Golden Globes 2013 Hosting and Ceremony Overview
Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell co-hosted the 70th Golden Globe Awards, which took place on January 13, 2013, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The ceremony was broadcast live on NBC in the United States and covered major film and television categories from the previous year. The event was produced by Dick Clark Productions in partnership with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which oversees the Globes and sets the voting rules for its members.
The broadcast drew an estimated 19.3 million total viewers according to preliminary Nielsen data, making it one of the higher-rated editions in recent years. The show included opening monologues, musical performances, and a mix of comedic sketches tied to the nominees. The HFPA announced the nominations in December 2012, and the ceremony recognized films and series released in the prior calendar year.
Major Winners and Categories
In the film categories, "Argo" won Best Motion Picture Drama, while "Les Misérables" took home multiple awards including Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor in a Drama for "Lincoln," and Jessica Chastain was named Best Actress in a Drama for "Zero Dark Thirty." The television winners included "Homeland" for Best Television Series Drama and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" for Best Television Series Musical or Comedy.
Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig appeared in several pre-recorded and live comedy bits during the broadcast, interacting with winners and presenters. The hosts leaned on their recurring characters and improvisational style to introduce categories and bridge segments. The show ran for approximately three hours, including commercial breaks, and was produced under the standard Globes format with separate film and television award blocks.
Broadcast Reach and Public Reception
NBC served as the exclusive U.S. television broadcaster for the 2013 Golden Globes, with the network handling live coverage, commercial inventory, and digital clips. The show generated significant social media activity, with viewers discussing winners and performances on platforms such as Twitter in real time. The HFPA continued to work with major studios and talent agencies to secure participation from high-profile nominees and presenters.
For more details on the Globes format and HFPA membership rules, see the official Hollywood Foreign Press Association page at hfpa.org. Additional viewership and ratings data can be found in the NBC press release at nbcumv.com.