With umbrellas as vital on the red carpet as Armani couture or Harry Winston diamonds, the rain-soaked skies couldn’t dampen the spirits of Hollywood’s elite as the 67th Annual Golden Globes kicked off the award season. Hosted by Ricky Gervais (UK’s “The Office”) and seen in over 130 countries by more than 500 million viewers, the three-hour show on NBC celebrated the Hollywood Foreign Press’s selections for achievements in film and television.

Used sparsely throughout the telecast, Gervais used his usual off-color, tongue-in-cheek brand of humor to hilarious effect. He received his biggest laughs skewering some of Hollywood’s biggest players such as the US version of “The Office,” Angelina Jolie and Mel Gibson. With a twinkle in his eye as he announced the next presenter, Gervais admitted he “had a couple” as he raised a glass of spirits and continued “I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the next man is Mel Gibson.” The network broadcasting the show, NBC, took a lot of punches too, from the show’s host and winners primarily because of the network’s current late night debacle and its now-reversed decision to give up five hours of primetime television to Jay Leno. Overall, the show was starpacked with Cher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro (honoring his frequent collaborator, Martin Scorsese), Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Sophia Loren and last year’s winners, Kate Winslet and Micky Rourke.

For winners in television, the Foreign Press recognized populist fare, including newcomer “Glee” (Best TV Comedy) and “Mad Men” (its 3rd consecutive for Best TV Drama, one for each season it has been on). However, arguably the most significant reason to pay attention to the Globes is that it’s wide- ly considered a harbinger for the Oscars as it tries to gauge what the front-runners will be. And if it’s any indication on how the Oscar race is shaping up, the Globes, like the Broadcast Film Critics Choice Awards two nights before, recognized the work of Mo’Nique (Supporting Actress for “Precious”), Christoph Waltz (Supporting Actor for “Inglouroius Basterds”), Sandra Bullock (Best Actress/Drama for “The Blind Side”) and Jeff Bridges (Best Actor/Drama for “Crazy Heart”). The Globes also awarded Meryl Streep as Best Actress/Comedy or Musical for “Julie and Julia,” her record breaking 7th Golden Globe. Streep and Bullock tied at the Critics Awards. The one category the Globes and the Critics couldn’t agree on is Best Picture and Director. The Globes honored “Avatar” and its director, James Cameron, while the Critics honored “The Hurt Locker” and its director (ex-Mrs. Cameron), Kathryn Bigelow.

This weekend the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Producers Guild Awards will honor its own following George Clooney’s star-studded, multi-network “Hope for Haiti” global telethon on January 22nd to raise funds for the embattled nation after last week’s devastating earthquake. Co-hosted by Haiti-born musician Wyclef Jean, Sting, Alicia Keyes, Justin Timberlake and U2’s Bono will participate. All funds raised will benefit UNICEF, the Red Cross, Oxfam America, Partners in Health and the Yele Haiti Foundation.