/karens-rants-that-creep-nikki-glasers-offensiveness.)

But at least she was a bit better than when she hosted this show for the first time a year ago, mainly because she semi-lashed-out at the idiots in the government. And at even the Golden Globes’ CBS bosses! So good for her for that.

And thank goodness she wasn’t offensive this time, but she also wasn’t very funny.

George Clooney’s reaction to the opening monologue. Photo by Karen Salkin.

George Clooney appeared to not be amused by her.

And we definitely did not need two bumbling, mumbling guys, (who were mostly heard and not seen, at least,) telling us who was greeting whom when they won. We could see it for ourselves! (And people who literally can’t see have that special description feature on their TVs.) It would have been nice to have one relatively intelligent and informative person telling us some interesting background on the winners and presenters, as I did all night for Mr. X. (He said that I should have been the behind-the-scenes reporter. The men in question were people named Kevin Fraser and Mark Malkin. I think the producers must have said, “Get Salkin,” but the booker made a mistake and got Malkin instead!)

It was nice that married couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick presented together. Married presenting duos rarely happen.

Even though I rarely have time to do so myself, I agree with Stellan Skarsgård’s sentiment that “cinema should be seen in cinemas.”

Did Sean Hayes have a nose job? He looked so odd.

Jean Smart on the red carpet. Photo by Karen Salkin.

When Jean Smart won, rather than reiterate her red carpet thoughts on this worrisome world, she just implored everybody to “do the right thing,” which I, of course, love.

When Glaser started singing, (in a stupid, waste-of-time bit,) Mr. X rightly declared, “Not a singer.”

And then to make that segment even worse, Fran Drescher, who has the worst voice known to man, showed-up. And she went on the stage carrying with her purse, no less.

Surprise winner Rose Byrne seemed nice. But I have a bit of wardrobe advice for her: you don’t wear a dress with a train to a place where people will more than likely step on it!

Rose gave the best, most heartfelt speech. But why did her hubby, Bobby Cannavale, (whom Mr. X and I have always enjoyed,) feel it was more important to go to a weird pet expo, (looking for a lizard called a bearded dragon,) than to come to LA with his nominated wife and support her, win or loss???

Rose and Timothee Chalamet were the most outwardly grateful winners, along with Adolescence writer/actor Stephen Graham, whose speech actually made me cry.

Kathryn Hahn. That splotch behind her head is on the backdrop–it’s not her hair in a bun, although that might have been helpful. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Actress Kathryn Hahn could not have looked more homely. Does she own no mirrors?

The best presenter was, very surprisingly, Judd Apatow. But he should not have said, “I don’t know how to pronounce this,” when announcing the Best Director winner. It was Paul Thomas Anderson, but his dumb joke made the foreign directors, such as Guillermo del Toro, think that he himself was the winner, not someone with the most normal name.

Michael Keegan-Key and Mila Kunis were an amusing presenter team.

I never heard of winner Rhea Seehorn, and had just heard one mention of her show, Pluribus, a few days before (when one friend said she was going to watch it,) but her voice is torturous! Even Mr. X said so. So how did someone know her to write a show for her??? (She said that’s what the writer did.) Even her presenter, Dakota Fanning, called her Rhea Seeborn! And not as a joke—she obviously had never heard of her either. (So perhaps there’s still hope for the rest of us.)

When the TV show, The Pitt, was described, I asked Mr. X, “Why would anyone want to watch a realistic medical drama? We see it every day when we wake up!”

I guess that director Chloe Zhao doesn’t care about having clean, attractive hair. I wouldn’t be seen in my house, alone, even sick in bed, looking like that! Did she not know she was going to an awards show??? And might even win?!

Chloe Zhao’s filthy hair! Photo by Karen Salkin.

It was disgusting that they gave-out the award for Best Score during…a commercial! How rude! Yet they allowed the host to sing, (and I use that term very loosely,) what they had erroneously hoped would be an amusing song, and also let some of the presenters go on and on. What a rotten decision by the producers.

Another not-good aspect of the telecast was that they added a pair of inane awards this year—one for stand-up specials and the other for podcasts. Yes, you read that right—podcasts! But they made no time to honor the performers who were receiving the semi-prestigious Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett awards. Those are the only segments that viewers, along with the on-site audience members, really look forward to. They’re usually pretty interesting. That’s the place where Jodie Foster came out, which caused a major stir in the world of showbiz. I told Mr. X that I was shocked that they had cancelled those awards this year, which is what I, of course, assumed had happened. But it turned-out that they gave those two awards out, to Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker respectively, in a separate event…five nights before the actual Golden Globes. That meant that the people who were involved or even cared about those two awards had to spend yet another night on this nonsense. And get another party outfit and get dolled-up again. That’s just crazy! So much is wrong with doing it that way.

Janelle James, looking gorgeous and appropriate. Photo by Karen Salkin.

To fix the above, they need to cancel those two unnecessary categories, (or give those out during commercials!); have fewer, (and quicker,) presenters; seat nominees closer to the stage to have shorter walk-up times; and very especially, have the host, (whomever it may from here on out,) do much less. Then add maybe a half hour to the telecast, and let the people see the two prestigious awards!!! Problem solved.

Mr. X and I always predict, (with a majorly winning record, I’m proud to report,) who will win these awards, which are bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, because the winners are often…foreigners! Duh.

Now, on to the upcoming awards shows. There are the Grammys and Actors, (which is the new name for the former SAGs,) on the same night, followed a few weeks later by the Oscars. If you haven’t yet read Part I of my Mini Movie Reviews, here’s the link: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/movie-reviews-mini-movie-reviews-2026-part-i.

I plan to have Part II ready by the end of next week, so keep an eye out for that one, as well, if you enjoy honesty and anti-ass-kissing.

The producers of the World Choreography Awards, (WCA,) outdid themselves with their fifteenth annual awards show this year! It was my ninth time attending the event, and I’m so glad that I made the effort to be there, as did soooo many people in the field, even in this week’s downpour. And we all dressed to impress despite the rain, so big props to us.

Once again, I majorly applaud the producers, Allen Walls and Cheryl Baxter-Ratliff, for giving choreographers their much-deserved due. And by extension, dancers get acknowledged, as well. That makes me so happy because, as I always say, dance is the most under-appreciated art. (Just go to my “Dance” section, and you’ll see how I’ve ranted about that injustice through the years.)

Paula Abdul in the center, with some of her former dancers. Photo by Karen Salkin.

This year’s rendition of the World Choreography Awards were held at the Avalon in Hollywood, for the fifth time, (that I know of.) And it was extra-packed! Perhaps that was due to their Legacy Award going to none other than Paula Abdul! I must say that after seeing all the tributes to her, and clips of her long and storied career, I have a whole new appreciation for the woman! I had no idea she was that prolific! And she looked great, by the way, which is always a bonus in my book.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. You know that my linear mind has to go in order of the evening.

Karen Salkin and Hector Guerrero. Photo by…Hector’s friend!

My friend, Marc, and I had a wonderful time even before the show began. We mingled in the happening lobby and ran into many creative people we know. At one point, I looked at the handsome man next to me, and recognized him to be none other than Hector Guerrero, who had just done the choreography for the new musical Perfect World, which I reviewed at the beginning of the month!  We had a nice meeting, which we had never done before—I had only seen him at that opening, and he had only read, (and kindly appreciated,) my review! So this was a first, (of, I hope, many,) for both of us, thanks to the WCAs!

