Seven insights from the Initial Nominations of the New Golden Globe Awards voters

Nominations for the 2024 Golden Globe Awards were disclosed on Monday morning. Beyond the headlines spotlighting Barbie and Succession's dominance in film and TV, respectively, there is more to delve into this year—a period signifying a new era for this distinctive awards ceremony.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

The Golden Globes, always known for their eccentricity, faced a momentary decline in popularity following a Los Angeles Times exposé, which shed light on its predominantly white, compact, and purportedly ethically questionable voting body. The Golden Globe Awards, orchestrated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have been renowned for their peculiar commendations, characterized by star-studded, intimate, and impeccably timed celebrations.

Its position in the awards calendar, especially concerning the Oscar race, rendered it noteworthy due to the attention it garnered. A Golden Globe nomination has historically provided, and still provides, a modicum of momentum for many aspirants, owing to its close proximity to other voting periods, even though the prestige of the award itself has not always been held in the highest esteem.

Over the last nine months, the show has undergone an unprecedented transformation. The cohort of international journalists responsible for Golden Globes voting expanded to 300 individuals in October. The beleaguered Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) no longer manages the ceremony; instead, it is now under the ownership of producers Dick Clark Productions, a company held by Penske Media Eldridge—a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge, which also possesses The Hollywood Reporter.

On January 7, the show will not be broadcast on its traditional NBC platform but will air on CBS due to a new broadcasting agreement. The Golden Globes, in their familiar form, no longer exist. Consequently, it's natural to question how this revamped version deviates from the preferences of previous Golden Globes voters and, seemingly, the many ways in which the two eras align.

To kick things off, the relevance of Star Power remains Crucial

The previous Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was renowned, and at times, humorously criticized for displaying a preference toward more renowned performers in the awards race. Who could forget the overwhelming praise for Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp in the universally panned 2010 thriller, The Tourist? While there may not be overtly egregious instances of such voting tendencies in this year's selections, there are a few that evoke a sense of déjà vu. Timothée Chalamet and Joaquin Phoenix received nominations for their roles in the otherwise overlooked films Wonka and Beau Is Afraid, respectively.

Simultaneously, Jennifer Lawrence, a talent of her generation boasting an Oscar and three Golden Globes, is recognized for her performance in the raunch comedy No Hard Feelings—a film that seemed unlikely to feature in any awards show discussions. The new set of voters also sought to entice Taylor Swift to the live telecast, with her concert film, The Eras Tour, being nominated for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. And speaking of that...

The concept of "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement" is as perplexing as anticipated

In September, the Golden Globes introduced two new categories: best performance in stand-up comedy on television, a straightforward method of introducing diversity into the awards night, and the somewhat perplexing cinematic and box office achievement award. To qualify for the latter, contenders had to amass $150 million globally, with a minimum of $100 million coming from the U.S., and, in principle, exhibit quality.

The inaugural list of nominees presents an unusual mix, potentially the most peculiar of any category in awards history, except perhaps for something like "best kiss" at the VMAs or any category at the Kids' Choice Awards. Prominent film nominees Barbie and Oppenheimer find themselves in competition not only with Taylor Swift but also two animated films (the highly praised Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the commercially successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie) and three franchise sequels: the latest installments of Guardians of the Galaxy, Mission: Impossible, and John Wick.

Excluding an outlier like The Eras Tour, this appears to be a meticulously selected compilation of the highest-grossing films of the year. The most crucial metric—whether it be financial success or critical acclaim—remains somewhat unclear, although the $1.44 billion-grossing Barbie seems to be the frontrunner in either case.

Momentum is Notably Absent in the Realm of Musicals

One area where the Golden Globes has traditionally outshone its counterparts is in its categorization of film genres—not only distinguishing between drama and comedy but also incorporating the category of "musical" into the comedy races. This has often translated to greater recognition for musicals compared to other award shows. However, this year shows little evidence of such appreciation.

The Color Purple, the film adaptation of the Broadway production based on Alice Walker's book, was omitted from the primary competition despite widespread belief in its Oscar potential and individual performance nominations for Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks. Similarly, Wonka received no acknowledgment in the main race. If musicals struggle to garner favor with Golden Globes voters, it raises questions about their prospects elsewhere.

The Essence of Success still hinges on Perfect Timing

Just to clarify unequivocally: Neither the past nor the present iterations of the Golden Globes voting body have ever shared any overlap or discernible connection with the much larger groups that participate in the guild shows, the Oscars, the Emmys, or any other similar events.

Nevertheless, the Golden Globes have consistently wielded influence due to their early January timing. A Golden Globe nomination holds the power to solidify momentum narratives, as evidenced by the widespread acclaim for Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Killers of the Flower Moon. It can also provide a boost to projects with more modest awards budgets—securing five nominations for A24's Past Lives, including mentions for directing and screenwriting for filmmaker Celine Song, is a significant achievement.

In certain instances, a Golden Globe nomination can bring attention to a previously overlooked performer, and this year, that recognition goes to Finnish actress Alma Pöysti, who received a highly unexpected nomination for Fallen Leaves.

Television Nominations mostly adhere to the Expected Script

Throughout its history, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has often taken pleasure in being ahead of the Emmys, either by being the first to recognize new series or breakout performances or by nominating something uniquely unconventional, perhaps a show that treated voters to an exotic location. However, the 2024 TV nominations largely follow the usual pattern. The final season of Succession led the tally, mirroring its status in the yet-to-be-aired 2023 Emmy Awards (scheduled for Jan. 15).

The primary comedy race presents a familiar, albeit condensed, list that echoes the recent Emmy nominations. On the drama front, there is some diversity. Taylor Sheridan's 1923, part of the Yellowstone-verse, is in contention, along with Netflix's The Diplomat. Additionally, the third season of The Morning Show, which was ineligible for the recent Emmys, has also joined the competition.

“The Morning Show” seems to be Experiencing a Noteworthy Moment

One could contend that it takes three instances to declare a "trend," but there is now officially a renewed awards momentum for Apple TV+'s The Morning Show. After outpacing Succession with a six-to-five lead in the nominations tally for the upcoming Critics Choice Awards, the show secured a best drama nomination and an acting nod for Billy Crudup.

What's surprising, given the show's penchant for nominating A-listers, is the absence of Jennifer Aniston or Reese Witherspoon from their category. The Morning Show has consistently been a source of critical division, but it's challenging to dispute the attention that this third season has garnered—both at the proverbial watercooler and, seemingly, on the awards ballots.

Potential Contenders for early Miniseries are beginning to Surface

Apart from The Morning Show, where the 2024 Golden Globes might set the stage for early TV awards trends is in the limited series races. Given the timing, half of the projects in the Emmy race—Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Fleishman Is in Trouble, Obi-Wan Kenobi—were either already nominated (Monster) or overlooked (Fleishman, Obi-Wan) by the Globes in 2023. So, what has this new group considered worthy for future TV races?

Netflix's All the Light We Cannot See, the fifth cycle of FX's Fargo, Showtime's Fellow Travelers, and Apple TV+'s Lessons in Chemistry are all making their debut as major awards entries. While not as significant a boost as film nominees receive, it undoubtedly contributes.

In sum, these nominations provide insights into the sentiments of Golden Globes voters toward American film and television. However, the true narrative will unfold on January 7 when they reveal their ultimate choices for recognition.