Golden Globe TV Nominations Part 2: Electric Boogaloo

BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE

Assassination of Gianni Versace, Sharp Objects, and Escape at Dannemora  were all almost certain to be here, with the latter two likely to dominate the Emmys next year. A Very English Scandal is a slight surprise, but not much of one considering how favorably it was reviewed. The Alienist is something of a shock, even though it was short-listed among last seasons Emmys nominees. Having seen it, I still think Patrick Melrose was superior.

BEST ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE

Darren Criss and Benedict Cumberbatch were certainties for this category. Antonio Banderas for Genius: Picasso is mildly surprising, but considering his work and the Emmy recognition, not a great one. The same can be said for Hugh Grant. The big shock is Daniel Bruhl for The Alienist.  By comparison, Eric Bana in Dirty John and either Benicio Del Toro or Paul Dano in Escape were far more layered performances. This is why the Globes can be… weird.

BEST ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE

No real shocks here at all. Adams, Arquette, Britton, and Dern have all given among the finest performances by any actresses this year. The surprise isn’t that Regina King wasn’t recognized, but that she was, considering that the Globes haven’t exactly been favorable to her in the past. This may be a sea change, considering that she was recognized twice this year. Will the Globes shock as the Emmys did? We’ll see.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR,  SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE

The supporting categories for the Globes can always be hard to interpret, given how wide a net they cast. I still think at the very least they should give separate awards for series and TV movies, but it doesn’t look like that’s ever going to happen. Anyway…

Edgar Ramirez more than deserved his nomination, as did Henry Winkler. Alan Arkin has a good history with the Globes, so it’s not that much of a shock. Ben Whishaw is a mild surprise, but not nearly as shocking as the appearance of Kieran Culkin for his work in Succession, a series that has been mostly ignored by the awards so far, even though its well received and on HBO. I still think Jeffrey Wright or Ed Harris would’ve been more deserving , but I don’t work for the HFPA.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR TV MOVIE

This category is less surprising than the male counterpart. Alex Borstein and Thandie Newton, both of whom won for their superb work in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Westworld  respectively, more than deserve to be here. So does Patricia Clarkson for her mother of a performance in Sharp Objects, and Penelope Cruz, who was robbed of an Emmy for her superb work in Gianni Versace.

The major surprise is Yvonne Strahovski for her work in The Handmaid’s Tale. Yes, she was nominated by the Emmys, but the series was ignored, and considering the incredibly level of supporting female talent in that show, it’s a little odd that she’s here, and not say Alexis Bleidel. I’d obviously have liked to see Chrissy Metz or Margo Martindale, but generally this is a good mix.

See you next week at the Critic’s Choice Nominations.