And just as we were done taken pix of us to send to someone from that show, who should walk off the red carpet right at us but Paula Abdul herself! She and Marc had a mutual acquaintance, so they shared a nice little moment about the guy.

And the camaraderie went on like that all night. We were also warmly greeted by both Allen and Cheryl separately, and I had a wonderful moment with the most gracious woman in show biz, choreographer-extraordinaire, Anita Mann. She told me that she’s been working on a Dance Hall of Fame, which I absolutely cannot wait for. What a wonderful idea!!! It’s such a good one that I’m ashamed that I hadn’t thought of it!

Photo by Karen Salkin.

The show itself was excellent. It consisted of eight categories of choreography awards with five performances interspersed at just the right intervals. That was all just right. I think we all appreciated how perfectly brief most of the acceptance speeches were, since people with this incredible body talent express themselves mostly through movement, as opposed to talking. (But I do have to acknowledge that many of the presenters spoke way too long. And about themselves! Who did they think they were—me??)

Here are some of the highlights of the entire presentation:

There were beautiful graphics and lighting throughout the production. And they showed clips of the nominated dances not only on the big screen at the back of the stage, but also on giant screens on both sides of the audience, and up high so people in the balcony could enjoy them in their more-than-full glory!

I loved the fabulous interstitial music before all the clips. (I tried to Shazam it, but no luck. If any of you were there and know what it is, please share in the Comments below.)

Paris Cavanagh. (So now another talent of hers is looking happy even though her pinky nail broke off!) Photo By Sthanlee B. Mirador, as is the one at the top of this page.

The show began almost on time this year, so yay for that. (Due to all the upbeat mingling, it’s usually more than a tad later than the stated start time.)

I’m so jealous of Paris Cavanagh, who won in the TV category, partly for how talented and pretty she is, with her Aussie accent, but mostly for her perfect arms!

Although she didn’t win, nominee Tanisha Scott’s choreography for a Walmart commercial featuring scores of kid dancers literally gave me chills! What a supremely gargantuan effort. I’m a former elementary school teacher, so I know firsthand how hard it is to wrangle kids to begin with, let alone get them to perform as perfectly as they did. Wow.

When I saw a clip of a JA Collective video, (“JA” I believe stands for the two guys, Jordan and Aidan, or at least it should,) I could not believe my eyes. But when they then performed on stage in person, my jaw dropped—they were sitting at a table across from each other and doing moves mostly with only their hands and arms. It was seriously the most amazing choreography I’ve ever seen!!! The crowd went nuts for them!

JA Collective. Their arms and hands were moving so fast it was hard to get a decent pic! Photo by Karen Salkin.

I must laud Paula Abdul for staying for the second half after she received her award at the end of the first. Trust me when I tell you that that doesn’t happen with show biz peeps very often. She must have been having the time of her life, reconnecting with so many dancers and choreographers she’s worked with over the years. I loved that whole reunion story. [Note: I also reported that she stayed for the entire show in my review of the 2015 event, saying how polite that was. I’m glad to see that a decade later, she’s still the same!]

And this was cute—in Paula’s acceptance speech, when she was thanking people, she said what began as the usual, “If I forgot anyone…,” but then she paused and finished, “…I’m going to kill myself!” I totally got it because that’s what I would have said! Others in that position just say things like, “…please forgive me.”  And then later, in-between awards, Paula ran up to the steps of the stage, and called-out, “Remember when I said that I’d kill myself?” And then thanked that one person she had forgotten before. And they hugged and kissed, and everyone loved it! Well done.

Throwback photo of Anita Mann and Glory Kaufman from the 2019 WCA show. Photo by Steve Sasaki.

Before I finish here, I just want to say a word about the very recent passing of Glorya Kaufman, whom Anita Mann acknowledged in her speech. I always feel that, with her uber-generous donations, she has helped keep dance alive in Los Angeles through the years. I had seen her across the aisle from me at a dance show at the Wallis in June, and was working up the courage to approach her and thank her for doing that, just as a fan, but then the intermission was over and I thought to myself, “Next time,” which will now never come. But I add my name to the list of Ms. Kaufman’s many appreciators, and send my condolences to her family and the entire dance world.

And I thank the World Choreography Awards for making me aware of Glorya to begin with, when they honored her in 2019 with the Next Frontier of Dance Governance Award, of which she was most deserving. (If you’re curious to learn more, here’s the link to what I wrote about her in my review that year: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/danceawards-show-world-choreography-awards-2019.)

Now that you know how good this show is on so many levels, (dance, happiness, pathos, news, meeting-and-greeting, and incredible performances, to boot,) I have a feeling that all dance aficionados will make sure to join the fun next year. So please put the approximate date in your 2026 appointment books right now!  I hope to see all you Angelenos there.

Lastly, to find-out who all the winners (and nominees) are this year, just click here: www.worldchoreographyawards.com.

I had absolutely no plans to review the Tonys this year, but the second it began, with Cynthia Erivo looking very much like Gollum, I knew I had to go for it. (I checked afterwards, and discovered to my surprise that I had reviewed the Broadway awards show only in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. So we were all due for a new one.)

Cynthia Erivo in one of her Christmas-y outfits. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.

I’ll go in order in a moment, but first I must say that to hear Adam Lambert sing for even those thirty seconds during the opening number was worth every second of my time! Before I saw that it was him, I said, “That guy can sing! He put them all to shame. I’m so happy for him for all his success!!! The second time I ever heard him sing over a decade ago, I told him that it was a religious experience, (which he loved,) and it still is. I had forgotten that he’s a Broadway star now, having just finished his run in Cabaret.

After watching the televised uber-depressing downer play, Good Night and Good Luck, that afternoon, (it had run live on CNN the night before, but sports had taken precedence that day, of course, so I recorded it and watched it the next day, before the Tonys,) I really needed the color and music of the Tonys.

Cynthis Erivo’s badly-tattooed arms. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But I was shocked that no one politicized their speeches. At all. Not even a little bit. I had been looking forward to what I expected was coming from the mostly intelligent crowd.

Cynthia did a good enough job of hosting, however the show, (or at least I,) really did need Hugh Jackman!!! He would have been perfect again. Oh well.

At least Cynthia sure can sing. But Mr. X said that all her outfits looked very Christmas-y, and he was absolutely correct in that assessment. It was weird. (And her forearm tattoos just made her arms look like they’re inky black. Mr. X erroneously thought it was some gauzy thing she was wearing. We were also fascinated with how crazy long her fingers are, not even counting her insane fake fingernails.)

George Clooney rocking his natural gray hair again. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Now let’s go in the same order that the Tonys did:

Why was Oprah Winfrey there??? She thinks she looks like a stick now, after denying her Ozempic use for so long, until people like yours truly outted her. She still looks awful, though.

How did George Clooney wash the black color out of his hair in the five hours since his final Good Night and Good Luck performance that afternoon??? I thought it was the semi-permanent kind, not the do-it-every-day kind.

Samuel L. Jackson was a bad sport about his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, not winning in her category. His demeanor was downright rude. But totally honest.

Danielle Brooks and Katie Holmes. Photo by Karen Salkin.

