I had two
different articles planned in regard to the Golden Globe nominations this year
in regard to TV - something along the
line of ‘one step forward, two steps back’. Then, when I was doing research for
the nominations I learned something even more significant about the Golden
Globes altogether – something that, in my search for covering the pre-Emmys
this year, I had completely missed.
If you are
aware of the news about the Golden Globes, you know that they have been,
politely speaking, plagued with controversy.
In 2021, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was rocked by
controversy as multiple celebrities protested the racism and sexism within the
organization. Many stars announced their plans to boycott it and NBC announced
that they would not broadcast it in 2022.
The HFPA’s
reaction was – to give the nominations and awards that year anyway, even though
no one showed up – something that should have made people really question how
much they were committed to any change. NBC’s reaction was to air the Golden
Globes in 2023 regardless, even though many celebrities said, including
nominees Brendan Fraser and Cate Blanchett – made it very clear they would not
attend. The Globes still happened (perhaps not by chance many of the major
winners were not present) and it seemed everything was over.
Then while the
rest of Hollywood was concentrating on the labor stoppages that were going on
this past summer, almost nobody noted that the HFPA dissolved. The assets were purchased by Dick Clark
Productions and Eldrige Industries with the proceeds going to a new non-profit
created to continue the ‘charitable giving of the HFPA.”
You probably
didn’t notice any of that because the awards are still happening. The
nominations were this morning and the only thing that seems to have notably
changed is that CBS is broadcasting the ceremony on January 7th.
I have to say
I’m genuinely curious as to what the reaction of Hollywood was when this
happened this summer. I’m still trying to figure out if this means anything at
all. I imagine those who argue about the systemic evils that they were forced
to endure by the HFPA, consider all of the controversies that have surrounded
it over the year, and who have spent the last two years in particular derided
in will consider it a great victory for change.
I really wonder if any of them think this.
All of this
has the appearance of not even a true cosmetic change. The awards still exists
and the prizes will still be given. A relative few people in the industry will
care, a few more connected to it tangentially might be interested by in, those
who watch the awards show will wonder what happened, and much of the rest o the
country will be oblivious as to what the fight was about in the first place.
Personally
everything that has happened the last two years involving the Golden Globes
makes the battle over labor in Hollywood the past few months look like Civil
War in comparison to its insignificance to not only America but the industry
itself. If a movie star truly thinks
that being harassed by a group of journalists or that an organization that
gives awards not having enough African-American members is some kind of life or
death struggle in comparison to everything else going on in the world, then
they are as clueless as many in the general public seems to consider them as to
what is important. There was no victory or defeat because this wasn’t even a
fight. It was an argument between a bunch of rich millionaires with another
bunch of rich millionaires about what you had to go through to a shiny bauble
that isn’t even that important compared to other shiny baubles in your
industry.
I don’t mean
to mock your struggle – actually I do, come to think of it. I like your awards
and I like the shows that are nominated. But if so much of your life is caught
up in wanting to win one of these trophies as opposed to the things your
audiences do, then you seriously have misjudged as to what class of people you
are. I am sympathetic to those of you
who have suffered abuse at the hands of the rich and powerful. I fail to see how your struggles are more important
than the millions of poorer, less famous people who suffer them every day for
much higher stakes then this. But don’t worry, I’m sure when you give your
acceptance speeches from this point on, you will be sure to phrase this as a
victory for ‘everyone’.
End of rant
and sermon. Back to the fun.
Since the
Golden Globes are now operating on an entirely new structure, I must now look
at the flaws and improvements they’ve made in a completely different light.
Golden Globes 2.0 must be viewed in the same way other awards shows like the
Critics Choice and HCA are going through right now: trying to work out the
kinks in order to find out what works and what won’t. Expanding to six nominees
in every category is an improvement, getting rid of Supporting Acting
categories for Mini-Series is a major step backward. Hopefully, they will move
forward soon enough.
My little rant
aside, I have to say I was impressed – and occasionally surprised – by the
quality of the nominations in almost every category this year. There are the
usual flaws involved but there also some promising mixtures of both the old and
the new. If this is a sign of the new
and improved Golden Globes, at least for television, they may be on the right
track. So let’s get started with Drama
DRAMA TV
SERIES
Succession,
The Crown and
The Last of Us are hardly surprises. The Diplomat isn’t either,
given it’s history with previous awards shows and neither is The Morning Show.
I confess a certain level of surprise that 1923 is here instead of Yellowjackets. Of course, there would be no The
Gilded Age or Will Trent, but what can you do?
