Golden Globes 2020: Charlize Theron, Octavia Spencer among presenters; ceremony to have meatless menu

Los Angeles: Charlize Theron, Octavia Spencer, and Daniel Craig are among the first presenters announced for Sunday’s Golden Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association also announced Thursday that other presenters will include Sofia Vergara, Kerry Washington, Tiffany Haddish, Glenn Close and Will Ferrell. Kate McKinnon and Ted Danson will also present. Ricky Gervais will host the 77th annual Golden Globes Awards that will air on NBC. It will be the fifth time Gervais emcees the ceremony after hosting the show from 2010 to 2012 and 2016. Gervais’ hosting stints have been marked by relentless skewering of his fellow actors, and the HFPA. [caption id=“attachment_7854961” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] This combination photo shows, top row from left, Glenn Close, Daniel Craig, Ted Danson, Will Ferrell, Tiffany Haddish, bottom row from left, Kate McKinnon, Octavia Spencer, Charlize Theron, Sofia Vergara, and Kerry Washington, who will serve as presenters at the Golden Globes on Sunday. (AP Photo)[/caption] Tom Hanks will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award, an accolade for film. He is a four-time Golden Globe winner for his acting work on Big, Philadelphia and Forrest Gump along with his directing efforts in HBO’s 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers. Ellen DeGeneres will be honored with the Carol Burnett Award , a counterpart to the DeMille Award that focuses on life achievement in television. The talk-show and game-show host is a multiple Emmy winner and Globe nominee. The Globes, also known as the “party of the year,” is going with a meatless menu this year. Guests will be served a 100% plant-based meal just ahead of showtime Sunday. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said Thursday that it wants the initiative to raise environmental awareness about food consumption and waste. “If there’s a way we can, not change the world, but save the planet, maybe we can get the Golden Globes to send a signal and draw attention to the issue about climate change,” HFPA president Lorenzo Soria said. “The food we eat, the way we grow the food we eat, the way we dispose of the food is one of the large contributors to the climate crisis.” Soria said there was some initial push back about changing the menu just about two weeks before the show, but the hotel eventually agreed on the new menu. “People were basically saying it’s too late, we’re ready with all the orders, the holidays and all that,” he said. “But after we began discussions, meeting for one or two days, (the hotel) accepted the change completely. They started to experiment with how to do plant-based meals that was not just their symbolic steps, but also something that guests will enjoy.” Matthew Morgan, executive chef at The Beverly Hilton, called the menu change initially surprising. But he ultimately understood it would send a positive message. “It was a little shocking when first mentioned, because of being very close to the actual Globes and having already decided on a menu,” he said. “But once we thought about it and the message that it sent, we were really excited about it. That’s something I stand behind myself.” Items on the main entree include king oyster mushrooms scallops and wild mushroom risotto, along with roasted baby purple and green Brussels sprouts and carrots. A chilled golden beet soup will be served as an appetizer. HFPA partnered with Icelandic Glacial, a naturally alkaline and sustainably-sourced natural spring water. The water will be served in glass bottles to eliminate plastic waste in the ballroom and red carpet, which is reused at other events throughout the year. Soria called the food “excellent” after a recent taste-testing. Morgan said making the change wasn’t too difficult. He said the first course was already vegan and the main course was a vegan alternate in which they enhanced the dish to add some “pop and color to the plate.” The 77th Golden Globe Awards will be telecasted in India on Vh1, Comedy Central and Colors Infinity on 6 January at 7:30 am with a repeat telecast at 9 pm.