Viola Davis and Ted Danson got their golden moment a couple of days before the Golden Globes.
On Friday, the duo was feted in a lavish “Golden Gala” as this year’s recipients of the Cecil B. DeMille Award (Davis) and the Carol Burnett Award (Danson) for their respective career achievements in film and television. (Watch their full speeches below.) Traditionally these awards have been bestowed live during the annual Golden Globes broadcast, but that’s not the case this year; instead, Davis and Danson have been asked to present at Sunday’s ceremony on CBS.
Meryl Streep presented the award to Davis, exactly eight years after Davis honored her Doubt co-star with the same prestigious trophy. As for Danson, his wife Mary Steenburgen served as the presenter. The Cecil B. DeMille Award was first created in 1952 and salutes film achievement, while the Carol Burnett Award, which celebrates television talent, has been doled out since 2019.
“I feel like someone just set me on fire,” Davis proclaimed while staring out at the crowd. “Thank you, Meryl. You’re just a great broad. You forgot, I followed you into the toilet that first day of rehearsal [for Doubt]. I just wanted to smell you!” Davis claimed that she “discarded” her speech before she arrived at the ceremony, and Gold Derby confirmed that the teleprompter was indeed blank for her entire 16-minute oration.
The actress had everyone reaching for the tissues when she declared, “Little Viola is squealing,” referring to how she was able to overcome childhood poverty to have a hugely successful adult life. “She’s standing behind me now and she’s pulling on my dress,” Davis smiled. “And she’s wearing the same red rubber boots that she wore rain or shine because they made her feel ‘purty’ … And what she’s whispering is, ‘I told you I was a magician.'”
After walking onto the stage to the Cheers theme song, Danson noted, “I made the mistake this evening of just being present in every moment with all of you, and now I can’t remember what I was gonna say. I know I should have been planning while you were talking.” He singled out all of the former producers and actors in his life, including Cheers co-creators Glen Charles and Les Charles, who surprised him by showing up in person.
“I have to admit, I’ve always had a confusing relationship with awards,” Danson revealed. “If I win, I feel a little embarrassed and lonely. If I don’t win, I feel a little embarrassed and lonely.” Decades ago, he “finally realized” why — because his mother once noted about his success, “Well, I’m happy for him, of course. But I’ve always believed in the nobility of quiet failure.” Amid laughter, the actor added, “Maybe it’s a Scottish thing or something. No wonder I’m confused!”
Other celebrities in attendance at the inaugural “Golden Gala,” which took place at the Wilshire Garden inside the Beverly Hilton, included Globe President Helen Hoehne, Anthony Anderson, Babyface, Stephanie Beatriz, Carol Burnett, William Stanford Davis, Jane Fonda, Jack Huston, Harold Perrineau, Danielle Pinnock, Eli Roth, Glynn Turman, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
All invitees adhered to the black-tie dress code, and enjoyed a three-course meal of goat cheese & beet salad to start, either coffee-rubbed Wagyu New York steak, Mediterranean sea bass, or a vegan squash duo for the entrée, and Pain de Genes almond cake for dessert.
Davis is a seven-time Golden Globe nominee, winning for Fences (2016) in the supporting actress category — she later went on to claim the Oscar and become one of only 21 EGOT winners. Danson has amassed 12 total Globe nominations (including this year for A Man on the Inside), prevailing three times for Something About Amelia (1984) and Cheers (1989 and ’90).
Note: Golden Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge and Penske Media Corporation, which owns Gold Derby.
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