Come January, awards season commences. And first up was the rejuvenated – or so they say –Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11 and broadcast on NBC.
After a year of exile, “Hollywood’s Party of the Year” was back. Hosted by Emmy-winning comedian and writer Jerrod Carmichael with a diverse palette of presenters, he kept things moving. Carmichael was an unusual choice because his stand-up style of comedy is laid back. There’s always a punchline and it’s usually an astute observation on the foibles of mankind, but when it lands, it’s sharp and to the point. The ballroom was jumping and noisy, so when Carmichael arrived on stage, he asked for some quiet as he launched into why he was asked to host the show. A simple answer because he’s Black. Carmichael, who recently came out as gay in his HBO special called “Rothaniel,” had more costume changes than Diana Ross at the Hollywood Bowl.
The show was full of stars with almost all the nominees present. Jeff Bridges and Kevin Costner (a winner for “Yellowstone”) were, as Regina Hall hilariously put it, “sheltering in place” in Santa Barbara due to the rainstorms. The red carpet was drenched, but stars still managed to pose and answer the requisite inane questions. Perhaps not as loosey-goosey as in the past, the stars enjoyed themselves allowing us to participate vicariously. The studios of “Tár” and “The Fabelmans” are hoping for a much-needed bump at the box office after their wins. For the viewing public, the Globes provided a chance to see favorite actors and stars (not necessarily the same thing) get up, twirl a dress or tuxedo, or a tuxedo dress in the case of Billy Porter.
The next show in the entertainment industry awards lineup is the Critics Choice Awards, which will air Jan. 15 on the CW. Unlike the Oscars, both the Golden Globes and Critics Choice include television categories in addition to motion pictures. More controversial with the Golden Globes is the division of “Best Motion Picture” into two separate categories: Drama and Musical or Comedy. This year this bifurcation allowed both Cate Blanchett (“Tár) and Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) to win best actress in a film, the former in drama, the latter in comedy or musical. Similarly, “The Fabelmans” won for Best Motion Picture Drama and “The Banshees of Inisherin” for Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
At this year’s Critics Choice Awards, Jeff Bridges will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Michelle Pfeiffer. Kate Hudson will present the SeeHer Award to Janelle Monáe and Chelsea Handler will host.
Of course, this is just the start of the season. The Directors, Producers, Writers and Screen Actors Guilds all announced nominations this week. Then comes the parade to the awards shows with the DGA, Producers Guild, Screen Actors Guild, the WGA and The Independent Spirits all leading up to the Oscar telecast on March 12. ‘Tis a bountiful season. Happy viewing.
