“Angels in America” was the night’s big TV winner, and star Al Pacino thinks it has something to do with Tony Kushner.
“He wrote a masterwork that resounded with the people that saw it.” As for his part in the miniseries, Pacino said he was grateful to be included, but it doesn’t get any easier making it to the stage for a performance. “I did this a year and a half ago,” Pacino said. “And you are all into it at the time you are doing it, and afterward you are grateful that you had the opportunity to engage yourself in something, and then you leave it. It leaves you or something. And then later, you come up in something like this (the Globes presentation), and you are not prepared for it. The meaning usually kicks in later; I hope that’s not a cop-out. It’s overwhelming, the feeling you get once you’re up there, and you feel the impact of it. It’s a tremendous effect. I wish everyone could experience it.”
Speechless“What am I supposed to do, just stand here?” asked Mary-Louise Parker, winner for supporting actress in a series, miniseries or made-for-TV movie.
“We ask you really dumb and annoying questions,” responded a television reporter, who then asked a dumb and annoying question. Parker was surprised by her win and the other trophies that “Angels in America” garnered Sunday “because it’s so good. Things that good and with that kind of subject matter, people tend to reject it or overlook it,” she said.
Still waiting
In talking about her win for actress in a miniseries or made-for-television movie, Meryl Streep praised HBO’s adaptation of Tony Kushner’s stage production of “Angels in America.”
“This was truly a breakthrough for television, in a way,” she said. “Not just for the subject matter but (also) because it asks so much of the audience, in a way. It’s chock-full of ideas, and a lot of people may think that television can’t handle the density in an operatic scale. It broke ground on a lot of levels. ... I’m proud of this piece, maybe more than anything (else) that I’ve done.”
Before last year’s Globes ceremony, Streep flew in from Rome — where she was shooting “Angels” — and later took the stage for her supporting film actress win for “Adaptation.” “I spoke to someone on the way in because my award from last year is still blank,” Streep said of her 2003 trophy, which has not yet been engraved. “They said it’s supposed to come in the mail -- and you peel off the blank one and stick the new one on — but I think it got mislaid. It’s probably on eBay.”
Political statement
“Angels in America’s” Jeffrey Wright was in a contemplative mood when he got backstage, talking at length about the role of film and television in politics as well as AIDS. “When I became an actor, I thought it could be a political vehicle and not just a distraction,” said the winner for supporting actor in a TV series, miniseries or telefilm. “Film can be an expression of what we think: It’s artistic; it’s about having insight and trying to be poignant. ... ('Angels’) is a piece that says things you don’t hear very often; the people who suffer this disease are brought to the forefront.” The mood was turned 180 degrees when a reporter asked where Wright was going to put his Golden Globe statuette. “Next to my Tony,” he responded.
'24'-plus hoursKiefer Sutherland attempts to save the world on “24,” which picked up the best drama series award Sunday. But could he do it in real life? “I’m going to think about that and get back to you,” the series’ star said. But while Sutherland thinks about it, one thing is for sure. “It’s going to take longer than a day,” he quipped.
Sutherland was joined backstage by “24’s” creators and fellow cast members, including Dennis Haysbert, who said: “I’ve never been on a show that felt this much like a family. The only thing unrealistic about the family part is that we don’t fight.”
It's a dress and a landmark
Sarah Jessica Parker, winner for actress in a TV comedy series, was in Paris when Karl Lagerfeld unveiled a design for her awards-night dress. She said yes immediately “because it reminded me of the Empire State Building; emotionally and architecturally, it’s my favorite building. Also, it’s not very often that a woman has couture made for her, so I said yes.” With “Sex and the City” wrapping its final season, Parker was emotional and talked of the agony of making the decision to end the HBO show. Looking at her statuette reflectively, Parker, who had won the award three times before, said: “It feels like I’m meant to take this home. It feels more substantial than ever.”
Family manIf it weren’t for the birth of his daughter, Anthony LaPaglia would have passed up the chance to star in CBS’ “Without a Trace,” now in its second season. “Despite my own bad judgment, I almost said no just because I’m stupid,” said the winner for actor in a drama series. “Television can be quite a difficult medium to work in, and I have a streak of perfectionism that sometimes works against the medium of television. So I struggled hard to decide, and the deciding factor was the birth of my daughter because I wanted to be home and be a present father — I didn’t want to drag my kid all over the world. Thank God, I (said yes) -- it worked out really well.”
On a lighter note, LaPaglia related how he didn’t struggle in getting prepped for Sunday night. “I just put my pants on,” he said with a laugh. “It’s not that hard.” He obviously has had an easy time winning over voters, too: LaPaglia’s Globe win was his second of the weekend. “(Saturday) night I won an Australian award for excellence in something, and getting them back-to-back is just incredible.”
What channel is that on?“Six Feet Under’s” Frances Conroy wasn’t expecting anything when she sat listening to the nominees in her category. “You should let the evening come as it may,” said the winner for best actress in a television drama. Despite being a TV star, Conroy hardly watches the tube because she can’t find her favorite shows. “They’re always changing the channels!” she said. The same goes for airtimes, she added, saying, “I never know when anything is on.”