Not since 1995 has the Golden Globe Awards had a host. That's about to change. The producers have tapped Ricky Gervais for the 67th annual awards show, to be broadcast on NBC January 17th, 2010. The Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actor/comedian may be best known for his work in the BBC's "The Office." In addition to executive producing the American version of the hit British show, Gervais recently co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the film "The Invention of Lying" with Jennifer Garner.

His brand of humor may be just what the ailing telecast needs.

NBC's Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming thinks "Ricky is certainly one of the funniest people on the planet and has provided some of the most hilarious and memorable awards show moments in recent memory." You may recall Gervais' Golden Globe acceptance speech that began with, "I'm from a little place called England - we used to run the world before you."

Gervais says he feels like hosting the Globes will offer him "an environment where I feel I can get free reign [sic] as a host."

We can't wait to see what that "free reign" looks like. What about you? Are you more likely to watch?

Producer-director Steven Spielberg received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his extraordinary career encompassing 62 feature films, including "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "E.T.," "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" - just to name a few. He was supposed to receive the award last year, but as we all know, the ceremony was cancelled due to the writers strike.

Backstage, he was asked whether he still has the fire in his belly to make movies. "The fire has intensified," he replied. He also hinted that another Indiana Jones movie may be in the works. "George (Lucas) and I have had a couple of conversations about possible sequels."

Spielberg was less glib about his feelings toward alleged Ponzi scheme operator Bernard Madoff, with whom he had substantial investments. "I have a lot of feelings about it, but this isn't the place to address them," he said.

Kate Winslet picked up TWO trophies - a best actress nod for "Revolutionary Road" and a best supporting actress win for "The Reader." It's the first time anyone has won Globes in both categories in a single year. Winslet told journalists she didn't have an acceptance speech pre-written for her actress victory. "I thought Anne Hathaway was going to win, hands down!" she admitted.

She also talked about the experience of working with her hubby, director Sam Mendes, for the first time. "I hadn't had it, and I was envious of those who did. It absolutely brought us closer together."

Once upon a time, the last person you'd see backstage was Mickey Rourke. But he bounded up to the podium once he'd taken the actor prize for "The Wrestler" - a gritty movie about a has-been champ trying to make a comeback. It's analogous to his own story as an actor.

"I thought when I left the business, that I could back back into it in two or three years. It actually took 13. It was a long journey. I tried to beat the system, and it beat the sh*t out of me," he said candidly. "It was never about my ability (as an actor). It was about handling myself in society, which I always had a problem with."

Rourke says acting is a profession where you can get a second chance, and that the Bruce Springsteen song from the movie (which also won) would probably be his favorite tune 'til the day he dies.

The last folks to hit the Press Room was the cast and crew of "Slumdog Millionaire" - which surprised no one with its win for best motion picture (drama). Bollywood actress Freida Pinto, who turned heads as the drop-dead gorgeous female lead, was excited at having met Angelina Jolie recently. She said she wanted to go up to Jolie and tell her how much she admired her. Instead, Jolie beat her to the punch. Unfortunately, Pinto had just popped a pastry into her mouth, and could only mumble a few unintelligible words.

"Slumdog" director Danny Boyle - who also walked away with a trophy - defended the movie's happy ending. Even though Mumbai has seen its share of hardship, the city still has an optimistic spirit, he said. Now it's bolstered by the fact that "Slumdog Millionaire" is a leading contender to win the Oscar for best picture next month. And the envelope, please ...

– Denise Quan, CNN Entertainment Correspondent, with CNN's Matt Carey and David Daniel

Tom Hanks came backstage after "John Adams" won for best mini-series or motion picture made for television. Hanks served as executive producer on the HBO project, which chronicled the life and times of the second president. At the podium, he took the opportunity to say California should repeal Proposition 8 (which prohibits same-sex couples from marrying). He thinks it WILL be repealed in time, and cautioned that anyone with money can put on TV ads and convince the public of something for a while.

"John Adams" co-star Laura Linney also talked politics with reporters after nabbing the prize for best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television. During the presidential primary, Linney supported Hillary Clinton. My colleague, Matt Carey, asked how she thinks the former First Lady will perform as the new secretary of State.

Linney said she's glad Hillary will be working for Obama and the American public. She also addressed Caroline Kennedy's quest to fill Clinton's vacant Senate seat, saying "We should be so lucky to have a capable person working for us."

