When we spoke to Ricky Gervais about a month ago (see interview below or in "Television-Interviews" menu section) when he was promoting his then-upcoming appearance as host of the 68th Annual Golden Globes (held tonight on Sunday, January 16, 2010), he promised that he would take his zingers against celebrities even further than he did last year because he now felt he knew the venue and could up the ante.  After viewing tonight's telecast, we can say that he definitely delivered on that promise, but we're not so sure he achieved the desired result as the audience in attendance seemed to grow increasingly cooler toward him as the night wore on with more than one celebrity presenter taking a few seconds to fire back at Gervais before announcing the nominees.

That being said, the ceremony, which was held, as usual, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, had its share of bizarre celebrity behavior – also as usual.  The speeches of both Robert Downey, Jr. (as he presented the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical) and Robert DeNiro (as he accepted his Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures) were filled with uncomfortable, cringe-inducing moments: Downey made a sexually-drenched speech regarding the leading ladies in the category he was announcing, while DeNiro unwittingly committed a racial faux pas when he tried to make a pointed remark about America's deportation policy by saying that among those deported in addition to members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association were "half the waiters."

Beyond all the drama, catty remarks, and good and bad evening gowns, the Golden Globes bear watching because Oscar buzz usually begins to build around any clear winners of the night.  Case in point:  The Social Network has already been riding an increasing wave of good notices, but it was cemented tonight as it won several major categories: Best Original Score, Best Screenplay, Best Director, and the most important one – Best Picture (Drama).

MULTIPLE AWARD WINNERS

The Social Network: 4 wins [Best Original Score, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Motion Picture (Drama)]

Glee: 3 wins [Best Supporting Actor (TV Comedy), Best Supporting Actress (TV Comedy), Best Television Series (Comedy)]

The Fighter: 2 wins [Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture Drama), Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture Drama)]

Boardwalk Empire: 2 wins [Best Actor (TV Drama), Best TV Series (Drama)]

The Kids Are All Right: 2 wins [Best Actress (Motion Picture Comedy), Best Motion Picture (Comedy)]

Unlike many other award shows, all the Golden Globe award categories are televised, which makes this show heavy on awards and light on celebrity banter at the podium.  Special numbers or musical performances are non-existent.

Here are the winners in the 26 categories of the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards:

On Sunday, January 9, 2010, USTownhall.com inaugurated its new webcast series, USTownhall RoundTable.  While our previous series, USTownhall RealStories features in-depth interviews with people of note and accomplishment from the worlds of television, movies, books, politics, business, etc. and allows them to tell their stories in their own words generally uncut and unedited, USTownhall RoundTable will allow us to fulfill the promise of our site of creating a global online community where people can share ideas and experiences by giving our fans and listeners a platform where their voices can be heard on a wide range of current topics.

On this first episode, we gathered together some of the most passionate fans of singer Adam Lambert from across the United States and Canada for a lively conversation on Mr. Lambert, his music, and what he means to his fans.

The panel included:

Brenda English, Margaret Hill, Lori Atkinson-Leung, and Danielle Langois from Canada as well as Erin Holberg, Mark Saltzman, Nicolina Royale, Kerry Kolasch, and Art Conn from the United States.  All are diehard fans of Adam Lambert who have bought his CDs and went to his concerts.  Many have met him or have written about him, as you will hear in this webcast.  In fact, Art Conn is a stylist for American Idol, and during Season 8, styled both Adam and Kris Allen on several occasions.  He and the rest of our panel shared many inside tidbits of information with us that we're sure you'll find interesting.

Please have a listen, and if you have any ideas about what topics we should cover in future USTownhall RoundTable shows or if you would like to participate, please send us an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What with the CMAs, ACMs, and CMT Music Awards, aren't there already enough award shows devoted exclusively to country music?  Fox doesn't seem to think so as it unveiled its new American Country Awards (ACAs) on Monday, December 6, 2010.  Broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and hosted by Trace Adkins, the show honors country artists selected by the public in the categories of music, video, and touring.  Like a lot of network-created award shows, the ACAs grant a unique prize to its winners rather than a traditional trophy.  In this case, the lucky honorees get a custom-made Fender guitar.  Seems better than a Moonman or a surfboard to us.

