We’re doing more than one post today about the Golden Globe nominations but let’s start with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association because this is their event. This is a group of 90 or so international journalists known for making odd choices – and not always bad. In the television categories, the Globes often recognise new series and talent well ahead of the Emmys which can get caught in a rut, awarding the same shows and people over and over and over again. That said, the HFPA is all about the Big Name and it seems like their choices are heavily informed by which big stars they want at their big party. And that can make for some WTF nominations and outright insults. 

So the omission that’s generating the most heat right now is When They See Us. When They See Us, by Ava DuVernay, earned 16 Emmy nominations a few months ago, including Outstanding Limited Series. They didn’t pick up many wins but Jharrel Jerome did win for Best Lead Actor Drama Series, one of the best moments of the night. WTSU was expected to contend at the Globes. Instead it received NO nominations. Not one. Instead? The HFPA went for The Loudest Voice and… Catch-22.

Catch-22. 

Nobody’s been talking about Catch-22. It came out in May and basically fizzled. But you know who made Catch-22? George Clooney. It’s The Tourist of 2019. Remember when the Globes nominated The Tourist in 2011 for Best Comedy with acting nominations for Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp? It kinda feels like that’s happening here. They’re want George and Amal on camera. And it’s at the expense of one of the most acclaimed series of the year. 

Other snubs include Schitt’s Creek, just nominated for six Critics’ Choice awards and coming off their three Emmy nominations, also blanked at the Golden Globes. And nothing for This Is Us, which must have stung for Susan Kelechi Watson who was one of three people making the announcements this morning. Is that as much of a snub as Sandra Oh? She co-hosted the Globes last year, she won Best Actress in a Drama Series, Killing Eve was nominated for Drama Series this year, and Jodie Comer was nominated for acting, but Sandra gets left off the ballot. 

Remember when I told you not to sleep on The Two Popes last week in my post on Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association opted for The Two Popes for Best Drama and given the large UK contingent making up the Academy, I wonder how much this will boost its chances for Oscar. Because of The Two Popes, Uncut Gems became a casualty, dismissed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – surprising because it’s been named to almost all critics’ and board lists so far in writing, directing, and acting for the Safdie brothers and Adam Sandler. 

And Little Women didn’t get much love either. Saoirse Ronan has a nomination for Best Actress but the film is not in contention and Greta Gerwig isn’t either for directing. In fact, no women were nominated in the director category – not Greta, not Lulu Wang for The Farewell, not Marielle Heller for A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood – and they clearly had options! Take it away Natalie Portman:

 

Who’s going to be the Natalie Portman of 2020? 

On the television side though, it’s officially the end of an era. Veep is not going to the Globes. And Game of Thrones came away with just ONE nomination, for Kit Harington, but is not a factor in the Drama Series category as Succession rises for HBO and, as expected, The Morning Show becomes Apple TV+’s first nominee. You know what I’m over though? 

The Crown. 

This season isn’t great, can we admit it? And it’s there because it’s THE CROWN, and of course the HFPA is obsessed with it, but season 3 is not the first two, and if it comes back in season 4 with the Diana storyline and kills, fine, but right now, this is not it. Same goes for Big Little Lies. But they need that cast there (Meryl, Reese, Nicole etc) – over and above the most-talked-about series of the fall, Watchmen. In that sense, where their television track record is concerned, the Globes may have taken a step back.