Laura Dern is one of the first to come backstage. She's toting a trophy for best supporting actress. It's for her stellar portrayal of Katherine Harris in HBO's "Recount" - about the 2000 presidential election. Dern talks about being "Miss Golden Globe 1982," and how her grandmother dropped her off at the Beverly Hilton for rehearsals, since she wasn't old enough to drive.

Someone asks Dern (an ardent Barack Obama supporter) her thoughts on Sarah Palin. She chuckles and says she hopes Palin has a "nice life in Alaska" - as opposed to D.C.

Someone else compliments her on her dress. "This old thing?," she jokes. "It's Vuitton by Marc Jacobs." Dern makes a point of saying it's her strategy to support an American designer.

– Denise Quan, CNN Entertainment Correspondent

Did you watching the Golden Globes pre-show on NBC? Not too many journalists paid much attention to it in the Press Room. It was hosted by Tiki Barber, Nancy O'Dell and Brooke Burke - the swimsuit model who won the last season of "Dancing With the Stars." From the sound of it, she's been tapped to ask celebs "The Heath Ledger Question" (insert sad face here before asking how they feel about Ledger's posthumous nomination for his work in "The Dark Knight").

O'Dell - God bless her - is still trying to get Beyonce to admit she married Jay-Z last April, and Beyonce is still dodging the question. "How does it feel to be married," O'Dell queried. "It feels wonderful that all these things are happening in my life," Beyonce skillfully sidestepped.

The three hosts are smooth - no major missteps, but no fun, spontaneous moments, either. And they seem to know the names of all the actors' spouses. Maybe it has something to do with the stack of cue cards they're holding.

Incidentally, my laptop has locked up.  The keyboard is frozen, and I can't even turn it off.  The rest of my blogs will be sent to you via BlackBerry, so excuse me in advance for any and all typos.

– Denise Quan, CNN Entertainment Correspondent

I'm a free woman! The nice lady with the clipboard magically got my credential fixed! Then a nice man came and installed the DSL line we were to receive. I bust out of the Deadline Press Room and use the ladies' room - not because I need to, but because I can. And further down the hall, could it be? Yes, it is - FOOD!!

(Editor's note: Denise is following the first rule of journalists: Use the restroom and eat when you get the chance, because you never know when you're going to get the chance again.)

As at a royal banquet, there are waiters everywhere, replenishing platters of food that, frankly, don't need to be replenished. Here's what's on the menu, with stars by the items I'm particularly enjoying:

- Veggie Platter

- Red Potato Salad

- Chinese Chicken Salad *

- Cheese Tortellini

- Mostaccioli with Marinara Sauce

- Chicken Breast with Bernaise Sauce **

- Roast Loin of Pork with Some Sort of Brown Gravy

- Cheese Platter with Dried Apricots, Nuts and Figs

- Assorted rolls

- Dessert platter (with 12 different types of cookies, plus brownie bites)

Definitely better than a fast-food drive-through.

– Denise Quan, CNN Entertainment Correspondent

"ACCESS DENIED." There it was, on the computer screen - in RED CAPITAL LETTERS - with a photo of my smiling mug above the offending words.

The four security guards at the checkpoint eyed me suspiciously. "Step aside, ma'am."

Was I trying to break into the Pentagon? Fort Knox? No ... I was just trying to get down a hallway at the Beverly Hilton so I can cover the Golden Globes.

This year, our laminated press credentials include some sort of invisible barcode device. Security guards can swipe it - like a loaf of bread at the supermarket - and your picture comes up on a laptop, along with the words "Access Granted" or "Access Denied." At the moment, I am falling into the latter category - along with groupies and possible terrorists.

"If you feel there's been a mistake, you need to go to the credentialing office," the guards tell me. "No problem," I say. The only drawback is the credentialing office is past the checkpoint they won't let me cross.

Now I walk around the exterior of the hotel to the credentialing office. I go inside, explain my situation, and they re-swipe my credential, telling me the problem has been rectified. I walk back to the security checkpoint. Again, my mug comes up on the screen with the words: "ACCESS DENIED." This is getting embarrassing.

I con someone into letting me past the checkpoint. "I'm just going to go to the Deadline Press Room. You can watch me as I walk there," I say. I get to the Press Room, expecting to locate Space 48, which has been assigned to CNN. Bad news. The spots aren't numbered - and there isn't one that says "CNN" on it. There's E! Entertainment, there's the Detroit News - heck, there's even a spot for the Chinese Daily News.

