Well tomorrow the Golden Globes enters a new era. It will be airing on CBS for the first time in decades. It is the first show under the management of Dick Clark Productions after the HFPA disbanded this summer after nearly three years of controversy surrounding so many aspects that I won’t repeat.
I’ve explained how torn I have been over everything: for all their
multitudes of flaws in their existence, in the era of Peak TV they have led far
more than they have followed over the last twenty years, recognizing The
Sopranos and Sex and the City years before the Emmys gave them for
either show, giving awards to series the Emmys never acknowledged at all, such
as Boardwalk Empire, The Shield, Nip/Tuck and Transparent – and
those are just the ones I recall – and being among the only shows to recognize
just undervalued series as In Treatment, Mozart in the Jungle and Big
Love. They were flawed in many ways
but they also saw things that the Emmys never could or did, and I can not fault
them for that.
Now they have taken a step backward in their first year under new
ownership. In part this may be due to their trying to works the kinks out: the
Cecil B. De Mille awards and Carol Burnett prizes, lifetime achievement awards
for those who work in film and TV respectively, are not being given this year. I therefore think one of the
Globes best achievements of last year – dividing the Supporting Actor and
Actress prizes between Comedy and Drama and Limited Series - have been merged yet again. This time, the
victims have been the stars of Limited Series as all the nominees are from either
comedies or dramas. I can’t really object, considering how many times in the
past the order favored the latter than the former. Perhaps they will move
forward in future years.
I’ll admit there’s little that revolutionary among many of the
nominated shows and actors, but that may be due to the fact that TV itself is
in a period of transition as well as the massive strikes that crippled the
industry. As Hollywood returns to normalcy this year, we will see what ends up
coming to come. For now, I will attempt to make my predictions.
BEST DRAMA SERIES
The winner is practically inevitable. Succession has taken the
prize for Best Drama in 2020 and did so again in 2022, although since it wasn’t
televised I imagine nobody noticed. I wasn’t thrilled either time it happened
but considering my mea culpa about the final year and the series overall, I
will admit it is fully logical and deserving that the show win for its final
season. The series did receive a whopping eight nominations from the Globes,
and all of them are more than deserved. The only question now is how many
members of the Roy clan will take trophies for the final season.
Should Win/Will Win: Succession.
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Much as I would like to see Dominic West prevail for the final season
of The Crown, it’s pretty clear it’s going to go to one of the Roys from
Succession. In this case, I’m predicting the winner by process of
elimination. Brian Cox won in 2020, Jeremy Strong won in 2022 (nobody was
watching) so it should go to Kieran Culkin this year. And honestly, given how
deep his performance was, hard to say he didn’t earn it.
Should Win: West.
Will Win: Culkin.
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SUCCESS
Now I know everyone is absolutely certain Sarah Snook will take the prize
for her work in Succession. There are two issues. First, she’s actually
won a Golden Globe, though you could be forgiven for not knowing; she took Best
Supporting Actress in 2022. And it has been a long time since any performer of
any sort won two Golden Globes for supporting and then lead. So it might very
well go to someone else.
My personal preference is for Keri Russell, for her superb work on The
Diplomat. But I think might just as easily go to Bella Ramsey for The
Last of Us. I admit Snook might come out ahead, but this is a tougher call
then most of the others.
Should Win: Russell.
Will Win: Ramsey/Snook.
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Ted Lasso is out. All the others deserve to win. I don’t
think Jury Duty has a realistic chance. Abbott Elementary deserves
to win and if the Globes are lazy it might. But I think the people who are
betting on The Bear taking the trophy for Season Two are correct. I’ll
get to it soon, trust me.
Should Win: Barry/Abbott Elementary.
Will Win: The Bear.
BEST COMEDY OR MUSICAL SERIES
Jason Sudeikis did win back to back awards, but he’s not going to win
a third. I would really like it if Bill Hader won; this is the only prize he
hasn’t taken a Best Actor award for. But I’m relatively sure it will go Jeremy
Allan White for The Bear. Two years in a row, he’s earned it.
Should Win: Hader.
Will Win: White.
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
I don’t think Rachel Brosnahan has a chance.
Quinta Brunson might win on a repeat. As for the rest, the one I really want to
win is Natasha Lyonne for Poker Face and honestly I think she has a
better chance than Ayo Edebiri does for The Bear.
Should Win: Lyonne.
Will Win: Edebiri.
I’ll go to the Supporting Awards because they’re all comedy or drama anyway.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY, DRAMA OR LIMITED SERIES
Here I’m not going along with Succession. There are three actors
dividing the vote and I think that MacFayden doesn’t have enough momentum to
carry him. I’ll admit I’d prefer it for Ruck were chosen.
My preferences in this category are Ruck or Ebon Moss-Bachrach for The
Bear. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that James Marsden will
prevail for his work in Jury Duty.
Should Win: Ruck.
Will Win: Marsden.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY, DRAMA OR LIMITED SERIES
The performer I really want to win is Christina Ricci for Yellowjackets.
But I think it will come down to Elizabeth Debicki for The Crown or
Meryl Streep for her work in Only Murders in the Building. Everyone
seems certain Streep will win, but I remember that everyone – including myself –
was sure she was going to win the last time she was nominated in this same
category for Big Little Lies -and she lost to Patricia Arquette for The
Act.
You throw in the fact that Streep has won more awards than anybody, I’m
inclined to think the Globes will go for a newer face. And that face is Debicki
who should have won in this category last year. I think the Globes will make it
up to her.
Should Win: Ricci.
Will Win: Debicki.
Now let’s deal with Limited Series.
BEST LIMITED SERIES
This is a good group. Beef has every reason to be the
overwhelming favorite, but two of the powerhouses of the last few months are in
this same category: the fifth season of Fargo and the exceptional Fellow
Travelers. My personal preference would be for the latter because it was revolutionary
in a way not even Beef was, but I do think there’s enough momentum to
carry Beef to victory.
Should Win: Fellow Travelers.
Will Win: Beef.
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
Yeun was an easy favorite over much lighter competition in the Emmys.
This one, not so much. Woody Harrelson, Matt Bomer and Jon Hamm all have much
to recommend them for their incredible work.
I’d personally prefer it if Bomer won for his absolutely astonishing
work in Fellow Travelers but I’m relatively confident than Jon Hamm will
win for Fargo. It’s not just his incredible work; two other actors - Billy Bob Thornton and Ewan McGregor – have won
in this same category in previous season and Hamm’s work is the equal of both
men.
Should Win: Bomer.
Will Win: Hamm.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
I really want Elisabeth Olsen to win for her incredible work in Love
and Death. It was one of the best performances in 2023 and this is astonishingly
the only nomination she has received for her work from any awards show. But I
think the odds are long. I think it will come down to one of two women: Ali
Wong for Beef and Juno Temple for Fargo.
There is much to recommend either performer, and I have to say Temple’s
work is by far the most astonishing, even for those of us who have been in awe of
her for Ted Lasso. But here I will give the barest of edges to Ali Wong,
who really does deserve it more.
Should Win: Temple/Olsen.
Will Win: Temple/Wong.
I’ll be back here bright and early Monday. I hope I’m right as much as I’m wron
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