NEW YORK — After widespread criticism forced the organization that puts on the Golden Globes to lose its televised award show and overhaul its membership, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association nevertheless went ahead announcing nominees for film and television awards on Monday despite a skeptical entertainment industry.
Just as it’s done for many years, the HFPA gathered reporters at the Beverly Hilton to announce its picks for the 79th Golden Globes. This time there wasn’t a nationally-televised morning show live or celebrity celebrations. Hollywood shrugged.
The HFPA, which usually has a handful of movie stars make their announcement, turned instead to Snoop Dogg, who read the nominees behind sunglasses and a red hat during a live stream on the Globes’ YouTube page. The majority of studios, public relations firms and A-list talent haven’t engaged much this year with the group, which dropped its usual requirement that films be submitted for consideration. Critics have said it’s too soon for the HFPA to return to business as usual. Others would rather the Globes disappear forever.
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However, the press association was determined to remain in its place during awards season. They spread nominations out to Will Smith (!King Richard), Kristen Stewart (Spencer), West Side StoryLeonardo DiCaprio, Rachel Zegler (throughthrough)Don’t Look Up), Denzel Washington (Macbeth’s Tragedy), Ben Affleck (Tender BarLady Gaga (House of Gucci).
The nominees for best picture, drama, went to Jane Campion’s gothic Western Dog Power, Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic DuneThe drama of the family CODA, Reinaldo Marcus Green’s tennis biopic King Richard and Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical Belfast.
The comedy or musical picks for best picture were: Adam McKay’s apocalyptic comedy Don’t Look Up, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘70s ode to San Fernando Valley Licorice Pizza, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tick, Tick … Boom! Joe Wright’s Cyrano.
Belfast and Dog PowerThe two tied for most nods, with seven each. Netflix won 17 of the total film nominations. HBO’s SuccessionFive nominations were received by the TV side, including one for Best Drama and Best Actor in a Drama Series. New Yorker profile subject Jeremy Strong.
Normally, such honors would set off a flurry of delight from early-roused nominees and their studios—an awards triumph to be trumpeted on social media and in calls with reporters. On Monday morning, no nominee immediately celebrated—publicly, at least.
It claims to have remade itself in the last nine months, since 2021’s show. “HFPA 2.0,” recently elected president Helen Hoehne has said. It has appointed a chief diversity officer, restructured its board and inducted 21 members including six Black journalists. The NAACP was brought into the group on a 5-year partnership.
“This has been a year of change and reflection for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” Hoehne said Monday.
All this happened after Los Angeles. Times’ expose detailed some of the HFPA’s unethical behavior and revealed that its 87 voting members didn’t include one Black journalist. Studios said they would boycott the Globes and more than 100 PR films said their clients wouldn’t participate until the HFPA swiftly implemented “profound and lasting change.” Tom Cruise returned his three Globes to the group’s headquarters.
NBC, the Globes’ longtime telecaster, has said it won’t air the 2022 Globes because “change of this magnitude takes time and work.” The Globes have still set a date of Jan. 9 but haven’t shared any details about what kind of ceremony that would be. The Critics Choice Awards have sought to fill the void, even seeking to secure the Globes’ usual home at the Beverly Hilton for its telecast. The bid was unsuccessful, but Critics Choice Awards will air on January 9, on TBS or the CW.
Much of the Globes’ power has always resided in its lively telecast, regularly one of the most-watched non-sports broadcasts of the year. Many of the award-seekers who are hitting theatres this December will use the Globes as an advertising tool. But this year, few expect to see ads and TV commercials trumpeting a film’s Golden Globes nominations.