A nice woman with a clipboard named Susan says, "Maybe you're in the Rodeo Gallery." We walk down the hall and try to enter the Rodeo Gallery. They swipe my credential. "ACCESS DENIED."

Have I mentioned this is getting embarrassing?

We go back to the Deadline Press Room - which is where I shall sit for the next five hours. I cannot leave the room to eat or use the ladies' room, because if I do, I won't be let back in. In the meantime, promos for the Golden Globes are running continuously on NBC calling the event the best party in town. For now, I beg to differ.

– Denise Quan, CNN Entertainment Correspondent

Here’s how you know awards season is in full swing: Besides all the honors that are going to be given out – the People’s Choice Awards, the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Golden Globes –  there are a flurry of nominations being announced.

The American Society of Cinematographers named its five finalists. They are “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road” and  “Slumdog Millionaire.” Two of the films, “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road,” were shot or co-shot by the amazing Roger Deakins, who might finally win an Oscar this year. Last year he lost to Robert Elswit, who did the terrific work on “There Will Be Blood.”

The Writers Guild picked its nominees for adapted and original screenplay. In the former category, the nominees are "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," “ The Dark Knight," "Doubt," "Frost/Nixon" and " Slumdog Millionaire.” Original screenplay nominees are “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (it’s Woody Allen’s 19th WGA nomination), "Burn After Reading," "Milk," "The Visitor" and "The Wrestler."

With “Dark Knight” earning picks in such “prestige” categories - as well as nabbing a Producers Guild nomination for best picture – its chances for major Oscar nominations have risen.

Finally, the NAACP Image Awards nominations went out today. Among the leaders are “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” with six, and “Ugly Betty,” with five. Beyonce also received five nominations in music categories.

– Todd Leopold, CNN.com Entertainment Producer, from news services and press releases

What an odd set of Golden Globe nominations. But then again, it’s been an odd year, with two of the year’s best films - “The Dark Knight” and “Wall-E” - also two of the year’s biggest financial successes. Yet neither received much attention from the Globes. (Send us an iReport on what you thought of the nominations.)

Heath Ledger - deservedly - gets a nomination, but that’s it for “The Dark Knight.” “Wall-E” gets shoved into the best animated film category; apparently, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association didn’t want to also give it a best comedy or musical nod. (“Wall-E” may face the same problem from the Academy Awards.)

Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” picks up a bunch of nominations (including best comedy or musical), but none for Mr. Allen - not even a screenplay nod. Sean Penn gets a nomination for “Milk,” but there’s none for director Gus Van Zant or the film itself. “Doubt” has its entire cast nominated, but can’t squeak into the best drama category. (In the case of “Doubt,” many critics would agree: the film has earned praise for its acting, but writer-director John Patrick Shanley has been criticized for his direction and the stagier elements of his Tony Award-winning script.)

So what did you think? It’s been pointed out over the years that people are more willing to watch awards shows if they have a rooting interest. That’s not necessarily a reason for nominating box office successes, but this year - when “The Dark Knight,” in particular, has earned high praise from critics - it’s strange that the HFPA would leave it off their list. (Let me add that I haven’t seen many of the nominated films, some of which haven’t opened in Atlanta yet, so I’ll reserve judgment on their quality.)

So, at the least, the Globes are risking alienating possible viewers. And yes, awards shows are supposed to honor "the best" - but if you think politics and popularity doesn't enter into nominations, you're living in a different world.

Add your comment below or send us an iReport .

The Golden Globes went by so fast last night, I thought I'd left my remote on fast-forward.

And yet, could this be the wave of the future?

Consider: No acceptance speeches. Short clips (some of them couldn't have been any more than a second or two). Just a list of nominees, the name of the winner, occasional chat and on to the next one.

What if the Oscars tried this?

As an aside in talking about the importance of the writers' strike, Don Cheadle observed that the Oscar ratings have been declining for years. Commentators have pointed out any number of reasons for that - a lack of rooting interest in nominees, a culture inundated with celebrities - but a biggie is bloat. The awards simply go on forever.

It's not the speeches, either. It's all the musical numbers, and routines, and presenter patter, and the "why film is important" segments. What if the Oscars consisted of a red-carpet fashion show, a recitation of winners, a bunch of after-parties and called it a night?

As NBC (yes, I was watching NBC ... old habits die hard) moved on to "American Gladiators" after the Globes, a friend looked at me and asked, "Could this have been the best Globes ever?"

Well?