(Click here for an updated list of winners)
The Golden Globes went largely mainstream Sunday, heaping trophies on blockbusters and crowd-pleasers with "Avatar" taking best picture and director honors, "The Hangover" winning best comedy, and acting nods going to big draws Robert Downey Jr. and Sandra Bullock.
But there was no dominant winner: No one film or TV show won more than two awards.
Wins for "Avatar" and Cameron lend more momentum to the 3D film’s Oscar campaign, which is taking on more serious fare in those categories — including "The Hurt Locker" and its director Kathryn Bigelow, Cameron’s ex-wife.
"I’m actually not prepared for this because frankly, I thought Kathryn was going to win this," Cameron said as he accepted the best-director trophy.
Robert Downey Jr., who won the best-actor award in comedy for "Sherlock Holmes," also thanked his wife — for nothing.
"First of all I’d like to thank Susan Downey, who told me that Matt Damon was going to win, so don’t bother preparing a speech," he said, kicking off a funny, tongue-in-cheek anti-thanks speech that nodded to "Holmes’" strong standing against the "Avatar" juggernaut.
"’Avatar’ was going to take us to the cleaners," he said. "If they didn’t have me, we wouldn’t have a show."
Sandra Bullock won best drama actress for her turn as a tough football mom in the surprise smash "The Blind Side." Her counterpart on the actor side was Jeff Bridges, who won for his role as a burned-out country singer in "Crazy Heart."
The summer hit "The Hangover" was awarded best comedy/musical film. Very much in its absurdist style, cameo star Mike Tyson joined the entourage of joiners onstage.
Meryl Streep also cooked up another chunk of awards hardware, taking home the best actress in a comedy/musical Golden Globe for her turn as Julia Child in "Julie & Julia."
“I just want to say that in my long career, I’ve played so many extraordinary women, that I’m getting mistaken for one," Streep said humbly. "I‘m a vessel for other people’s stories, and other people’s lives.”
The stars of "Dexter" killed it in the male TV acting categories, as Michael C. Hall — just a few days after he announced he’s battling cancer — and John Lithgow took best actor (TV drama) and supporting actor for their respective roles as psychopathic adversaries.
After the stars filed in from a rain-soaked red carpet, the first award of the night went to Mo’Nique for best supporting actress in "Precious."