LOS ANGELES – The Golden Globes officially kicked off Hollywood’s awards season Sunday with plenty of trophies for “Oppenheimer” (five wins, including best drama) and TV’s “Succession” (four wins, including best drama).
But in a ballroom filled with Hollywood’s biggest stars (Taylor Swift! Jennifer Lawrence!) with flowing alcohol (Champagne on tables! Open bar!), there should be more interest in what really happened when TV cameras weren’t rolling during the live CBS awards show.
That’s even before factoring in the official debut of power couples like Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner as well as Bill Hader and Ali Wong, which totally happened on Sunday.
Here’s what you didn’t see in the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom during the Golden Globes:
Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jennershare passionate smooch at the Golden Globe Awards
Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez share a hug, chat off-camera at the Golden Globes
Swift, 34, did not win for her fifth Golden Globe nomination in a new category for cinematic and box office achievement.
But “The Eras Tour” star won for having the Best. Time. Ever. It was special from moment one when her security detail pushed through the crowd of stars to get Swift (and her entourage) to seats right before the cameras rolled. When security then stopped others from entering until the next TV break, one guest asked, “Why can she go?” Dumbest question ever.
Swift, wearing a green Gucci gown and drinking red (rose champagne before switching to a Cosmopolitan), spent most of her table time yucking it up with seatmate Keleigh Sperry (Miles Teller’s wife) and Selena Gomez, who dropped by the table for hugs. But the line of starstruck Hollywood citizens seeking pictures, not to mention stars seeking Swiftie chats (Hader, Jason Sudeikis) led to serious fan congestion on the crowded floor.
Swift was the perfect guest, enthusiastically cheering on BFF and tablemate Emma Stone after the “Poor Things” actress won her best actress award. Swift raised her Cosmo in salute and clinked glasses around the table.
“What an (expletive), am I right?” Stone joked backstage afterward about her supportive friend Swift.
“I’ve known her for almost 20 years,” Stone continued. “I was very happy she was there.” So were we.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner PDA started immediately
“Wonka” star Chalamet. 28. and Jenner, 26, wasted no time with the public display of affection entering the ballroom. Waiting for a commercial break to take their seat, the two reveled in tight quarters caused by the crowd. Jenner pecked him on the cheek, and Chalamet returned the favor on her lips. The two locked arms around backs, with Jenner’s hand dropping south and staying perched on Chalamet’s famed posterior for longer than any claims of accidental contact.
When it was time to move. Chalamet dropped his hand and Jenner took it as the two found their seats. At night’s end, Chalamet and Jenner exited hand-in-hand once more, swanning through the crowds as one.
Minutes later Hader and Wong exited arm-in-arm, looking more like date night than an awards show.
Backstage Wong, had an interesting description for the Globe she brandished for her best actress limited series win for Netflix’s “Beef”
“It’s like a medieval weapon,” Wong remarked.
Jeremy Allen White won’t let Calvin Klein underwear abs overshadow his Globe win
Jeremy Allen White won the best actor Golden Globe for his Season 2 role on “The Bear,” but all reporters backstage wanted to know about was White’s steamy Calvin Klein underwear ad that shows sizzling abs.
Asked how surreal it was to have people talking more about his abs than his acting, White admitted, “It’s been a weird couple of days.”
White made it clear that he was honored more for the acting award than the abdominal admiration.
“I am more proud of this,” White said of his Golden Globe.
Why was ‘Last of Us’ star Pedro Pascal in a sling?
Everyone wanted to know why “The Last of Us” star Pedro Pascal wore a sling on his right arm over his sweater (yes, a sweater) at the black-tie awards show. Even “The Joker” star Joaquin Phoenix got serious asking Pascal earnestly about the injury during a commercial break.
“It’s fine,” Pascal said, demonstrating the accident that led to the injury. Phoenix gave a tender, injury-sparing hug.
While “The Last of Us” didn’t go home with a Golden Globe despite three nominations, the cast did win an immortal Natasha Lyonne portrait.
Superfan Lyonne grabbed Pascal, who was speaking intently with James Marsden in the bar, for a “Last of Us” group photo. She pulled Pascal across the room to pose with his co-star Bella Ramsey and executive producer Craig Mazin. Handing her iPhone to a bystander, Lyonne grabbed a nearby table flower display to pose with the stars of the HBO series.
Pleased with the final result, Lyonne returned the flower display to the table and insisted that everyone meet at the Chateau Marmont cast party.
Kieran Culkin crashed Matthew Macfayden’s press conference
Kieran Culkin had the perfect Globes. The “Succession” star started the evening with a martini, just like we saw his character sipping at the end of the celebrated HBO series. Culkin chatted with his wife Jazz Charton in the bar, ignoring every word of Golden Globe host Jo Koy’s terrible monologue.
Culkin followed it up by giving the best speech after winning best actor for “Succession” as well as crashing fellow Globe winner and co-star Matthew Macfayden’s press conference backstage.
Jumping in front of assembled reporters, Culkin had a pressing question: Who’s the tallest in the cast? Macfayden, who reportedly stands at 6-foot-3, confidently answered himself.
This prompted an outcry from the 6-foot-7 “Succession” star Nicholas Braun.
“Why did you just say that in front of all these people?” Braun asked MacFayden, after rushing to the front of the stage. “I’m taller than you, man.”
MacFayden admitted that Braun is indeed taller.
