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Michael Lynderey: As always, these shows aren't spectacular entertainment or anything, but they're kind of fun. Yes, the Arquette and Keaton speeches were probably the best. The humor ranged from hit (mostly Fey and Poehler) to very, very, miss (Wiig and Hader, the Cosby imitations that I didn't get and don't particularly wish to have explained to me). I did like Margaret Cho.

As for the Oscars, the ballots were all in the bank before the Globes aired, so that won't change. But it's clear now we're looking at a very uneventful race in most acting categories - with Simmons, Arquette, and Moore set to win with basically zero to no plausible insurgencies (I've heard some buzz about Aniston - including, "does her film actually exist?" - but the nomination is her reward, at least this year).

The most excitement is probably in what now looks like a two-man race between Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne. They both have somewhat compelling credentials for their candidacies, but neither, in a vacuum, is a particular slam-dunk. If someone like a Day-Lewis for Lincoln or Rourke for The Wrestler was running this year, they'd be an easy frontrunner (and I know Rourke lost).

Ultimately, it's probably going to go to the more predictable choice, Keaton, over the more untested Redmayne, who is an unknown commodity to most Americans (Benedict Cumberbatch really doesn't have a chance at this point).

Picture and Director will go to Boyhood, and so, from a box office perspective, almost every film to win in a major category at the Oscars this year will be one that, at least of now, hasn't even grossed $30 million dollars (Taken 3, can you spare a dime?).

Kim Hollis: I thought that overall it was a fairly lackluster show. The jokes weren't hitting, and even though I could tell that Poehler and Fey knew the Margaret Cho/North Korea thing wasn't working, it still went on and on and on - and they kept bringing her back onstage. It was awkward and totally lacking in any real humor.

I very much enjoyed Michael Keaton's acceptance speech (he's been a favorite of mine since I first saw him in a little movie called Night Shift in 1982), the Clooney intro and speech, and the fact that Grand Budapest Hotel won for Best Comedy or Musical. As a Wes Anderson mark, I'm pleased to see him get some attention. (Oddly enough, though, I would have chosen Birdman this year vs GBH.) I was also happy to see Richard Linklater onstage as well as the celebration from his friends and family. Even though I'd say it's generally a weak year for awards contenders, I love that we're seeing smaller, more independent projects moving into the forefront.

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