WTF was Katie Holmes wearing??? Mr. X said, “Isn’t that the top you wear when you’re getting your hair cut?” Not only is each piece ugly on its own, but together they’re barf-city. Has Katie no mirrors in her house??? And she couldn’t even walk in that tight skirt. Her outfit was sooo ugly, in fact, that I did not even notice how awful her co-presenter, Danielle Brooks, looked! At first. Not only did Danielle’s caftan, or dress or whatever that was, make her look like a house, but that sticking-straight-up-in-the-air hairdo was brutally unfair to anyone sitting behind her! I never understand how people are so rude to not give a fig about people who are unfortunate enough to be sitting behind them. (I used to have a boyfriend with a giant afro, and we always requested to sit in the last row to not inconvenience others.) Speaking of hair, I guess Katie didn’t have time to do hers that day. She looked like she was about to sit in the make-up chair! I could go on and on. But there are so many others to criticize review.

What a great story about the tux from Francis Jue of Yellow Face. It made me cry.

There are so many talented people in Buena Vista Social Club.

Adam Lambert and Charli D’Amelio. See what I mean about their make-up? Photo by Karen Salkin.

Of presenting duo Adam Lambert and Charli D’Amelio, Mr. X said, “Not often do you find the guy with way more make-up,” after I pointed-out that she forgot to wear any! And she couldn’t even speak right.

I like Jonathan Groff, but he’s sooooo not Bobby Darin! Groff playing Darin is just a little less dreadful than when forty-five-year-old Kevin Spacey pathetically cast himself in the role of twenties-and-thirties Bobby in a movie! The number that Jonathan did on the Tonys was, in the vernacular of the time, nowheresville, man. That performance was what Mr. X said he’d expect if the star couldn’t make it that night. (And I think it was rude of Cynthia to point-out that Jonathan spits when he sings. It’s an in-joke, but not one for the public to focus on, although the astute among us already knew about that situation.)

Glenn Close actually looked the best there. Mr. X pointed-out that she was wearing sheer gloves, though, because hands are where age shows.

Glenn Close and her sheer gloves. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But what the heck was Nicole Scherzinger, of Sunset Blvd., doing??? She can really sing, but that was a very odd rendition of the very famous and stunning song, As If We Never Said Goodbye. (We watched videos of Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, and Elaine Paige singing the same boffo number right afterwards, and Nicole’s performance lacked the emotion, pathos, and especially acting skills that the other three divas possessed.)

Winner Natalie Venetia Belcon, from Buena Vista Social Club, speaks the best. She gave an adorable acceptance speech, letting us know that Jason Momoa was her “first obsession.”  I was happy for her before I even heard her speak because she looked so regal and sang so powerfully in the number from the show she had done earlier.  She appeared to be beautiful all the way around—speech, diction, face, posture, being.

Pirates! The Penzance Musical looked like my high school Sing. And that’s not a compliment, trust me.

I couldn’t get this pic in earlier, so I just had to show it here. Samuel L. Jackson bitterly applauding when his wife, on the right, lost in her category. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Sam Pinkleton, who won his Tony for directing the play Oh Mary, said in his speech, “We can bring joy to people at the end of a crappy day. And that is a big deal.” That’s what I’ve always been about myself—giving strangers their flowers when I see something good; I always want to lift people up when I can.

And Michael Arden, the director who won for the musical Maybe Happy Ending, ended his speech with the very amusing, “And if there are any queer people watching tonight…[long pause,] happy pride.” (If you don’t get it, it’s because gay people are definitely watching anything to do with Broadway!)

The In Memoriam segment was extra sad this year. There were way too many people whom Mr. X and I knew personally, (such as Jules Feiffer for me, whose very talented daughter Kate I’m still friends with,) and it ended with way-too-young-to-die and much beloved and talented actor, Gavin Creel, whose death many of us, including Sara Bareilles, (who sang during that segment,) are still not over.

I like it when the pair of presenters is a good one. In this case it was Jean Smart and Sarah Paulson, two women I really like and admire. I’ve met Jean a few times, (Mr. X worked with her, and then her late husband, on two different sitcoms, so I met her then, and later on, she and I were acting so friendly at a gifting event one time that a sponsor thought we were besties!,) and I can attest to that she’s as sweet as she seems.

How did Dead Outlaw get made to begin with, let alone get nominated for Best Musical??? It’s like something I would have seen in a little theatre and refused to even review it. We were appalled that the number they did is the highlight of the show!!! So how bad is the rest of it?!

Lea Michele. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Lea Michele looked better than just about everybody! She looked like a star is supposed to—beautiful hair, great body, appropriate hands and nails, and exuding happiness. What’s not to like?

The stupid bit that Cynthia did with Oprah seemed unending.

Cecily Strong had her baby over two months ago, but still looks very preggers. Maybe because she’s not young. She should ask Lea Michele how she lost her baby weight.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical has the most unattractive cast I’ve ever seen.

Actually, most of these shows look like crap.

They threw Ariana DeBose a bone to present since they replaced her as host after three years doing that gig.

Darren Criss gave a great acceptance speech; he got in every aspect that he intended to, including lauding his wife to the nth degree! But I was wondering if he wore a, let’s just call it far-from-hetero, outfit and polished nails to try to fit in with the assemblage.

Lin-Manuel Miranda. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Speaking of outfits, the most ill-fitting suit of the night belonged to none other than the wonderful Lin Manuel-Miranda. Go figure.

Okay, that’s all the notes I had time to jot down, given that I had no plans to review the Tonys to begin with! And that I had spent the most hours of Sunday watching the portent-of-these-days Good Night and Good Luck, then the Yankees game, then the horrific ICE creeps riots here in LA, and finally Game 2 of the NBA finals before I even started on this awards show, so I was painfully drained by then. Still, I recognize the incredible talent involved with most of Broadway, and applaud them all for their efforts, no matter what I said about them here. But I always have to be honest and call ’em as I see ’em.

Suave Oscars Host Conan O’Brien. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this review.

I didn’t get to watch most of the arrivals, because live-tweeting about them, (which I did @MajorCelebrity,) took up a lot of my time. But I watched every second of the long show, of course.

And my bottom lines to this year’s Oscars are:

Conan O’Brien was the perfect host, which actually surprised me—I’ve never really thought he was very funny before.

And, though I feel bad for her, I’m thrilled that Demi Moore did not win Best Actress—she sooo has not deserved any of the awards she has won for the dreadful The Substance!

And although I’m happy for everyone to look their best by losing weight, these idiots really need to stop denying that they’re using weight loss drugs!!! You are not fooling anyone!

Doja Cat must have been hoping that people would just look at her boobs and not notice her awful singing! Photo by Karen Salkin.

And what were the Oscars producers thinking when they had sub-par performers, (outside of Raye, who was still not her usual great self that night,) sing very old James Bond songs, but not let us hear any of the nominated ones for this year??? That was just insane! (When they were announcing Best Song, without anyone singing the nominees, which is usually a highlight of the Oscars telecast, I told Mr. X that I was going to have a heart attack!)

And, most importantly, there was one major star there with whom I once smoked a joint. Possibly the biggest one, actually. (The star, not the joint.) Try to guess who it is, and I’ll let you know the answer somewhere in this review.

