Golden Globes 2012: Winners and Losers

'The Artist' and George Clooney were among big winners Sunday night. "The Descendants," a family drama set in Hawaii, won the Golden Globe on Sunday night for best drama. George Clooney, who stars in the film as a father coming to grips with his wife's impending death, won for lead actor in a drama. But "The Artist" was the even bigger winner. The black-and-white silent film about the transition to talkies picked up three Golden Globes for best film, musical or comedy, lead actor Jean Dujardin and score. The film's four-legged co-star, Uggie, nearly upstaged the acceptance speech: The Jack Russell terrier pulled off several tricks on stage, including playing dead. One of the biggest surprises of the night? Meryl Streep got bleeped. She let loose with a few expletives at the 69th annual awards as she accepted the honor for lead actress in a drama for "The Iron Lady." It appeared she was flustered because she left behind her reading glasses for her walk onstage, and she fretted that she was going to forget to point out the other actresses who put in outstanding performances over the last year. She earned laughs when she thanked "God" -- as in Harvey Weinstein, the film's producer. There were standing ovations all around for Martin Scorsese and Morgan Freeman -- two giants of cinema who were honored. Scorsese won best director for his valentine to film, "Hugo," while Freeman won the Cecil B. De Mille Award for his work in film. Legendary actor Sidney Poitier presented the honor to Freeman, which Freeman said was honor enough in and of itself. ABC's "Modern Family" also won the Golden Globe for TV comedy series. But the honor was a bit like a celebration of Latinos in entertainment: Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayak presented the award, and "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara gave the acceptance speech. Octavia Spencer stole the show for her sassy Southern turn as a maid who exacts just revenge in "The Help." A trembling Spencer, who has been a favorite this awards season, said she especially appreciated the role that gave insight into the life of domestics, then and now. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she said "all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance."