From Sacha Baron Cohen’s joke about Rudy Giuliani’s threat to Chloe Zhao’s humble response to her historic best director nomination – I have compiled some of the best reactions of the newly-minted Golden Globe Awards nominees.

It sure felt different to be in sweats and sitting in my apartment instead of being formally dressed at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills where the Hollywood Foreign Press Association or HFPA (disclosure: I am a voting member and an officer) usually announces its nominations. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, I didn’t have to drive to the Hilton at 4:00 in the morning.

But I still had to wake up at dawn to watch Sarah Jessica Parker and Taraji P. Henson announce, not before the usual phalanx of reporters and photographers from all over the world, the nominees in key categories of the 78^th Golden Globes. The two actresses, both Golden Globe winners, revealed the nominees in separate spots, first on NBC’s Today show and then online.

Afterward, the nominees’ reaction quotes started coming. The best ones were funny or personal, and definitely not bland and generic.

The following are nominees, not winners; the 2021 Golden Globes results will be announced in the widely watched show that will broadcast live from Los Angeles and New York.

In the first ever bi-coastal telecast of the star-studded ceremony, hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will share duties from their respective cities, with the former on the East Coast (The Rainbow Room) and the latter on the West Coast (The Beverly Hilton).

The show will air live Sunday, February 28, coast-to-coast from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on NBC.

Leave it to Sacha Baron Cohen (best actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy, Borat Subsequent Film, and best supporting actor – motion picture, The Trial of the Chicago 7) to come up with a humorous swipe at Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s lawyer, and who was caught on camera in a compromising situation in the Borat film.

Still courtesy of Amazon Studios

“I’m so honored – and in the event that we don’t win, I promise to hire Rudy Giuliani to contest the results,” quipped the master of satire.

“I especially want to congratulate the visionary of The Trial of the Chicago 7, Aaron Sorkin, and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’s Tutar, the incredible Maria Bakalova. These two films are different, but they share a common theme—sometimes we have to protest injustice with our own farce.”

Maria Bakalova (best actress in a motion picture – musical or comedy) continued the funny thread: “I am the happiest person in the whole flat world.”

Hugh Grant (best actor in a limited series, anthology series or a movie made for TV for The Undoing) also made a joking threat, and made a reference to the crucial murder weapon in the crime drama: “Just to be nominated is a massive honor. Though I would remind the HFPA that I still have the sculpting hammer.”

On such a hectic morning, I suddenly found myself face to face (well, via Zoom) with Chloe Zhao, who made history as the first Asian woman to earn a Golden Globe best director nomination for Nomadland.

“I’m proud,” said Chloe about her glass ceiling-shattering nod. “Very happy. I love telling stories. I don’t want to do anything else. And, if this means more people like me get to do it, it’s a great thing.”

The Beijing native also scored a precedent-setting nod as the first Asian woman to nab a Golden Globe best screenplay citation. “My reaction is, really?” she replied with a smile to my question. “It’s the same again – if that means it will open doors for more people, then I think that is great.”

Still courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

Chloe, Regina King (One Night in Miami), and Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) also made history on this February morning when not one, not two but three females made it to the Globes’ best director list.

“I’m very proud to be nominated with them (Regina, Emerald, Aaron Sorkin, and David Fincher),” said the immigrant filmmaker. “I’ve seen their movies and I loved them. I do believe there’s a Yin and Yang in all of us. And that is, you can’t stop the need, the desire to want to see the world through other perspectives. It is only a matter of time.”

“I also think that for upcoming young female filmmakers, it’s important to know that who you are is good enough.  Don’t try to fit in, just be who you are, be true to what kind of story you want to tell. I think it’s enough.”

Asked how she heard about Nomadland’s four nods, including best motion picture – drama and best actress in a motion picture – drama for Frances McDormand, Chloe admitted with a grin, “I slept through it and then I got messages in the morning from my publicist. I was looking for the right emoji to send back to express myself.”