I’ll get to the rest of the actual show soon, but first I have to go in order of the proceedings on Sunday day and night.

THE ARRIVALS SHOWS

One very rude early-going nobody. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The coverage was so crazy with how early it started. Some of the TV channels began in the morning, with nonentities rehashing the same old stuff we’ve heard all year.

And just who would show-up three hours early to the Oscars??? People who are desperate for publicity, that’s who. It’s usually lower cast members or even crew, who would never be interviewed later.

None of the arrivals show hosts had anything new or interesting to say. Or ask. I think local ABC did the best.

E CHANNEL

And another rude one. How would you like to sit behind that point?! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Diane Warren is so successful, but always genuinely puts herself down! I don’t get it, but I also do that. I met her once, and she was exactly the same insecure that she seems on TV, but in a nice way.

It was interesting to finally hear Ariana Grande’s boyfriend, Ethan Slater, talk. I was a tad surprised that he has a good voice and speaks well. But the moronic interviewer asked him why people like him! What an idiot!!!

LOCAL ABC

Gorgeous Marlee Matlin. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Marlee Matlin is always so beautiful and classy. Her dress and jewelry were perfect. Even Mr. X exclaimed, “Wow,” when he saw her, and said that she “never looked better!”

How are people so rude to wear outfits that will obstruct the people sitting behind them??? Wait—I just realized why. It’s because they are nobodys who are just desperate for attention, and therefore, will be relegated to the back row of the balcony to begin with!

I love that Jeff Goldblum is always himself and not a phony ever.

Nonagenarian June Squibb. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Boyd Holbrook from A Complete Unknown said the Dylan era was “probably the most pinnacle time in music.” Did he never attend English class???

I was perhaps the most happy to see ninety-five-year-old June Squibb. The one-time Oscar nominee was the most charming, lovely, vibrant, and appropriately-dressed person there!

I cried my guts out just seeing John “Divine G” Whitfield on the red carpet. He’s the guy who was unjustly incarcerated for almost three decades, whose time in Sing Sing was portrayed in the incredible film of the same name as the prison, and was up for a Writing Oscar for it!

Cynthia Erivo and Whoopie Goldberg weirdly double-holding hands the entire time! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Why were Cynthia Erivo and Whoopie Goldberg double-holding hands through their entire interview??? That was so creepy.

That young Russian guy from Anora, Mark Eydelshteyn, went nuts over the “soft carpet!!!” Adorbs.

While nominee for Best Actress, Fernanda Torres, was standing there waiting to be interviewed, the very impolite hosts were excitedly drooling over that Demi Moore was there! That was so incredibly rude of them. And Fernanda was so nice about it!

I’m Still Here’s Walter Salles and Fernanda Torres. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I loved seeing Walter Salles, the director of I’m Still Here, which wound-up winning the Best Internationals Feature Film Oscar later that evening, and his star Fernanda Torres loving each other so much.

Jesse Eisenberg seems so nice and regular and non-phony. He’s as neurotic as heck, but he has all the good traits, too.

NATIONAL ABC

Gruesome twosome Whoopie Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I hated that this brief arrivals show, (the official Oscars one,) showed three pix on the screen at once, demonstrating that they’re pandering to only the attention-challenged viewers. Shame.

I can’t believe that in one of those side pictures, they showed a not-good-looking nor famous girl, whose name is Rachel something, but they wrote the wrong last name on it! “Rachel Zegler“ is what they wrote, and she’s semi-famous, having starred as Maria in West Side Story in a recent year. ABC needs to hire competent people, pronto.

President of the Academy, Janet Yang, was rocking a good outfit, which was very appropriate for her position.

And those are all the arrivals I had time for on Sunday. Now on to the show:

THE SHOW

Demi Moore’s plastic-surgeried face. (This time, Margaret Qualley’s husband, Jack Antonoff, is coming out of of Demi’s back!) Photo by Karen Salkin.

The opening about movies based in LA was powerful; it made Mr. X and me applaud, and made me cry.

The bit of Conan O’Brien coming out of Demi Moore’s back was brilliant.

The announcer introduced by saying, “Welcome four-time Oscar viewer, Conan O’Brien!”  That cracked me up more than anything else that night. I wonder how many other people actually got it. (You can let me know if you did in the Comments section below this review.)

Andrew Garfield and Goldie Hawn. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Most viewers haven’t seen any of these mostly obscure movies, so they wanted to see clips from them when the nominees were listed before the winners were revealed, not hear Robert Downey, Jr.’s (and those of the other presenters,) personal observations about them! That was just creepy, and added much too much time to the show.

Andrew Garfield was so good and kind to Goldie Hawn. The poor woman—it cannot be easy to have been the cutest girl ever, and now look your age, no matter how much hair you try to hide your wrinkles with. I really feel for her

Paul Tazewell. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Paul Tazewell, the Costume Design winner for Wicked, was the most grateful winner! I could feel his heart in his speech.

We definitely did not need a total waste of time tribute to James Bond! Especially after they sold the franchise to Amazon that week, and everyone was still upset about it. And no one knows who the singer who obnoxiously calls herself just “Lisa” is! Doja Cat can’t sing at all! Her song was brutal. She made my ears bleed. (And her nerdy shoes hurt my eyes. And sensibilities.) Neither woman has anything to do with movies, so they should not have been on there. But at least Raye, despite being music less than her usual great self, showed them how to do it!

The orchestra conductor. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The orchestra conductor was wearing a doo-rag! To conduct at the Oscars! How rude to the occasion!

I was a bit surprised that the rarely-seen Daryl Hannah looked like her old self, which Mr. X pointed-out is still not great.

Sean Baker edited his own film!!! You have no idea how amazing that is. And he won the Oscar for editing. Even though Anora is basically soft porn with a story, and no ending, I’m happy for him to have swept his four categories. (Directing, editing, writing, and Best Picture!) That is a pretty amazing achievement.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph—it was good to see someone who isn’t on Ozempic.

Isabella Rossellini in her blue velvet dress. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Isabella Rossellini was acting like a shy schoolgirl when she was announced as a nominee. What was up with that?

But it was cute that she wore a blue velvet dress as her tribute to her late friend and director, David Lynch.

I’m sure that daughters of good mothers everywhere understood this: When Zoe Saldana, who is a mother of three herself, accepted her Oscar for Best Supporting actress, the first thing she did was call out to her “mommy!” I loved that. (But it was funny that she is not a pretty cryer.)

Zoe Saldana’s “ugly crying.” Photo by Karen Salkin.

The current situation of Karla Sofia Gascon is so sad to me. After getting Best Actress nominations from just about every awards entity, questionable old tweets of hers surfaced, and she became a pariah in the business. I’ve seen a few that don’t seem to be as bad as portrayed, and English is not her native language, so, as she says, some have been meant jokingly. I’m not really familiar with them. But she had to sit there, lonely and unfeted, and I just felt for her.

Now, to bring the room back up a bit, here’s the answer to which big star shared his joint with me back in the day: it’s Mick Jagger! I’ll have to finish my book already for you to find-out the circumstances.

My joint-mate, Mick Jagger, entering the stage! Photo by Karen Salkin.

All three other songs were better than the two from Emilia Perez, so, of course, one of those two won. And the worse one at that!  The song from Sing Sing was the best, but I really wanted Diane Warren to finally win. Shame.

