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UPDATE: Golden Globes canceled?
Hollywood’s Awards show season was supposed to begin in earnest this week, but with the ongoing writer’s strike casting an ever-darkening shadow over Hollywood, the Golden Globes might be seriously tarnished this year.
Indeed, the latest buzz is that the show will simply be completely scrapped this year, although the winners will be announced.
The awards are supposed to be broadcast Sunday on NBC. Problem: NBC is one of the big media companies with whom the writers are at odds. That means no writers for the show.
That’s not such a big problem since writing has never been the Globes’ strong suit anyway. The bigger problem is that the actors are in solidarity with the writers, who will set up a picket line around the Globes ceremony. The actors won’t cross the picket lines, so that means they won’t attend the Globes, whether they’re nominated or not. For an organization as celebrity-happy as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, that’s a knife in the heart.
So this leaves a few options.
A) Broadcast a celeb-less Golden Globes. And really, what’s the point in that? The only non-actor of any fame getting an award is Steven Spielberg, who’s to receive the lifetime achievement Cecil B. DeMille award, and I doubt even Spielberg would show.
B) Delay the ceremony. But until when? The writers and producers are at a major impasse, with no new negotiations scheduled, so there’s no end in sight to the strike. The Globes are known as a bellwether for the Oscars, but if the delay goes on too long, the Globes, which already have a shaky artistic reputation, run the risk of becoming truly irrelevant this year.
C) Let the show go on, but without cameras. And what fun is that, for us, the public? I know I, for one, would miss the show, because the Globes are a bit looser than the often insufferably padded Oscars and are more fun to watch.
And option D) Just forget the whole thing. Ugh.
And what about the Oscars themselves, which are supposed to be broadcast Feb. 24? God only knows, but the Oscars are obviously a much bigger player than the Globes, so it’s hard to imagine that some sort of deal won’t be worked out in time for the big show.
I also think the writers may start to damage themselves in the eyes of the public. Polls have indicated that the public supports the writers, but if the awards shows are canned, that support may start to erode, and I think they’re already doing themselves damage by working out deals with some people but not others, e.g.yes to Letterman, no to Leno. Whether it’s true or not, the perception is that the writers are cherry-picking, and that’s dangerous.
For now, we’re all still in limbo. An announcement is expected today. So where do you stand? Would you watch a celeb-less Globes? What should be done with the show? What do you think of the stand the writers are taking?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Movie awards
Comments
By SRCputt
January 7, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
As awards, the Globes are useless, but I always watch the show because the speeches are given room to breathe and are the most entertaining of all the award shows. Without the stars, there are no acceptance speeches. Without the speeches, I just don’t care.By ME
January 7, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
I think the writers have to do what they have to do. I’m glad to see the stars standing at their side. I won’t watch the Globes without the stars. What’s the point! It’s the incredible mix of writers, producers and actors that make the event exciting. I think postpone it and do the same with the Oscars as I really doubt we’ll have a resolution by then anyway. I appreciate Letterman and now Stewart for bringing their shows back. They may be minus the stars and writers (and I’m sure we’ll notice) but I guess they have to have some new content on TV. People don’t know what to do without their programs! On the other hand these writers are the lifeblood of a show or script. Without them there wouldn’t be laughs or tears. They deserve more. This coming from a measly newspaper editor … I know what it is not to be paid what you deserve! Maybe if we all stop watching EVERYTHING the studios will get the hint.By Allie D.
January 7, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
What a dad-blasted mess this is! I for one don’t require viewership of the actual program, but I do want them to announce the winners at least! This is getting ridiculous.