The Nightly: Golden Globes – Champagne & Surprises

Podcast: The Nightly
Hosts: Kristen (B) & Jacques (A)
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Nightly serves up a cozy, free-flowing recap of the 2026 Golden Globe Awards. Hosts Kristen and Jacques settle into the "pillow fort" to discuss surprises, snubs, standout moments (both cringey and delightful), and who got to clutch those iconic statues. With plenty of gentle humor and friendly banter, they revisit their awards predictions, break down major wins across film and TV, and celebrate the event's quirkiest or most memorable moments. True to the podcast’s remit, the conversation aims to be calming and comical—a welcome wind-down from award-season chaos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Golden Globes Opening & Nikki Glaser’s Monologue

[02:35-05:09]

• Kristen and Jacques both rave about Nikki Glaser’s second stint as host.
• Glaser’s approach: expertly balanced irreverence and respect, with gentle, knowing roasts.
• Notable joke: Glaser on Leonardo DiCaprio’s dating history—

  “You are a huge deal, and you’ve done it all before your girlfriend even turned 30.” — Kristen, recounting Glaser's joke [03:25]

• Jacques notes DiCaprio visibly enjoyed the joke, praising Glaser’s ability to prompt “genuine laughter” from the stars.

Major Surprises & "Snubs"

[05:19-10:48]

• Jacques laments that "Sinners" didn’t win more, particularly Best Screenplay, which went to "One Battle After Another". He feels "Sinners" was more original,

  “I thought the screenplay of Sinners was much stronger just from a writing perspective and an originality perspective.” — Jacques [06:29]

• Both surprised by "The Secret Agent" bagging multiple awards, especially Best Actor (Wagner Moura, a Brazilian film):

  “How often does a foreign language film end up having a best actor at an American awards show? Not very often.” — Kristen [07:39]

• Unexpected moments included Stellan Skarsgård’s Best Supporting Actor win for "Sentimental Value" (producers had him sitting in the back), and
• Rhae Sehorn’s win for "Pluribus"—Kristen especially praises Sehorn’s solo-acting skills.

Winners vs. Predictions

[10:09-15:32]

• "One Battle After Another" took home Best Comedy Film, Best Screenplay, Director (PTA), and Supporting Actress. Notably, both hosts predicted a win, though Kristen would have liked "Begonia".
• "Hamnet" won Best Drama (no surprise to Kristen, who describes it as “Oscar bait”):

  “It seems like it’s an uninspiring choice.” — Jacques [11:45]

• Jessie Buckley’s win for "Hamnet" likewise felt inevitable.
• On Best Comedy Series: Both predicted "The Studio" and were correct; Jacques bemoans no one thanked fictional character Sal Saperstein from the show (an inside joke for fans).
• Shoutout to Jean Smart, who won Lead Actress in Comedy for “Hacks,” Kristen’s pick.
• For Best Song: Kristen’s favorite, "Golden" from "K-Pop Demon Hunters", wins, besting Jacques’ underdog wish for a "Wicked" number.

  “Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters won. I love that song.” — Kristen [15:20]

• "K-Pop Demon Hunters" also took Best Animated Feature, with talk of a sequel brewing.

Favorite & Wild Moments

[16:37-18:38]

• Jacques sends kudos to Rose Byrne, former co-star, for her Golden Globe win (possibly for her intense, non-comedic film).
• They both get a kick out of Don Cheadle’s onstage antics and Snoop Dogg being, well, very Snoop at the awards.
• Kristen loved the Smartless podcast hosts’ bit, especially Jason Bateman being the butt of the joke.

Cringeworthy & Viral Moments

[18:02-19:52]

• Kristen recalls spotting Alicia Silverstone looking “possibly asleep, possibly inebriated” on live TV, which quickly made the rounds on TikTok.
• Jacques reminisces about his childhood crush on Alicia Silverstone—

  “Alicia Silverstone, one of my first crushes… By the time she came out with Clueless, I was like, that’s my boo right there.” — Jacques [19:12]

• They affectionately poke fun at the tradition of celebrities (and their champagne-fueled candid moments) at the Globes.

Final Reflections & Friendly Wind-down

[20:07-end]

• Jacques closes out with a triumphant cheer for the Chicago Bears and wishes all listeners sweet dreams and cold pillows.
• Kristen delivers a warm goodnight to listeners (and to Jacques), tying the evening’s festivities to restful sleep.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• [03:25] Kristen recounts Nikki Glaser’s roast of DiCaprio:
  “You are a huge deal, and you’ve done it all before your girlfriend even turned 30.”
• [04:49] Jacques enjoys Leo’s reaction:
  “That tickled him. Like, you could tell that that gave him a nice little laugh.”
• [06:29] Jacques, on Screenplay:
  “I thought the screenplay of Sinners was much stronger just from a writing perspective and an originality perspective.”
• [07:39] Kristen, on Best Actor:
  “How often does a foreign language film end up having a best actor at an American awards show? Not very often.”
• [11:45] Jacques, on "Hamnet":
  “It seems like it’s an uninspiring choice.”
• [13:57] Jacques, on "The Studio":
  “I was disappointed nobody thanked Sal Saperstein…That would have been the perfect comedy moment.”
• [14:53] Jacques, on Best Song:
  “I did not think it was going to win. The theater geek in me would have loved for [Wicked] to get a little recognition.”
• [15:20] Kristen, celebrating "Golden":
  “Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters won. I love that song. I love the song.”
• [18:02] Kristen, on a viral moment:
  “Does Alicia Silverstone not know she’s on camera right now?”
• [19:12] Jacques, on childhood crushes:
  “Alicia Silverstone, one of my first crushes…By the time she came out with Clueless, I was like, that’s my boo right there.”
• [20:38] Jacques, as a Bears fan:
  “We did it. We beat the Green Bay Packers…Bear down, baby. Bear down.”

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:30 Hosts introduce themselves and tease the Globes recap.
• 02:35 Dive into Nikki Glaser’s hosting and highlight opening monologue moments.
• 05:19 Begin reviewing major surprises, snubs, and award results.
• 10:09 Deep dive into major categories: Comedy, Drama, Series, and Song predictions vs. results.
• 16:37 Shoutouts, comic relief, and celebration of Rose Byrne and other winners.
• 18:02 Viral and awkward on-camera celebrity moments.
• 20:07-end Hosts wind down with personal stories and communal goodbyes.

Closing Thoughts

The Nightly’s Golden Globes: Champagne & Surprises episode is the perfect blend of playful industry insight, personal enthusiasm, and gently irreverent humor. Kristen and Jacques provide the kind of conversation that feels like a late-night debrief with friends—highlighting both the awards’ significance and their silliest, most “pillow fort”-worthy moments. Whether you care about who won or just want to soak in the excitement (and champagne-fueled antics) of awards season, this is a relaxing, entertaining recap.