Poor Karla Sofia Gascon, trying to overcome how miserable she was at the Oscars. Photo by Karen Salkin.

At least the guy winner mentioned Karla Sofia Gascon in his speech, no matter how quickly.

But how is the woman writer of that team, Camille, a working singer??? She very stupidly sang, (or tried to,) something after they accepted the award, but she sings worse than I do! And that’s saying something.

The most powerful speech of the night was by Israeli and Palestinian winners of Best Documentary for No Other Land, which is a collaboration between filmmakers from both countries. Basel Agra spoke first, and then, when Yuval Abraham finished-up, Mr. X breathed-out and said, “Pretty heavy.” I’m actually crying right now again, just writing this. (If you haven’t seen their speeches, please try to find them.)

Miley Cyrus and Miles Teller. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I was glad to see that the LA firefighters got the biggest reception of the night!  And their bit with the jokes was really funny. They all had excellent delivery for them. (That’s them at the top of this review. I’m so glad that Conan didn’t block any of the heroes from view! Photo by Karen Salkin.)

I hate to say it, but Miley Cyrus looks like a middle-aged hooker. And Miles Teller got good-looking.

It was sooo rude of the producers to cut off one of the winners for Best Sound, without allowing him to say even a brief “Thanks!” But they had time for a lot of baloney in the show. Grrr.

Rachel Zegler walks like a goon!!!

Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I know that she and Gal Gadot are in a new movie together, but Rachel should never stand next to tall, stately, gorgeous Gal!  Actually, no one should!

Timothée Chalamet has grown on me over this awards season.

Ana de Armas is so pretty, despite the shape of her face looking like that of Betty Boop.

Victoria Warmerdam, the producer of Live Action Short Film winner, I’m Not a Robot, was very sweet. She’s Dutch, naturally.

Morgan Freeman’s left hand is still gloved, all these years later, after a severe car accident. I believe that he’s said he can’t use that hand, and the glove is a compression one to help with the pain. Poor guy.

I dread all the In Memoriam segments of awards shows more and more, worrying that I’ll see a pal I didn’t know had died. It’s really troubling now. Of course I knew about my longtime pal, Disney composer extraordinaire, Richard Sherman, had died last year, but seeing him in this Oscars tribute really hurt my heart.

Is that Daniel Blumberg or Nosferatu? (Mark Hamill is behind him.) Photo by Karen Salkin.

Of Anora’s two wins (at that point of the show,) Conan quipped, “I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.” That was the line of the night. Good for him.

Is Daniel Blumberg, who won for Best Score as the composer of The Brutalist, really Nosferatu???

I know they’re popular, but Oprah Winfrey and Whoopie Goldberg just look like two very unattractive old women on Ozempic. [Note: The picture of them is several paragraphs back. Photo by Karen Salkin.]

I hate to end my Oscars coverage on that note, but I must—I have so many more fun articles to get cracking on for you!

Before I get into this actual awards show, I must share some auxiliary observances.

The stars of Conclave, (L-R: John Lithgow, Ralph Fiennes, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossillini,) which won the Ensemble award. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one of Pam Anderson at the top of this review.

The first is a bit of painful advice from me—you should all watch Conclave right now, so you’ll know what is happening possibly next week, if you get my sad drift.

Another is that this show is so unpopular these days that they have it on Netflix now, where the general population can’t even watch it! So rude. Either no network nor even cable channels feel that this presentation is worth their time, or the powers-that-be are just too cheap to produce the show elsewhere other than a streaming channel. Shame.

Even the E channel didn’t bother with an arrivals show! What is up with that???

But my main complaint is about this acting competition and the Oscars one. I was trying to figure out why several actors and actresses have been nominated in the wrong categories, not just this year, but always! (The Golden Globes don’t count because they’re a private entity who just nominate stars they want to show up! And they reward actors in both comedy and drama, just so they can give the nod to ten people in each category instead of the usual five.) It’s insane that Zoe Saldana, (who is the main actress in Emilia Perez,) Kieren Culkin, (who is an equal co-star to Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain,) and especially Ariana Grande, (who is one hundred percent equal to Cynthia Erivo in both screen time and billing in Wicked,) are in the Supporting category!!! That’s just nuts!  And Demi Moore, who’s in less than half of The Substance, (and most of that is lying on the floor sedated or just looking at herself age badly,) put herself in the Best Actress race, most likely because she does get star billing in it. (By the way—she shouldn’t have been nominated in any category, period!)

Demi Moore at the Independent Spirit Awards, with her dog and in a super-nerdy outfit, to boot, the night before the SAGs.

I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of those obvious unfairnesses, with not much satisfaction. I believe that the studios or actors themselves can submit in whichever category they choose. Often they choose Supporting because they feel they can’t win against their co-lead, or a studio does it that way to try to win both awards, and not dilute the voting for their stars. But it’s all a total shonda! It should not be allowed. The governing body of each voting entity should not accept submissions from liars or cheats. I’m just sayin’.

One last thing. (Well, two, actually.) Women will just screw themselves if they keep campaigning to not have gendered awards. Just as they now do at the Independent Spirit Awards. Speaking of them, I just have to say how obnoxious it was of Demi Moore to bring her dog to that event! Very entitled of her. And creepy.

And I’m sorry that I couldn’t live-tweet enough because Netflix doesn’t let you pause the action nor go back! You can watch it only live! What is this—the ’50s??? I did manage to tweet a tiny bit, but I found-out much later that I had been using the wrong hashtag, so I’ll repeat some of those thoughts here. (I know—this is beyond a first world problem!!! I’m just explaining what happened.)

NETFLIX ARRIVALS

I definitely needed commercial breaks during this to live-tweet more!

Jane Fonda, on the right, dealing with that inane interviewer! Photo by Karen Salkin.

And who the f is the dark-haired interview woman??? Jane Fonda sooo didn’t want to deal with her. And Jodie Foster was so much nicer to her than that creepy woman deserved! (I found-out later that she was someone named Lily Singh. I have no idea who that is, but she should never be allowed to talk to people on TV ever again!)

The other host was actress Sasheer Zamata, who was on a sitcom that Mr. X and I loved, Home Economics, a few years ago, which we still can’t believe was cancelled after just two seasons! I like Sasheer in general, and she did well talking to people, but that other one…ugh!

Demi Moore’s neck. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Demi Moore’s neck is proof that plastic surgery cannot be done very satisfactorily on that area. With all the work she’s had on her visage, you know she would have done her neck, as well, if it was possible. But it is winter now, so she should have opted for a high-necked dress at this point. Long sleeves, too. And gloves, while she’s at it!

Quinta Brunson’s dress was adorable. And Joey King’s was the best! (You can see Joey’s dress in my tweets from Sunday.)

Pamela Anderson really needs to start wearing make-up again! Going to big events bare-faced is for—this is a news flash—people who look good that way!!! Enough already. It’s just depressing to see her looking like that! I’m just hoping that we’ll find-out down the road that this period of no make-up for her was a hoax, like the one that Joaquin Phoenix did in 2008, when he acted crazy for a year for what turned-out to be a documentary. (As pale as Lisa Kudrow was that night, at least she tried a little!) [Note: That’s Pamela Anderson at the top of this page. Photo by Karen Salkin.]