Still courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

On how she plans to celebrate the rest of the day, the pioneering Asian director said, “I have another baby I have to take care of, Eternals. I have meetings and meetings. But I am going to order sushi for lunch!”

With Eternals, which she also co-wrote, Chloe makes her blockbuster directorial debut in the Marvel Studios project that stars Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, and Kumail Nanjiani.

Minari, written and directed by another Asian filmmaker, Lee Isaac Chung, cinched a best motion picture – a foreign language nod.

“Minari is the most personal film I’ve ever made,” Lee said in a note. “I am humbled that it has been nominated among other amazing films. Minari was made by actors and crew from all over the world, and in that spirit of global solidarity, I thank you for this recognition.”

Director Pete Docter, co-director Kemp Powers, and producer Dana Murray, in their joint statement on Soul’s best motion picture – animated nomination, acknowledged the contribution of artists, including Pixnoys (Pinoys who work at Pixar). Manila-born Paul Abadilla served as the film’s sets art director.

“Our cast and crew is an exceptionally talented group of artists that poured their hearts into this film and we share this nomination with all of them.”

“This past year has been full of challenges but what we hoped people would experience through Joe Gardner’s (protagonist voiced by Jamie Foxx) journey is that there can be so much awe and purpose in simply being present for the everyday parts of this complicated and beautiful life.”

Also nominated in the best motion picture – animated race is Glen Keane’s Over the Moon, which features an all-Asian voice cast, including Cathy Ang, the daughter of Filipino immigrants.

In another historic nod, H.E.R. became the first Filipina-American to score a best original song nomination for Fight for You, the theme ditty she sang and composed with Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas, for Judas and the Black Messiah.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

“It’s an honor to be nominated for a Golden Globe and to be a part of this phenomenal movie that connects what was happening then to what is happening in the world today,” said H.E.R., whose mom Agnes is from Nueva Ecija (dad is Ken Wilson).

“Bringing Ruben to life changed me,” Riz Ahmed reacted about his best actor in a motion picture – drama citation for his portrayal of a drummer who loses his hearing in Sound of Metal. “You have the same name as my character!” exclaimed Riz to me earlier.

“Ruben was a gift given to me by (director) Darius Marder’s daring genius, and the radical empathy of my teachers Jeremy Lee Stone, Leighton Grant, Guy Licat and Gregory Berger-Sobeck.”

Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

“Special thanks to all those in the deaf community I was privileged to be guided by, as well as Paul Raci, Olivia Cooke, and all our cast and crew.”

The Crown ruled the TV categories with 6 nominations. Helena Bonham Carter (best actress in a TV supporting role) was quotable, as usual: “It’s been a great and happiest of jobs and I hope we have provided some diversion in this bonkers time. I miss my fake Royal family. Now that our tenure is over, I couldn’t have asked for a nicer retirement present.”

Gillian Anderson, who is competing with Helena in the same category, said, “I am so thankful to the HFPA for this nomination and for recognizing me alongside these extraordinary women, and also to the fans of The Crown for supporting us this season. I owe a lot to Cate Hall and Amy Roberts for their collaboration, vision, and genius in making our Margaret Thatcher come to life.”

Emma Corrin (best actress in a TV series – drama): “It has been a privilege to be part of The Crown family and to portray our version of Diana… ‘Well, you know, by being a mad tree’ (the line said by Emma as Diana in a scene when, as a 16-year-old and dressed as a tree in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, she met Prince Charles for the first time).”

Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

“Mind blown. What an honor to be recognized by this group, and among these incredible artists,” reacted Josh O’Connor (best actor in a TV series – drama).

In the other TV races, both Sarah Paulson and Cynthia Nixon credited the cast of Ryan Murphy’s Ratched, which includes Fil-Am actor Jon Jon Briones in a major role as Dr. Richard Hanover/Dr. Manuel Bañaga.