PERFORMANCES INCLUDED:

- Blake Shelton: "Kiss My Country Ass"

- Rascal Flatts medley: "These Days," "Bless the Broken Road," "What Hurts the Most," "Fast Cars and Freedom," "Life is a Highway"

- The Band Perry: "If I Die Young"

- Josh Turner: "Why Don't We Just Dance"

- Toby Keith: "Bullets in the Gun"

- Reba McEntire: "Turn on the Radio"

- Uncle Kracker: "Good to Be Me"

- Keith Urban: "Put You in a Song"

- Steel Magnolia: "Keep on Lovin' You"

- Alan Jackson medley: "Wanted," "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow," "Don't Rock the Jukebox," "Drive (For Daddy Gene)," "Remember When," "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," "Good Time," "Chattahoochie," "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"

- Jason Aldean: "My Kinda Party"

- Trace Adkins: "This Ain't No Love Song" 

MULTIPLE AWARD WINNERS

Carrie Underwood: 6 wins

Lady Antebellum: 4 wins

Easton Corbin: 3 wins

Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins: 2 wins

In advance of his participation in the upcoming special, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, we spoke to Josh Groban, who will be appearing on the show along with chart toppers, Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, and Jessica Simpson.  Jackie Evancho, who came in second place on this past summer's fifth season of America's Got Talent, will also appear.  The special will air at 8:00pm nationwide, but for those in the New York City area, at 7:00pm, there will be an additional hour that will air prior to the national special.  Hosts for the festivities are Al Roker and Natalie Morales from The Today Show. 

Mr. Groban shares with us what his participation in the special will consist of, what his touring plans are for 2011, and which artists he would like to collaborate with in the future. 

USTH: Can you just tell us what songs you will be performing at the Christmas in Rockefeller Center special, and whether you'll be doing any duets with any of the other guest stars?

JOSH GROBAN: Well, I am not going to be singing any duets on this one unless they ask.  Anything could change, but at the moment, I think I'm just going to be doing solos.

I'm going to be singing a song off my new record called "Bells of New York," which is kind of a – not a Christmas song – but a winter kind of song. And felt like it was a right choice for this event.  And as far as the second song goes, I am singing "The Christmas Song."

USTH: Since you brought up your new album, can you tell us a little bit about Illuminations and what inspired you to create the songs on this particular album?

JOSH GROBAN: This record was the first meeting of minds between myself and Rick Rubin.  We both came from very different worlds, and we were both excited about getting into a room together and trying something new – trying to make a record that is in the style that I make in a very different way.  So, I just really made sure that a lot of writing was done on my part and that when we recorded it, it was very organic.

We were right in the room with a lot of the orchestras. Many of the songs were one or two takes. So, it's a much longer answer than I think I can probably give you today, but we generally just wanted to make an album that was crystal clear with beautiful songs.  And add some personality and some personal flavor to a genre that doesn't have much at the moment.

USTH: You said that on the Christmas in Rockefeller Center special, you aren't planning on doing any duets, but in your career you've done so many collaborations. Are there any artists that you would like to collaborate with that you haven't had the chance to so far?  Who is on your personal wish list in the future?

JOSH GROBAN: Well, two people that spring to mind on my personal wish list – an instrumentalist and a singer. I've always wanted to sing with Yo-Yo Ma. He's somebody that I admire a great deal.  I think that my voice and the range of his cello are somewhat in the same place.  And I think it would be really, really nice.

And then, kind of an off the wall dream of mine that I've always had is to sing with Bjork. She's somebody that I just think is so experimental. Her use of orchestras is so interesting, and she just has such a rich and primal voice that I'm just dying to sing a duet with her.  So, those are two people that are on my hit list.

USTH: Can you talk a little bit about your upcoming tour plans for 2011 in support of Illuminations? Are you going to be appearing solely in the United States, or are you going to go on a world tour?

JOSH GROBAN: It's definitely going to be a world tour.  There are a lot of places that I can't wait to visit again that I haven't been to in a few years. And some places that I'm hoping to visit that I've never been to as well as, of course, a really fun trek across the United States.

So, no details at this moment.  But, after all the TV stuff is done – after the first of the year – I'm going to start rehearsing with my band and really start planning a major tour.

USTH: Good luck with the television special and your upcoming world tour.  I'm sure your fans will be looking forward to it.  Thanks for speaking with us today.

Josh Groban's latest album, Illuminations, is available now, and you can catch him on the television special, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, on Tuesday, November 30 at 8:00pm on NBC.