One of Ariana Grande’s horribly-tattooed hands.

What has Ariana Grande done that to her hands??? Mr. X and I both separately thought she was wearing black lace gloves!!! She should ask her ex, Pete Davidson, how to get rid of them.

I love that my choice for Best Stunt ensemble for movies, The Fall Guy, won! (They announced the Stunt winners on the red carpet because God forbid they’d take the time on the show for the important stunt men and women to go up to the stage and say thanks!)

Who knew that journeyman actress Wendie Malick speaks so well and is so intelligent? She explained everything she said perfectly and without one phony word or inflection. Good for her. Also, good for Sasheer in this exchange: At one point, Wendie said, “You don’t have to be a serial killer to play a serial killer,” to which Sasheer slipped in a low-key, “Thank goodness.” I love that.

SHOW

Kristen Bell and Leighton Meester recreating a Gossip Girl moment. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The SAGs rarely have a host, and I always think it’s better that way because it moves so much faster than hosted awards shows. But I’m re-thinking that now because host Kristin Bell’s bits were amusing.  And quick enough. I especially liked her Gossip Girl bit with Leighton Meester because I watched that entire series back in the day, and am now a fan of Leighton. (And of her husband Adam Brody, as well—I love them together!)

I’ve never seen Hacks, but that opening bit was hilarious! I love Jean Smart.

Good for them to have a table of firefighters. (But just one table???)

Nobody looks great on Netflix! Perhaps it’s their lighting or the quality of their broadcast.

Did everyone but me know that Kristen Bell sings??? I had forgotten about her in Frozen a dozen years ago. I guess I was too busy for Disney movies back then.

The “before they were stars” bit that we would have liked to see straight-on and full screen! Photo by Karen Salkin.

But when she was doing that bit about actors before they were very famous, they should have shown the audience the screen straight on, (so we could see the images better,) not to the side of Kristen to make sure she was the featured image! They just wanted to remind people like me that she sings.

The old-before-her-years Millie Bobby Brown. Photo by Karen Salkin.

We both thought that Millie Bobby Brown was Ivana Trump at first, until we realized that Ivana died three years ago, at the age of seventy-seven! So Mr. X asked who this was, and I asked him how old he thought she was, which he replied was mid-forties. He was shocked when I said she was only twenty-one!

Kieran Culkin, who was the Supporting Actor victor, gave a funny speech, but it was a tad weird of him to basically bite the hand that feeds him.

Comedian Kumail Nanjiani is in shape and muscular, but his really sloping shoulders are weird.

Look at Kumail Nanjiani’s weird shoulders! Photo by Karen Salkin.

I would have really loved to hear the speeches of TV comedy winners Jean Smart and Martin Short, but she was working and he had just gotten Covid at least week’s SNL Anniversary show! Shame.

Jamie Lee Curtis is the only smart older woman—she was covered up from head to toe; only her head was showing!

As always, Colin Farrell gave the best speech.

What a great political speech from Jane Fonda! And on a shallow note, she looks fabulous for someone with so much surgery! It really worked for her. After all, she’s eight-seven! That woman is going down fighting! she just may be my new idol!

Jamie Lee Curtis’ smart older-woman dress. Photo by Karen Salkin.

She didn’t speak like an old woman. And her eyes looked beautiful. I was impressed that she didn’t let the sound system glitches bother her.

There was absolutely no reason for winner Zoe Saldana to be gasping like she was during her acceptance speech.

When giving the award for “Ensemble in a Drama Series,” David Duchovny explained, “Ensemble. It’s a French word that means ‘Thank God I have to work only 3 days a week.’ ” That was cute. And true!  But he messed-up the rest of the presentation by opening the envelope with the winner before he announced the nominees!

Anna Sawai from Shogun is a gorgeous girl!

Selena Gomez, now on the left, and a year ago on the right!

How, and when, did Selena Gomez get so skinny? She does not have “Ozempic face,” but she’s clearly using one of the weight loss jabs, (even though she’s denying it.) And good for her—she looks soooo much better like this!

Lisa Kudrow needs to fire her make-up peeps pronto! Or hire new ones. At this show, she needed darker lipstick, (her pale lips blended in with her uber-pale face,) must better underlie concealer, mascara, and a tan! At the very least. She looked zombie-esque, which actually could have been in purpose since she was introducing the In Memoriam segment. (And if she looked like that because she was sick, she should have stayed home and not foisted her germs on the assemblage! Just sayin’.)

Uber-pale Lisa Kudrow. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Of the sixty or so deceased actors they paid tribute to, I think I personally knew about 10%.  That made me sick.  I didn’t even know that some of them had died! Those In Memoriam segments in all awards shows get more heartbreaking every year. I was especially upset about funny woman Mitzi McCall—I always think I’ll bump into her and her funny husband, Charlie Brill again at any second.

Even while watching all the SAG-nominated films, and voting for them, I had not realized just what a great crop of male nominees in the Lead Actor category they were! (Winner Timothée Chalamet, expected winner Adrian Brody, Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Craig, and my fave—Colman Domingo.)

Timothée gave perhaps the most honest speech ever, but it showed just how young he is.  I’m afraid some people will turn against him for saying that he wants to be one of the greats!

Timothée Chalamet’s mom in the middle. Am I right in my assessment of her looks or am I right? Especially sitting next to classy Jane Fonda! Photo by Karen Salkin.

And why did his mother show-up looking like an old Italian Madame, with her nakedness and sixty-five-year-old boobs hanging out???

And just when are actors going to realize they don’t have to bend down to microphones??? Come on, kids—that’s “Talking Into a Mic 101!”

Timothée Chalamet thinking he needed to lean down into the microphone, like he never used one before!!! Photo by Karen Salkin.

When Demi Moore so shamefully won for Lead Actress, Mr. X said, “This is known as the ‘taking care of Bruce [Willis] award.’ ”  I agree that it’s a pity award, but her acceptance speech showed that she really thinks she’s some great actress now. That’s just not right. (I’m just praying that the Academy voters are smarter than the SAGs and Golden Globes peeps.)

And that’s a wrap for my thoughts on this year’s SAG Awards. I have sooo many more, but not enough time to share the rest. I have to go sharpen my claws get ready for Sunday’s Oscars! I plan to live-tweet them, beginning with the arrivals, so, if you don’t already follow me on that platform, this is a great time to correct that. My “handle” on there is @MajorCelebrity. Of course.

And if you’d like to catch-up with all the nominated movies and performances, just go to one of the “Search” boxes on the right side of this e-zine, and enter “Mini Movie Reviews 2025.” You can get up to speed in a hurry before the show this weekend.

After missing last year’s Grammys, (I think our tv had conked-out at the time,) I was glad to see this year’s rendition, including the extra two hours of arrivals.

Trevor Noah imploring the audience to donate to the wildfire charities, with crazy-looking Chappell Roan front and center. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.

It was a good enough show, and pretty much kept our interest. And I absolutely adored the respectful-to-the-victims-of-the-LA-fires aspect of the presentation. It was good that host Trevor Noah kept gently shaming the rich folks and companies into donating big bucks to the relief effort.

Miley Cyrus. See what I have to say about her looks later on in this article. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But I think I liked the format better in the old days, when they did odd collaborations, and featured one nominated act performing in each genre before that category’s award was presented, even opera. I also missed the show ending with a giant jam sesh. Oh well.

