NEW YORK (AP), — Despite widespread criticism, the Golden Globes organization had to cease broadcasting the award show. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the nominees for television and film awards Monday despite a skeptical industry.
As it has done in many years, the HFPA gathered journalists at the Beverly Hilton for its announcement of the 79th Golden Globes. This time, however, there wasn’t a nationally televised morning show live spot nor any celebrity celebrations. Hollywood mostly ignored the situation.
Instead of having a few movie stars announce their nominations, the HFPA turned to Snoop Dogg who read them behind sunglasses and a red hat in a live stream on Globes’ YouTube channel. The group has not been engaging with most studios, public relations agencies, and A-list talent this year, as it dropped the requirement that films must be submitted for consideration. Critics say it is too early for the HFPA’s to go back to business as before. Some prefer to see the Globes go for good.
The press association attempted to keep its position in awards season by spreading nominations to Leonardo DiCaprio (“Don’t Look Up”) Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”) Ben Affleck (“The Tender Bar”) Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) Jane Campion’s Gothic Western “The Power of the Dog”, Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic drama “Dune”, and Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical “Belfast” were the nominees for best picture, drama.
The best comedy or musical picks were: Adam McKay’s apocalyptic comedy, “Don’t Look Up,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s ’70s ode San Fernando Valley “Licorice Pizza,” Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tick, Tick, Boom!” and Joe Wright’s Cyrano.
“Belfast”, “The Power of the Dog”, and “Belfast” were tied for the most nominations, with seven each. With 17 nominations, Netflix was the dominant film nominee. With 17 nominations in total, Netflix dominated the film side.
Normaly, such honors would spark a frenzy of joy from early-roused nominations and their studios — an award triumph to be celebrated on social media and in calls and talks with reporters. No nominee celebrated publicly Monday morning.
According to the press association, it claims that it has rebuilt itself in the nine months since 2021’s show. “HFPA2.0” has been the claim ofrecently elected President Helen Hoehne. The group has appointed a chief diversity officer, restructured its board, inducted 21 new members including six Black journalists, and brought in the NAACP for a five year partnership. It also updated its code of conduct.
Hoehne stated Monday that “This year has been one of reflection and change for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.”
All this happened after a Los Angeles Times expose exposed some of the HFPA’s unethical conduct and revealed that its 87 members didn’t include one Black journalist. Studios declared they would boycott the Globes, and more than 100 PR films stated that their clients would not participate until the HFPA implemented “profound change.” Tom Cruise returned three Globes to the headquarters.
NBC, Globes’ long-time telecaster, said it will not air the 2022 Globes ceremony because “change of such magnitude takes time and works.”
The Critics Choice Awards attempted to fill that void by securing the Globes’ home at the Beverly Hilton to broadcast its telecast. The bid was unsuccessful, but the Critics Choice Awards will air on TBS and the CW on January 9. Monday was also the Critics Choice Awards announcement of their nominees, with “Belfast”, and “West Side Story” receiving 11 nominations each.
The Globes’ strength has been largely due to its lively telecast. It is regularly one of most-watched nonsports broadcasts of each year. Many of the award-hopefuls who are hitting theaters in December use the Globes as a marketing tool. Few people expect to see TV commercials and ads promoting a film’s Golden Globes nominations this year.
There were signs, however, that the Globes boycott was being lifted. The Walt Disney Co. encouraged “Cruella” nominations from both the Critics Choice Awards as well as the Globes.
