By the time you read this, you may know Sunday’s 78th Golden Globes winners – but what really matters is who was nominated.
In pre-pandemic years that’s what ensured which boldface names would be there at the Beverly Hilton to drive what NBC, Dick Clark productions & the HFPA brilliantly marketed as “Hollywood’s Party of the Year.”
Having survived 2 decades of those “fun” nights in person over the years (pictured – GG tickets from 20 years ago), I can tell you they were mostly routine awards nights with familiar faces making familiar acceptances. What made it work for TV was that those speeches were fueled by magnums of champagne on every table – plus mini-bottles with straws for those (nearly everyone!) who spent the night table-hopping around the BH.
Sunday would have been Oscar Night, but COVID sent the Academy scurrying to the likely safety of 4/25 and the HFPA grabbed 2/28. Because the pandemic didn’t end in time, a “virtual party” plan had GG winners accepting from home and Amy Poehler & Tina Fey co-hosting from the BH & NY’s Rainbow Room. Since Oscar noms voting doesn’t start until 3/5, GG winners may have a big advantage this year.