The Beverly Hilton was filled with emotion and gratitude on Friday night as the Golden Globe Awards’ inaugural Golden Gala paid tribute to two legendary stars, Ted Danson and Viola Davis. The evening celebrated their illustrious careers and significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
Ted Danson Receives the Carol Burnett Award
Ted Danson, best known for his iconic portrayal of Sam Malone in the NBC sitcom Cheers, was honored with the Carol Burnett Award for his exceptional achievements in television. During his acceptance speech, Danson reflected on his journey as an actor, crediting the creators of Cheers, Glen and Les Charles, for shaping his career.
“Everything I have in life acting-wise comes from you all,” Danson said, addressing the Charles brothers in the audience. “I can’t thank you enough. You’re brilliant.”
Danson’s wife of over 30 years, actress Mary Steenburgen, presented the award, offering heartfelt remarks about her husband. She shared humorous anecdotes about their relationship, including her first impressions of Danson and his quirks.
“Slick guys don’t say ‘gosh-a-rooney’ after making love,” she quipped, adding, “I’d like to apologize to my granddaughters now.”
Steenburgen also highlighted Danson’s deep commitment to environmental causes, particularly his work with Oceana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation. “Slick guys don’t spend 35 years fighting to keep the oceans of the world safe,” she said.
The tribute included a montage of Danson’s television highlights, from Becker and Curb Your Enthusiasm to The Good Place and his latest project, A Man on the Inside on Netflix. In his closing remarks, Danson quoted the final episode of Cheers, saying, “I truly am the luckiest son of a bitch on earth.”
Viola Davis Honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award
Viola Davis, celebrated for her unparalleled talent and groundbreaking roles, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Meryl Streep, a past recipient of the prestigious honor, presented the award with a heartfelt speech, recalling her awe at Davis’ performance during their first table read for the 2008 drama Doubt.
Davis, visibly moved, took the stage with tears streaming down her face. “I feel like someone just set me on fire,” she said, addressing Streep. “You’re just a great broad. You forgot that I followed you into the toilet that first day of rehearsal. I just wanted to smell you.”
In a powerful and deeply personal speech, Davis reflected on her journey from growing up in abject poverty to becoming one of the most respected actors of her generation. Her remarks captivated the audience with their raw honesty and emotional depth.
Viola Davis’ Full Remarks:
“This is my testimony. I think I decided to be an actor because acting was just a cosmic cart for a much higher journey. Finding me, finding a sense of belonging. Finding my worth.
I saw life as a big [expletive] fat dude. A Gordo with a big belly, eating a really greasy, moist turkey leg. When he’d get up to go the bathroom, big gold nuggets would fall out of his pockets and rain down on people. Some people got the blessings of the dripping gold. Gold just rained down on them because they worked for it. That’s how I saw life.
I was born into a life that just simply did not make sense. I didn’t fit in. I was born into abject poverty. I was mischievous. I was imaginative. I was rambunctious. But I was so poor.
Growing up in a house with alcoholism and rage, infested with rats everywhere. Toilets that never worked.
I was a bed-wetter who went to school with clothes soaked with urine. My life just didn’t make sense.
All anyone ever said was that I wasn’t pretty. By the way, what the hell is pretty? I wasn’t pretty, I wasn’t pretty. I just wanted to be somebody. I wanted some of those little gold nuggets.
What I had was magic. I was curious. I could teleport — I could take myself out of this worthless world and relieve myself of it at times. I could go to a place where I can have belly laughs. Where I can have fun. The biggest magic was, I could see people.
Nobody gave a [expletive] about people like that. She was my Mona Lisa. She made me curious. I would enter her, take her around in there. I’d go, ‘Who are you? Who are you when you were a little girl? You were so cute. You would dream big. You thought life was going to work out for you.’
There’s always a resistance to that one memory, that one thing you live for. I could always get there. It was magic.
The seeker is the mystery. The seeker needs to know. I was curious. That’s all you need in life is curiosity. So that was acting.
… And here’s the thing – they think she’s beautiful. So little Viola is squealing. She’s standing behind me now, she’s pulling on my dress. She’s wearing the same red rubber boots that she wore rain or shine because they made her feel pur-dy. She’s saying one thing. She says ‘Make them hear this.’ What she’s whispering is: I told you I was a magician.”
A Night to Remember
The Golden Gala marked a historic evening, celebrating two extraordinary careers and the resilience, creativity, and humanity that define the art of storytelling. Ted Danson and Viola Davis reminded audiences why the Golden Globes remain a cherished platform for honoring excellence in entertainment.
