CINEMA and TV fans had a rare highlight to share a few days ago – this year’s annual Golden Globes, with not even the global pandemic bringing that particular cultural juggernaut to a halt, although the ceremony had to swerve a number of obstacles to make it to air this year.

Frankly, with half the planet in lockdown of one sort or another, even the stars of the big and small screen were also affected, and were forced to broadcast their participations largely from home or other ordinary locations.

Viewers saw plenty of famous (and not quite as famous) names, nominees and winners joining the virtual ceremonies with fumbled Zoom calls, glitchy sound and stuttery video, with the sometimes decidedly lo-fi broadcasts revealing plenty of ‘slebs’ dressed to the nines in glitzy homes, but others who looked like they’d just wandered down to the kitchen to make a sandwich.

Still, while the 78th annual ceremony had a clunkier, more homely feel to it than usual, it still passed off as a night to celebrate some of the best TV programming and cinema of the past year, with the recently resurgent golden era of television celebrated in style, with British talents once again comprising a significant amount of the winners and nominees.

While Covid-19 throughout 2020 drastically impacted cinema attendances at home and abroad – for example, America alone saw an extended period without any films on release in the past year, with one obscure film that pulled in just over $600 being America’s number-one film at the box office one week – pre-Covid films continued to hit the market, or were released within this year’s Globes timeframe.

As such, there were plenty of decent films, actors, and behind the scenes talents lauded at this year’s awards, with a number of predicted winners romping home with their prized awards (see selection of winners in the panel, inset).

There are too many names and shows to go through, but here are just a very few of the more interesting names and wins from this year’s winners. In no particular order...

Anyone betting on The Crown’s several nominations picking up an award or three would have been safe enough, as that particular show yet again steamrolled its way through the opposition on the small screen, with few surprises there.

The Crown simply wins each year, and won yet again in a number of categories, so no surprises there.

Chloé Zhao's win as Best Director, for Nomadland – focusing on modern-day drifters and a largely invisible underclass quietly living in modern America, with a typically bravura turn by Frances McDormand alongside real-life drifters and nomads – was a well-deserving win, with its powerful tale of ordinary people living extraordinary lives wowing judges.

Critics also applauded Rosamund Pike’s turn as an irredeemably wicked, tough cookie in I Care A Lot, which saw the delighted Pike claim Best Actress in a Film – Musical or Comedy, and demonstrating that bad guys always win – awards, at least, if you can deliver a memorable, charismatic villain, as she so brilliantly did in this role.

While the Golden Globes always has a frisson of controversy behind the scenes, this year’s ceremonies were notably overshadowed by a number of issues.

The revelation that the influential Hollywood Foreign Press contingent of voters comprise an all-white bloc drew some sharp words from stars and pundits alike, while the ethics of how the Globes’ judges are courted by studios was also thrown into sharp focus.

The sudden spotlight on how the Golden Globes are judged, and who the judges are, exactly, is likely to upset the cosy status quo for next year’s ceremony, which may see a more inclusive, representative system that better reflects the diversity of talents in front of and behind the cameras.

For the moment at least, while people here in Fermanagh and elsewhere are waiting for cinemas to reopen and some degree of normality to return, the year ahead towards next year’s Golden Globes looks like it’ll be an interesting one.

At this stage, there’s a significant backlog of finished but unreleased films caught up in the system, with studios trapped in scheduling hell, wondering what can be released and when, while TV schedulers and programme makers also face another year of difficulties based on the pandemic.

But with a bit of luck ¬– and maybe some more decidedly unglitzy Zoom DIY broadcasts from the stars’ kitchens – we’ll have another crop of some great shows and films to celebrate then.

Best director, motion picture

Chloe Zhao, Nomadland -- winner

Best TV series, drama

The Crown -- winner

Best motion picture, drama

Nomadland -- winner

Best actress in a motion picture, drama

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday -- winner

Best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm -- winner

Best motion picture, musical or comedy

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm -- winner

Best actor in a motion picture, drama

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom -- winner

Best limited series or TV movie

The Queen's Gambit -- winner

Best actress in a limited series or TV movie

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit -- winner

Best supporting actress in a TV role

Gillian Anderson, The Crown -- winner

Best actress in a supporting role in any motion picture

Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian -- winner

Best motion picture, foreign language

Minari (USA) -- winner

Best actor in a TV series, drama

Josh O'Connor, The Crown -- winner

Best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Rosamund Pike, I Care a Lot -- winner

Best TV series, musical or comedy

Schitt's Creek -- winner

Best actor in a TV series, musical or comedy

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso -- winner

Best actress in a TV series, drama

Emma Corrin, The Crown -- winner

Best screenplay, motion picture

Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 -- winner

Best actor in a limited series or TV movie

Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much is True -- winner

Best actress in a TV series, musical or comedy

Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek -- winner

Best supporting actor in a TV role

John Boyega, Small Axe -- winner

Best actor in a supporting role in any motion picture

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah – winner

Best original score, motion picture

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste, Soul – winner

Best original song, motion picture

Io Si (Seen), The Life Ahead – winner

Best motion picture, animated

Soul -- winner