Gervais takes aim at Globes

Hollywood has been eagerly awaiting hearing what Ricky Gervais will say about them at this year's Golden Globes.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Ricky Gervais calls Globes like the Oscars, "but without all that esteem"


• NEW: Kate Winslet her third Globe, this one for HBO's "Mildred Pierce"


• George Clooney and his two films have 9 nominations this year


• The Golden Globes start the Hollywood awards season

Los Angeles (Entertainment News) -- Ricky Gervais took quick aim at the Hollywood Press Association Sunday night, the group that hired him to host the Golden Globes for a third year.

Gervais, in his opening monologue, compared the Golden Globes to the Oscars, "but without all that esteem."

The Globes are to the Oscars "what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. A bit louder, a bit drunker and more easily bought," he joked.

The group of about 85 writers invited Gervais to host the telecast again this year despite -- or because of -- the controversy stirred last year by his take-no-prisoners jokes.

Among the first trophies handed out was the Golden Globe for best actress in a made-for-TV movie or mini-series to Kate Winslet for her role in HBO's "Mildred Pierce." It was Winslet's third Globe. She won two in 2009, for "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader."

Winslet was asked backstage her opinion of reports that Lindsay Lohan was in negotiations to portray the late Elizabeth Taylor in a film.

"I'm not going to go there, dude," Winslet said. "It's kind of a hot zone."

Christopher Plummer won best supporting actor in a film for his role in "Beginners," while Laura Dern won best actress in a television comedy or musical series for her work in HBO's "Enlightened."

PBS's "Downton Abbey," nominated for four Globes, won for best made-for-TV movie or mini-series.

The 69th annual Golden Globes award show is being televised live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday night.

The Globes are the unofficial launch of Hollywood's movie award season, which culminates six weeks later with the Academy Awards.

George Clooney could spend a lot of time at the podium, considering the nine nominations for the actor-director and his two movies.

Clooney's "The Descendants" and "The Ides of March" are among the six films nominated for best drama. Clooney is also a contender for best actor in a drama for his "Descendants" role and for best director and best screenplay for "The Ides of March."

"Descendants" co-star Shailene Woodley is nominated for best supporting actress; Alexander Payne is up for best director and best screenplay.

"The Ides of March" earned a best drama movie actor nomination for Ryan Gosling, who also is nominated for best actor in a comedy film for "Crazy, Stupid, Love."

The other best drama film nominees include "The Help," which is nominated for five Globes, including a best drama actress nod for Viola Davis. Co-stars Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain are competing against each other for best supporting actress. Mary J. Blige's "The Living Proof" is nominated for best original song.

Best drama contender "Moneyball" is also nominated for best screenplay, while Brad Pitt, who portrayed baseball general manager Billy Beane, is up for best actor in a drama film. Jonah Hill, who played Beane's statistical wizard, is nominated for best supporting actor.

Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" is competing for best drama, and John Williams' music for the film is nominated for best original score. The movie is not up for any acting honors.

"Hugo" rounds out the nominations for the best movie drama category. Martin Scorsese is also nominated for best director for the 3-D family film, while Howard Shore is up for best original score.

The best drama film actor category also includes Leonardo DiCaprio for his portrayal of former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in "J. Edgar," and Michael Fassbender for "Shame."

Meryl Streep, who has been nominated 25 times before for Globes and won seven of the trophies, is again in the running for best actress in a drama film. She is nominated for portraying former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

Glenn Close, who produced, co-wrote and stars in "Albert Nobbs," was nominated as best actress. Co-star Janet McTeer is nominated in the best supporting actress category.

Along with Davis, Streep and Close, the best drama actress competitors include Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and Rooney Mara for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

The list of Golden Globe nominees for best comedy or musical films includes "The Artist," "50/50," "Bridesmaids," "Midnight in Paris" and "My Week With Marilyn."

"The Artist" has six nominations, the most of any other film. It drew a best acting nomination for Jean Dujardin, best supporting actress for Berenice Bejo, best original score for Ludovic Bource, and best director and best screenplay nods for Michel Hazanavicius.

"Midnight in Paris" gained Woody Allen best director and best screenplay nominations, along with a best comedy film actor nomination for Owen Wilson.

"My Week With Marilyn" star Michelle Williams' portrayal of Marilyn Monroe put her into the best comedy actress competition, while co-star Kenneth Branagh is nominated for best supporting actor.

"50/50" lead Joseph Gordon-Levitt is nominated for best comedy actor, and "Bridesmaids" star Kristen Wiig is up for best comedy actress.

Other best comedy actress contenders are Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster, both for their roles in "Carnage," and Charlize Theron for "Young Adult."

Brendan Gleeson's "The Guard" performance earned a best comedy actor nomination.

Golden Globe nominees for best animated feature film include Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin," "Arthur Christmas," "Cars 2," "Puss in Boots" and "Rango."

The best foreign-language films nominated include the Angelina Jolie-directed "In the Land of Blood and Honey," China's "Flowers of War," "The Kid With a Bike" from Belgium, the Iranian film "A Separation," and Spain's "The Skin I Live In."

Cable channel HBO dominated the Globes' television nominations with 18, including four for its mini-series "Mildred Pierce," three for drama series "Boardwalk Empire" and three for the movie "Cinema Verite."

In addition to Winslet's win, "Mildred Pierce," a nominee for best TV mini-series or movie, also earned nominations for best supporting actress for Evan Rachel Wood and best supporting actor for Guy Pearce.

"Cinema Verite," earned a best actress nomination for Diane Lane and best actor nomination for Tim Robbins.

Best TV drama series contender "Boardwalk Empire" star Steve Buscemi is contending for best actor and co-star Kelly MacDonald is nominated for best supporting actress.

Showtime was the second most-nominated TV channel with eight nods, including three for its drama series "Homeland" and two for the comedy series "Episodes."

"Homeland," vying for best TV drama series, boasts a best actress nomination for Claire Danes and best actor nomination for Damian Lewis.

Along with the best TV comedy nomination, Showtime's "Episodes" has a best actor nomination for Matt LeBlanc and best actress nomination for Laura Dern.

PBS followed with five nominations, including four for the British Masterpiece production "Downtown Abbey."