Sarah (best actress in a TV series – drama) said, Bringing Mildred Ratched to the screen was a labor of love, and today’s nominations are the cherry on top. I am thrilled for Cynthia, and I am proud of our entire brilliant cast and tireless crew.”

Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

For her part, Cynthia (best actress in a TV supporting role) reacted this way: “I have been over the moon about the way audiences embraced my character, Gwendolyn, and shared Ryan’s excitement at the idea of having two queer women (she and Sarah) play these queer characters. I share this recognition with Sarah, the rest of the incredible cast, Ryan, our crew, and Netflix.”

Sia, who also made waves Wednesday morning when Music, her feature film directing debut depicting a character with autism, garnered the best motion picture – musical or comedy citation, said, “This movie is a love letter to everyone who has ever felt they didn’t have a voice. What an incredible, exciting and unbelievable experience.”

Tahar Rahim (best actor in a motion picture – drama) gushed about his first Globe nomination for his portrayal of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was locked and tortured at Guantanamo prison for 14 years in The Mauritanian.

“I am filled with emotion today. Mohamedou Ould Slahi is a man who is rooted in faith and believes in forgiveness. He was in jail for 14 years without charges or trial. It’s been the great honor of my career to tell Mohamedou’s story.”

“I’m thrilled to share this day of excitement with our director Kevin Macdonald and the iconic Jodie Foster who I grew up watching and was inspired by as a young actor.”

Jodie Foster (best actress in a supporting role – motion picture) also paid tribute to the man whose life is depicted in The Mauritanian.

“Mohamedou’s extraordinary life has been one of kindness, forgiveness, and grace against all odds. Today, it is my honor to share this moment with him, Kevin Macdonald, and a cast of hugely talented actors who I had the joy to work with.”

Jeff Daniels (best actor in a limited series, anthology series or a movie made for TV) explained why The Comey Rule, where he played James Comey, and which was based on the former FBI director’s memoir, was important.

“The Comey Rule wasn’t just a project. It mattered and continues to matter. In an important election year (2020), I knew some people might have said, ‘Shut up and stay out of politics.’”

“But the reason I couldn’t is simple: I’ve got kids and grandkids. I wanted them to know that I was on the right side of history. In a divided country like ours, you might risk losing half an audience with these choices, but this was just too important.”

Brendan Gleeson (best actor in a TV supporting role), who played Donald Trump said, “I’m on set in London and just heard the brilliant news. A big shout out to Jeff Daniels – the Yin to my Yang and the finest scene partner in any Oval Office.”

Daniel Kaluuya (best actor in a supporting role – motion picture) reflected on the significance of playing a Black Panther leader in Judas and the Black Messiah.

“I’m focused on honoring the legacy of Chairman Fred Hampton and bringing his story to as wide an audience as possible. Chairman Fred and the Black Panther Party put their deep love for the black community front and center. To reiterate his words, where there’s people, there’s power.”

Nicholas Hoult (best actor in a TV series – musical or comedy for The Great) was memorable in his reaction. He brought up attending the Globes as a child actor for About a Boy.

“The first time I attended the Golden Globes, I was a 12-year-old boy. Who knew that playing a drunk, philandering, sex-addicted, depraved, megalomaniac was my way back! ‘Toosh!’ The point is, I feel so honored to have this organization as a part of my life since I was a kid.”

Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

Two comedian nominees gave zany quips – and a fun conclusion to this column.

Ramy Youssef, Nicholas’ rival in the TV series – musical or comedy category for Ramy, referred to the Globes’ reputation as Hollywood’s Party of the Year but since it’s pandemic time: “I can’t wait for the awards night. Everybody knows the Golden Globes throw the best Zoom.”

Andy Samberg (best actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy for Palm Springs): “I look forward to us all celebrating together. I assume inside giant plastic bubble ball suits with their own mini-champagne bottles inside.” – Rappler.com