11 hilarious, awkward and shocking Golden Globes moments

75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E
By

The Golden Globes has been the stage for a fair number of shocking, hilarious and scandalous moments over its 78 years.

Returning hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are sure to grab fans' attentions with their hilarious gags and the show's first-ever "bicoastal" broadcast split between New York and Los Angeles.

Before you enjoy this year’s Golden Globes show on Sunday and see which nominees take home the gold, take a look back at the most outrageous moments in the award show’s history.

When Bette Midler made the most obvious joke ever

She cited Joan Crawford for the joke but it was Midler who reminded everyone in the audience that if an award-winning actress wants to get up on stage and refer to her own “golden globes,” there’s little showrunners or TV broadcasters can do to stop her. “I have to be tasteful. They told me I have to,” Midler says right before delivering the line anyway.

The 2008 Golden Globes were cancelled when members of the Screen Actors Guild refused to cross picket lines amid the Writers Guild strike.
The 2008 Golden Globes were cancelled when members of the Screen Actors Guild refused to cross picket lines amid the Writers Guild strike. Photo credit Getty Images

When the awards didn't happen at all

Well this was awkward. During the 2008 Writers Guild strike, actors (members of the Screen Actors Guild) showed solidarity with their writer counterparts by attend the event. This led to the cancellation of the show, with organizers from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association opting instead to announced the winners during a televised press conference.