And even though I originally wasn’t a fan of the table seating, (my original note about the sitch was, “I hate that they had people at tables instead of rows. The seating is so uncomfortable! For the guests and for us at home,”) I got used to it after a little while. It was actually nice that people could walk around and meet and greet. Who said I’m not flexible?!

By the way, I hope you read my arrivals tweets, @MajorCelebrity, that night. I don’t know if I’m going to repeat any of those bon mots and pix  in this wrap-up of the Grammys, so when you’re done reading this, perhaps you’d like to check-out what I put on there in real time.

E ARRIVALS

Khruangbin. Photo by Karen Salkin.

These hosts weren’t bad, especially Zuri Hall. But I must say that Wells Adams is one of the luckiest guys around to get gigs after being a contestant on The Bachelorette at some point. We didn’t watch the show back then, so I don’t know if there’s maybe more to him than I’ve seen since.  But first he gets to marry adorbs Sarah Hyland, then he gets the most unchallenging job ever—being the “bartender” on Bachelor In Paradise. And now he’s co-hosting this arrivals show! It’s all sort-of ridiculous.

Raye seemed so nice, and not at all full of herself.

Idiotic and attention-seeking Jaden Smith. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Billie Eilish looked like a moron. (And then changed into a different outfit to sit in the audience, looking like a homeless person at a skateboard park!)

Coco Jones seemed nice, too. So did St. Vincent—she seems just like a normal girl who would be my friend, surprisingly to me.

Gracie Abrams’ dad has more money than anyone. So why did he not buy her braces???

Sheryl Crow was good and aware enough to say,”It’s different than a Grammys where it’s all about ‘what are you wearing,’ ‘who’s winning?’ It feels like people are really here to lift up the community.” Respect.

Even Billie Eilish didn’t look as idiotic as Jaden Smith! Get that entire family out of here already.

Kacey Musgraves. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Does Nikki Glaser ever wash her hair? Nor own a mirror?

I have no idea who Doechii is, but what are her hips doing??? I hope that’s not a form-fitting dress.

And what the f is Chrissy Teigen wearing???

Tori Kelly is the most talented performer there, but just doesn’t get enough recognition. I hate that.

Kacey Musgraves forgot to get dressed for the Grammys! She’s wearing a top that people wear under their clothing. And not in a sexy way.

Cynthia Erivo. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Has anyone ever seen Cynthia Erivo and Gollum together? She said her manicure took five hours. You all know I love me a good manicure, and I have a zillionth on my plate of what she does, but trust me—I would never waste that amount of time on a mani.

I have no idea who at least a third of these people are.

Mr. X’s new fave artist, Shaboozey, seemed like one of the nicest people. We love him!!! His being is as good as his wonderful music.

Victoria Money and her wobbly stomach. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Why would Victoria Monet choose to showcase her saggy boobs and untoned stomach like that???

How much surgery has Cardi B had??? She doesn’t even have a real face anymore!!!

Julia Michaels is so homely and doesn’t do herself any favors with her excessive tattoos, but she seemed so nice.

Best New Artist nominee, the group Khruangbin, looks like three people who would definitely not know each other!

GRAMMY SHOW

Classy Trevor Noah is  a more perfect host than even usual to host this show in these sad times. Good for him to solicit more and bigger donations from the rich folks, and not be obnoxious about doing so.

Chappell Roan. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I love that the show featured commercials for local businesses that burned down. They all made me cry.

Chappell Roan looked like a drag queen.

Dawes is a nothing band talent-wise. I hate that they’re getting fame because of losing their home and studio.  (The band is two brothers—one who is married to gazillionaire actress Mandy Moore, who shamefully promoted a GoFundMe to help her husband’s brother and other half of the duo, who lost his house in the Eaton fire, even though she could have just given him the money herself!)

Cardi B’s new fake face that looks like a cartoon! Photo by Karen Salkin.

It’s weird to me that Sabrina Carpenter was up for New Artist; I had seen her perform in a holiday panto show…nine years ago!  That’s not exactly “new.” But I do give her credit for her beyond-skinny upper body.

And what was her number about? All the fake mess-ups seemed to mean nothing. And what was up with all the chubby dancers? Performers usually do that when they’re not skinny themselves, but Sabrina doesn’t need that, at all!

What the f is wrong with Cardi B? I can’t even describe her stupid talking.

Doechii’s awful hips in that outfit. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Why do these idiots change their outfits after they walk in?

The Doechii woman looks like an especial idiot, prancing around in her unattractive underwear. But at least her teeth look better than they did when she was arriving.

I’m far from a country music aficionado, but I feel that Beyonce won for Best Country Album because the voters thought that they had to give it to her.

By the way, (and I hate to say this about my fellow Capricorn,) it’s disgusting that her daughter, Blue Ivy, just turned thirteen, but has uber long fake nails and tons of make-up. She should just be a kid!!! (Meanwhile, Beyonce looked washed-out and old. Maybe from dealing with all of Jay-Z’s nonsense.)

Alicia Keys’ simple, pretty, and utilitarian nails. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I looove Teddy Swims and his song, Lose Control!

Alicia Keys had the best, most classy short nails. Mr. X pointed-out that’s because she’s a piano player.

Even though I love her song Hot To Go, Chappell Roan winning Best New Artist, (over deserving Raye, Teddy Swims, and Shaboozey,) is ridiculous. And creepy. And she looks like an idiot and a clown, (not to disparage clowns.) But she gave a good powerful speech.

And Shakira’s awful nails! (But she can sure roll her stomach!) Photo by Karen Salkin.

I was glad to see JLo there, looking so happy. I keep thinking what a downer Ben Affleck would have been that night, were they still together.

I loved all the dancers on the show.

It was good of Shakira to mention immigrants. I always like her. I’m so glad that her young sons seem so sweet. But she does win for worst nails—they’re the anti-Cynthia Erivo ones!

And finally–Cynthia Erivo’s Dragon Lady nails! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Will Smith should not have been on there. Nor anywhere near show business, actually. He looked fat and old and weird.

I hate to say it, but Miley Cyrus looks like an old transgender hooker!

Diana Ross actually looked great. But of course, actually; she would not have shown up otherwise.

Diana Ross. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Kendrick LaMar is sort-of simple and sweet.

Why did that annoying Blue Ivy think she had to lead her mother up to the stage when Beyonce won the Album of the Year award?! I bet Beyonce regrets having kids now.

And notice—she did not thank Jay-Z nor her kids.

Haggard-looking Beyonce, (with her “bust stays” sticking up on her boobs, when they’re supposed to be invisible,) and her 13-year-old daughter! Photo by Karen Salkin.

And that’s it for my thoughts on this year’s Grammys! But no worries if this isn’t enough snark honesty for you—upcoming are the Critics Choice Awards, the SAGs, and the Oscars. so, lots to look forward to.

Eddie Redmayne–the only one who looked really good that night! And young! Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one of Ariana Grande at the top of this page.

I’ve delayed this Golden Globes review a couple of weeks because I didn’t think it would be right to discuss something so basically shallow during the catastrophic fires that have decimated much of Los Angeles, and the hearts of just about all of its residents.

