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The Golden Globes were very good to "The Artist," naming the silent film Best Picture, Comedy on Sunday night over competitors such as "Bridesmaids" and "Midnight in Paris."
The black and white movie captured three awards in all, including a Best Actor, Comedy statue for Jean Dujardin.
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Also, performing strongly was "The Descendants," the bitter-sweet drama from Alexander Payne, which picked up an award for Best Picture, Drama and a Best Actor, Drama statue for star George Clooney.
On the television front, ABC's "Modern Family" was crowned Best Television, Drama, while Showtime's "Homeland" won Best Television, Drama and Best Actress, Drama for star Claire Danes.
Picking up his doorstop for playing a bereaved father struggling to keep his family together in the wake of his wife's coma, Clooney praised the fellow nominees in his category, including Michael Fassbender for his frequently nude work in "Shame."
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"I'd like to thank Michael Fassbender for taking over the frontal nudity responsibility," Clooney quipped.
In his acceptance speech, "The Artist"s' star Dujardin said that when he was starting out, he was dissuaded from pursuing a career in film, when others told him, "your face is too expressive, too big."
But unlike his onscreen counterpart, who struggles with the film business' transition to sound, Dujardin said, "I've always followed my instinct to fight for my dreams."
Playing a political dynamo from across the pond was just the ticket for Meryl Streep. The award show favorite nabbed a Golden Globe for Best Actress, Drama for her performance as the steely British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."
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The award was for drama, but Streep gave a joke filled, expletive laced speech.
"When Ricky Gervais deal fell through and they came to me to play Margaret Thatcher," Streep joked about how she got the part.
She also thanked The Weinstein Company chief Harvey Weinstein, labeling him "God."
Playing a film icon scored Michelle Williams her first Golden Globe award.
Williams, who played Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn," thanked her daughter Matilda: "My little girl, whose bravery and exuberance is the example that I take with me in my work and in my life."
The actress also praised Monroe, who she noted had a Globe to her name for her legendary work in 1960's "Some Like it Hot." It wasn't all champagne popping and acceptance speeches for "The Artists," however.
In a stunning upset, Martin Scorsese beat heavily favored Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist") to pick up a Best Director award for "Hugo."
The director, best known for overseeing violent crime pictures, said he was inspired to make his first family film by his 12-year old daughter.
"Why don't you make a film that our daughter could see for once?," Scorsese said his wife asked him.
More expected was "Modern Family"s' win for Best Television Series, Comedy. In a humorous acceptance speech, star Sofia Vergara spoke in spanish, while co-creator Steve Levitan translated.
The show kicked off at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, with Ricky Gervais engaging in his trademark putdowns of Hollywood's A-listers.
"Where was I?" Gervais asked the star-filled room. "Nervous? Don’t be. This isn't about you."
He quickly targeted the awards show itself.
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"The Golden Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton,” Gervais joked. “Bit louder, bit trashier, bit drunker, and more easily bought. Allegedly. Nothing's been proved."
From there, he lampooned Jodie Foster's sexuality, Justin Bieber's paternity allegations, and NBC's fourth place status, calling it "a non-profit organization" like Globes producers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Though “The Office” star returned for his third stint as host of the awards show vowing not to pull his punches, many of the big stars crowding into the Beverly Hilton ballroom seemed to be ripe for skewering.
For the most part they laughed gamely along with his zingers, avoiding the kind of awkward double-takes from the likes of Bruce Willis and Robert Downey, Jr. that characterized Gervais' previous appearance.
It wasn't just stars from Hollywood's "golden age" and directing icons that Golden Globe voters really liked on Sunday. They also showed their enthusiasm for Showtime's terrorism drama "Homeland.
The thriller bested stiff competition from FX's "American Horror Story" and HBO's "Game of Thrones" to earn the award for Best Television Series, Drama on Sunday night.
A year after earning a statue for HBO's "Temple Grandin," Claire Danes returned to the stage to accept a Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama for playing a mentally ill CIA analyst in "Homeland."
