After being canceled last year due to a writers strike, the Golden Globes are back on red carpet bigger than ever

By Robin Rowe

HOLLYWOOD, CA (RushPRnews /Hollywood Today) 1/12/2009 – “The success of the Golden Globes has to do with that it’s a very fast-paced show, that the star power in that room is the biggest in any awards show on television,” says Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Jorge Camara. “The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is comprised of journalists based in Los Angeles, in southern California, who report for foreign outlets.”

Tonight’s 66th Golden Globes presenters included Drew Barrymore, Pierce Brosnan, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz, Megan Fox, Eva Longoria, Seth Rogen, Susan Sarandon, Martin Scorsese, Sting, Emma Thompson, Renee Zellweger and many more. Many stars will also be at Sundance next week showing their latest films, such as Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon in “The Greatest”. Oh, and don’t even think about getting tickets to The Greatest screening in Park City. They sold out immediately.

Slumdog Millionaire swept tonight’s Golden Globes with four wins including best picture. Complete list of 2009 Golden Globes winners.

More than fifty Hollywood stars presented at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hilton won a contest of its own recently, winning a Beverly Hills city-wide referendum by a mere two dozen votes to be permitted to undertake major renovations and expansion. Neighbors objected that Beverly Hills is becoming too glamorous and commercial. It was a surprisingly dirty fight, with a former Beverly Hills mayor photographed trespassing in people’s yards to tear down Prop H signs favoring the expansion.

Some film critics are disdainful of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association because of its size. HFPA only has about 80 members, compared to the 5,810 voting members of the Motion Picture Academy. However, whether it’s the Golden Globes, the Oscars or the democratic People’s Choice Awards, the same films and actors tend to win. Indeed, the Golden Globes is widely seen as the run-up to the Oscars in February.

Kate Winslet after winning two Golden Globes.Photo: EPA