But I realize that life must go on now, and it would not help anyone for me to just keep writing depressing articles all the time. So I’m attempting to get back to normal now, and I hope to entertain as many people as I can with my writings.

And to further clarify, I had thought of just scrapping this review altogether, even though I had already written it, but several people have told me that they keep looking for it in this e-zine. And I hate letting anyone down, so even though this article is a tad late this year, let’s get to it already. What follows is basically just my notes, without being refined too much into more coherent sentences.

OVERALL FEELINGS ON THE 2025 GOLDEN GLOBES

I almost couldn’t write a lot during the Golden Globes arrivals and show itself because I was so confused and disgusted by all the phoniness and plastic surgery.

A chubbier Amy Adams. Photo by Karen Salkin.

And I apologize to my Twitter followers for not live-tweeting the Globes this year; that Sunday was also a big sports day, and work day for me, so I was not watching the awards show proceedings entirely live.

Perhaps most important of all to the proceedings, because the show was waaaay too early this year, I had not seen any of those movies at that point. (Or yet, actually.) Mr. X and I had just finished watching all the holiday movies that morning, (because that became our annual tradition seven years ago, and that day was January 3rd, which still falls into “little Christmas,”) and the nominations for the SAG Awards, (which Mr. X and I vote on,) hadn’t come out yet, so I had turned down all my screening invitations until then. And in the TV category, we’ve seen only Abbott Elementary, just because who has all that time to watch television???  Show biz folks who keep telling each other how they loooove each other’s series are big fat liars!!!

Emma Stone’s short hair. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The one good thing out of all of it is that I was surprised that most people did not look like idiots in their attire and hair-dos. So there’s that.

But speaking of tresses, I should sue—soooo many women were rocking my perennial very long straight hair! (That is, when they weren’t thinking they were being cool to rock these uber-short cuts, like Emma Stone was. One of those crazy super-short ‘dos is what happened to me by accident when I was doing my TV show back in the day! Not attractive. Back then, Mr. X said I looked like Anybody’s from West Side Story!) Only their long hair is all fake while my luxurious locks are 100% real!!!

Now let’s go in order of the Golden Globes afternoon and evening:

E ARRIVALS

The two female hosts, both of whom I’ve never seen nor heard of before, were sooooo much better than E’s usual one, Laverne Cox.

Ali Wong in her shredded dress. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But, if I hear the stupid term “holding space” one more time…

I had to work hard to find-out who the woman in the red raggy (on purpose) dress was, (it was Ali Wong,) but she appeared to be the most genuine and truly happy one walking in.

What’s up with people like the host of E’s coverage, showing their different-colored-from-the-rest-of-their-hair roots??? I don’t know who told them that that’s a style, but it looks dreadful. If someone told him to jump off the Empire State Building, would they? (You can take the girl out of Brooklyn but you can’t take Brooklyn out of the girl. Yeah, it is true.)

Why is Zoë Saldana pronouncing everyone’s names with a Spanish accent?  Even the American ones! Who does she think she is—Hilaria Baldwin???

And she said, “I’m not ashamed to use this phrase…holding space.” Of course.

What are show host Nikki Glaser’s teeth doing?

Janelle James new short ‘do, (which I’m hoping is just a wig.) Photo by Karen Salkin.

Abbot Elementary’s principal, Janelle James, is a pretty woman, but she definitely needs long hair!

I love that she said, “I need a tall guy because many of the Hollywood men are tiny, tiny, and I am a statuesque woman so I need someone who can stand beside me.” I love that honesty! (I guess Zendaya did not get that message.)

There were finally actors I love—married couple Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.  I love them separately and now together.  (So I especially hate that they lost their home in the fires just a few days later.)

How chubby did Amy Adams get??? And why?!

Eddie Redmayne looks so young! Younger than he ever did. Mr. X said he looked like he was his own son!

Pamela Anderson needs to go back to wearing make-up, ASAP!!!

Marin Morris’ weird new face. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I hate to say it, but Ariana Grande does not look well, at all.

Demi Moore has had soooo much surgery! She now looks like an impersonator of herself!

And then she was talking about that her dog still recognized her when she changed her hair or something. Of course it recognized her no matter what she looked like! They go by smell and feel, not looks!

Maren Morris is too young to have had all that surgery. Let’s face it—she was not a pretty girl to begin with, but now—oyoyoy.

GOLDEN GLOBES TELECAST

Or, as I refer to it, the Ozempic pageant.

As far as that first (and I hope, last,) time host goes, in the only two or three times I’ve ever seen Nikki Glaser before, I’ve found her to be creepy, unfunny, and desperate. But this time, outside of her annoying voice, hanging little boobs, awful make-up which exacerbated her recent facial surgery, and dreadful dirty hair, I think she really did okay. Of course, Mr. X and I, (and I’m pretty sure just about every viewer,) really missed Ricky Gervais, even though he hasn’t hosted it in years. But no other host can hold a candle to him.

Nikki Glaser’s strange face, make-up, and teeth which seemingly have no space between them! Photo by Karen Salkin.

We have never found Adam Sandler to be funny, although I think he’s most likely a really nice guy, (and I love what he said about getting his wife to marry him,) but he really cracked Mr. X up here when he was kind enough to repeat “Chalamet” for the host in his trademark way.

When Zoe Saldana won, she said, “I don’t have much time,” and then made her speech five minutes long!

Jean Smart’s dress was classy. And her speech was what all speeches should be.

The TV announcer said something about “drama and comedy all seated together in one room” like it was a big deal. When are they not???

Why did the producers situate the presenters with their backs to half the audience? Perhaps to feature more audience celebs than usual.

Demi Moore and her ton of plastic surgery. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Anthony Ramos and Kathy Bates were the best presenting duo. He was so genuine.

I’ve always loved Jodie Foster, on so many levels. (The day she won her second Oscar, I was getting the go-ahead to drive on the Warner Bros. lot for an audition, while she was there arguing with the guard to let her on for some reason. I had to talk him into it for her!) I loved her outfit at the Globes; she wasn’t trying too hard, as most others were.

And she got even better when she said something about “the joy that comes from doing really hard, meaningful, good work.”

The biggest laugh I had during all those hours of watching the proceedings was from Sofia Vergara being fake-pissed that she lost to Jodie Foster, who always wins.

How is Kerry Washington eight years younger than JLo??? I would have sworn it was the other way around! You go, JLo.

Pamela Anderson–put some make-up on already!!! Photo by Karen Salkin.

I was thrilled that I didn’t see anyone looking at their phones until the show was over halfway through.

Brady Corbet, the director if The Brutalist gave a speech that got me choked-up. He was also the only one who spared a thought (publicly) for actress Aubrey Plaza, whose husband had just committed earlier that day. And his seven-year journey to get this film made is incredible.

The most grateful winner there was Fernanda Torres, who won Best Actress for the obscure film I’m Still Here. I had never heard one word about it! Nor of her!

Gal Gadot was the most beautiful celeb, by far.

Daniel Craig looked thirty years older than he is!!! We weren’t even sure that’s who he was unless they announced his nomination!

And that’s a wrap for my thoughts on the 2025 Golden Globes! I’ll try to be on time with, and also tweet, the upcoming, (but possibly-postponed in these crazy times,) Grammys, SAG Awards, and Oscars. Knock on wood.