"I could not be in finer, more brilliant, more generous company," Danes said, thanking her co-stars.
Kelsey Grammer earned Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama for his work as a big city politico in “Boss.”
“What a magnificent year it’s been,” Grammer marveled, before thanking Starz chief Chris Albrecht for greenlighting the show.
Matt LeBlanc was a first-time Best Actor, TV Comedy winner after four previous nominations for his playing himself on Showtime's "Episodes."
"They write a Matt LeBlanc who, let's be honest, is way more fun and interesting than the real thing," LeBlanc joked. "I wish I was him."
In an upset, Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" beat heavy favorite "Rango" to earn a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Spielberg acknowledged that the adaptation of Herge's classic comic was a risky bet, despite being produced by Peter Jackson.
"I want to thank two studios that proved the adage that Peter and I could make the telephone book if we wanted to," Spielberg said.
Fellow film legend Woody Allen was also a winner, earning a statue for his screenplay for "Midnight in Paris." Unsurprisingly, the actor who is allergic to award shows, was not present to pick up his Golden Globe.
"He wants to say thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press," presenter Nicole Kidman said. "Come and get it Woody."
Octavia Spencer got "The Help" on the board at Sunday's Golden Globes, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as a proud maid fighting racism.
"This is seriously nuts," Spencer said.
Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Spencer said, "'All liberty that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance,' and I thank you for recognizing that with our film."
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Christopher Plummer picked up the first major film award of the evening, winning Best Supporting Actor for playing a gay man in "Beginners."
Plummer thanked his co-star Ewan McGregor — labeling him a "wily Scot" — and director Mike Mills.
Iranian film "A Separation" was named Best Foreign Film at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
Director Asghar Farhadi dedicated his award to his countrymen and women.
"They are a truly loving people," Farhadi said.
Kate Winslet beat out Diane Ladd ("Cinema Verite") and Elizabeth McGovern ("Downton Abbey") to earn a Best Actress, Movie Series or TV Movie, for her work as a Depression era restauranteur in "Mildred Pierce."
"I share this with my beautiful children, Mia and Joe, who light up my life everyday," Winslet said.
Madonna now has a Best Song Golden Globe to go along with her other honors. The pop star and "W.E." director acknowledged that she was surprised that she won the award for her song "Masterpiece," given the dominance of the french silent film, "The Artist."
"I'm not french, I have no excuse," Madonna said.
Also surprised was Peter Dinklage, a Best Supporting Actor, TV, Movie, or Mini-Series winner for "Game of Thrones," who confessed he thought Guy Pearce would win for his work in "Mildred Pierce."
Jessica Lange won an award for her chilling work in FX's "American Horror Story," praising creator Ryan Murphy for conceiving the gothic chiller. Lange said that every year she finds it rarer "…to find a piece of work that is beautifully written and gives you something to do."
Laura Dern had her moment on the stage, picking up a statue for Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical for her work in the HBO series "Enlightened."
Dern, who plays a woman struggling with a breakdown, thanked "everybody who has ever inspired anybody" — a group that included Frank Capra, Lauren Bacall and whistleblowers.
PBS' sprawling English aristocracy drama "Downtown Abbey" picked up a statue for Best Mini-Series.
Although best known for his work as a drug dealer on "The Wire," Idris Elba won a Best Actor, TV Mini-Series or Movie Golden Globe for playing someone on the opposite side of the law — a detective on the BBC series "Luther."
“I have the most loyal fans in the world and I thank you” Elba said.
It was not all surprises and horse races. As previously announced, Morgan Freeman received the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
"My passion in life has always been acting," Freeman said, noting that as the adage goes, "If you do something you love, you'll never have to work a day in your life."
Freeman, whose bauble arrived after tributes from "RED" co-star Helen Mirren and Sidney Poitier, acknowledged the "In the Heat of the Night" star's legacy.
"In my house, it will always be the Sidney Poitier award," Freeman said.