Biggest Moments from the 2020 Golden Globes

Host Ricky Gervais was on the attack as he delivered zinger after zinger in his opening monologue. Brad Pitt had everyone laughing with some hilarious jokes, Michelle Williams delivered a passionate speech and more.

First off, here's a taste of Ricky's opening... to the table reserved for the creatives behind the mob drama "The Irishman," he said, "Lots of big celebrities here tonight. Legends. Icons. This table alone — Al Pacino, Robert De Niro… Baby Yoda. Oh, that's Joe Pesci. Sorry, I love you, man. Don't have me whacked."

Calling out stars who do fantasy-adventure movies, he said, "They wear masks and capes and really tight costumes. Their job isn't acting anymore. It's going to the gym twice a day and taking steroids, really. Have we got an award for most ripped junkie?” He then hinted, "No point, we know who'd win that."

Gervais poked fun at winners who use their speeches to shed light on a cause, urging, "So if you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg," name-checking the 17-year-old climate activist.

He did, however, remind everyone, "Remember, they're just jokes. We're all gonna die soon and there's no sequel, so remember that."

Ellen DeGeneres had the crowd laughing as she accepted her Carol Burnett Award.

After opening up about her career, she joked, "I feel like you've all really gotten to know me over the past 17 years. I'm an open book, and I couldn't have done it without my husband, Mark. Mark, you are my rock." She went on to tell her fake kids to go to bed, adding, "That's funny, because they're in college now."

On a more serious note, Ellen insisted, "The power of television for me is not that people watch my show, but that they watch my show and then they're inspired to go out and do the same thing in their own lives. They make people laugh or be kind or help someone that's less fortunate than themselves, and that is the power of television, and I'm so, so grateful to be a part of it."

One of the funnier acceptance speeches came from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, while accepting the award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy for "Fleabag," she acknowledged that Barack Obama recently added the series to his round-up of the year's best in books, film, music, and TV.

Referencing an R-rated moment from "Fleabag," she said, "Personally, I'd also like to thank Obama for putting us on his list. As some of you may know, he's always been on mine," adding, "and if you don't get that joke, watch Season 1 of 'Fleabag.'"

Then there was Tom Hanks, who took home the Cecil B. DeMille Award. While his speech was mostly about his craft and the industry, he did get particularly emotional while talking about his wife, Rita Wilson, and his kids.

Hanks teared up as he said, "A man is blessed with a family sitting down front like that. A wife who is fantastic in every way, who has taught me what love is. Five kids who are braver and stronger and wiser than their old man is… I can't tell you how much your love means to me."

Among the most powerful speeches of the night were Michelle Williams, who won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for "Fosse/Verdon."

The actress, who is expecting a child with fiancé Thomas Kail, said, "I'm grateful for the acknowledgement of the choices I've made, and also grateful to have lived at a moment in our society where choice exists, because as women and as girls things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice. I've tried my very best to live a life of my own making and not just a series of events that happened to me, but one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over it —sometimes messy and scrawling, sometimes careful and precise, but one that I have carved with my own hand."

"I wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose," she said. "To choose when to have my children and with whom. When I felt supported and able to balance our lives, knowing as all mothers know that the scales must and will tilt towards our children."

Later, she added, "So women, 18 to 118, when it is time to vote, please do so in your own self-interest. It is what men have been doing for years, which is why the world looks so much like them. Don't forget we are the largest voting body in this country. Let's make it look more like us."

On a lighter note, Brad Pitt took the stage to accept his award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Movie for "Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” and even delivered a few jokes.

After praising co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, or as Brad calls him "LDC," he insisted, "I would have shared the raft," an epic reference to — historical spoiler alert! — Leo's character Jack dying at the end of "Titanic."

Pitt also joked about all the dating rumors dogging him, saying, "I wanted to bring my mom — but I couldn't, because anyone I stand next to they say I'm dating. And that would just be awkward."

The joke even got a laugh from ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, who was sitting in the audience.

Fast-forward to Joaquin Phoenix taking home top honors for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for his stunning turn in "Joker." The star wasn't shy about dropping F-bombs, but ended with a message about climate change.

"It's great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives. I hope that we can do that. We don't have to take private jets to Palm Springs sometimes, or back, please," he said. "I'll try to do better and I hope you will, too. Thank you so much for putting up with me. I'm so grateful for this night and all of you. Thank you."