ACTOR IN A
DRAMA SERIES
Kieran Culkin
and Jeremy Strong were inevitably going to be here. I don’t believe Brian Cox
deserves to be nominated as a lead for Succession. Pedro Pascal was a
shoo-in and I’m glad to see Dominic West nominated for The Crown. Gary
Oldman for Slow Horses is a pleasant surprise, even for those who would
have preferred Harrison Ford.
ACTRESS IN A
DRAMA SERIES
Bella Ramsey,
Sarah Snook and Keri Russell have all been making the awards show rounds.
Imelda Staunton has been overlooked by far too many awards show for The
Crown and I’m glad to see her here.
As for the
other two nods, I won’t lie. I’m very disappointed that none of the leads from Yellowjackets
are here, and less surprised The Gilded Age has no presence. On the
other hand, I did expect to see Emma Stone her for The Curse and I can
never truly fault any awards show for nominated Helen Mirren (many thought she
would be nominated for 1923 by the Emmys.)
Now let’s move
to Comedy or Musical.
Musical or
Comedy Series.
No notes
really. Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Barry, Ted Lasso, Only Murders in the
Building and Jury Duty all made the Emmy nominations this year. Four
of them made the Critics Choice awards. Would I have preferred, say, if Poker
Face was her instead of Ted Lasso? Of course. But you can’t have
everything.
ACTOR IN A
MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES
This is the
list of nominated actors I would have preferred the Emmys put out. And it does show the wisdom of having six
nominated leads instead of merely five. Now in addition to those five we have
the presence of Steve Martin along with Martin Short. Improvement on the Emmys and nearly as good as
the Critics Choice. (Yes, I know Reservation Dogs isn’t here, but I’d
have been shocked if it was.)
ACTRESS IN A
MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Quinta Brunson,
Natasha Lyonne and Rachel Brosnahan all made the Emmys short list. Ayo Edebiri
submitted her name in this category in the future, so this is the shape of
things to come. The Emmys have to start doing right by Selena Gomez next year.
Would I have personally preferred Bridget Everett in the place of Elle Fanning?
Sure, but one can’t have everything.
Now let’s deal
with Supporting Acting because that will deal only with drama and
comedy.
SUPPORTING
ACTRESS IN A ROLE ON TELEVISION
They nominated Christina Ricci, which puts them
ahead of the Emmys. You nominated Elizabeth Debicki and Hannah Waddingham,
which puts them even. J. Smith Cameron is one of the hidden gems of Succession;
I’m glad she’s here. I’m even gladder to see Meryl Streep nominated in this
category again.
Would I have preferred
to see one of the women from Abbott here instead of Abby Elliott for The
Bear? Absolutely. That being said, Elliott is here instead of Alex Borstein
so we’re getting somewhere.
SUPPORTING
ACTOR IN A ROLE ON TELEVISION
I expected Succession
to dominate this category and Matthew MacFayden and Alexander Skarsgard’s
nominations are not a surprise. Alan Ruck’s is and I’m glad it’s there. James Marsden
and Ebon Moss-Bachrach have earned their spots.
I know people
love Billy Crudup on The Morning Show, but there were so many better
choices, from the cast of Barry and Abbott Elementary to Jonathan
Pryce on The Crown and of course, nothing for Harrison Ford, at all.
MINISERIES OF
FILM
Like with the
Critics Choice Awards we have a good balance between last year and next year: Fargo,
Fellow Travelers and Lessons in Chemistry for the latter; Beef and
Daisy Jones & The Six for the
former. I’m not sure where All the Light We Cannot See will rank among
them. It was ignored by the Critics Choice awards. We’ll have to wait and see.
ACTOR IN A
MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE ON TV
And the Golden
Globes are actually twice over the Critics Choice. Not only did they nominate
Jon Hamm for Fargo but they also nominated Woody Harrelson for White
House Plumbers. Bravo on both. Matt Bomer and Steven Yeun were expected to
be here. They also show some promising signs by nominating David Oyelowo for Lawmen
and Sam Claflin for Daisy Jones.
ACTRESS IN A
MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE.
And in another
victory, the Golden Globes become the first organization to acknowledge the
brilliant work of Elizabeth Olsen in Love & Death. (The Critics
Choice nominated the series but ignored Olsen.) Ali Wong and Riley Keough are
representative of the past, Brie Larson and Juno Temple of the future. (Three
received Critics Choice nominations.) Rachel Weisz’ selection for Dead
Ringers strikes me as odd but considering they nominated Keough and the Critics
Choice did not, I will give them a pass.
Controversies about
the awards aside (and I admit that may be a lot for many to get past) this is a
very good group of nominations when it comes to television. At the beginning of
January, I will attempt to predict what they might do (though it’s never been
easy to do so before and I don’t expect them to start now.)
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