The Messy 2023 Golden Globes Failed to Justify Its Existence

The fun, drunk cousin to the Oscars has transformed into a confusing ceremony following a series of controversies

IF THE GOLDEN Globes airs on a weeknight and no one watches it, does it still matter? That was the question posed when the Oscars’ boozy cousin returned to television on Tuesday evening after a one-year absence.

The awards show, a cash cow for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — a strange band of international journalists from obscure publications with loose ethics who love asking celebrities for autographs and pictures at press junkets to the puzzlement of nearly everyone else — was booted from the airwaves last year, and only announced its awards via Twitter, in rather embarrassing fashion, following a series of high-profile controversies.

Among these were an investigation revealing the HFPA had no Black members; its former president Philip Berk calling Black Lives Matter “a racist hate movement” and standing accused of groping actor Brendan Fraser, who sat out this year’s ceremony in protest even though he was nominated for The Whale; and comically shameless allegations of bribery, such as Netflix treating HFPA members to a luxurious Paris vacation for Emily in Paris that resulted in a number of Globes noms for the oft-ridiculed series.

And now it’s back, proving there is absolutely nothing that will stop Hollywood from awarding itself at a glitzy party with free booze and snacks.

Broadcast live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton in tony Beverly Hills, California, the 80th annual Golden Globes were hosted by Jerrod Carmichael, an uber-talented Black comic who recently came out in his powerful stand-up special Rothaniel.

“This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — which I won’t say they were a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single Black member till George Floyd died, so do with that information what you will.”

After comparing himself to Black FBI informants who spied on civil rights leaders in the 1960s, Carmichael ultimately said that he accepted the hosting gig because of its $500,000 paycheck and that “the industry deserves evenings like these,” whatever that means.

That was mostly it for Carmichael, save a few semi-amusing interstitial jokes about how Rihanna should ignore the haters and take her damn time on that new album (the Queen was in attendance with her partner A$AP Rocky), a dig at Tom Cruise the Scientologist for his performative display of returning his Golden Globe trophies (who was not present, which dulled its impact), and a crack aimed at Steven Spielberg about bringing Kanye West to a screening of The Fabelmans and having it change his entire perspective on Jews — as well as an incredibly ballsy one implying that Will Smith is closeted, a la Rock Hudson. Carmichael, who’s known more for his emotionally raw and perceptive brand of comedy, appeared out of his comfort zone throughout the night, and more focused on fostering a general sense of unease than landing haymakers.

I would say all awards shows fail to justify their existence.

Social media and the internet generally have so oversaturated everything that award shows aren't special or interesting any more.

Thank me for this genius insight. ;)

The GG doesn't have to justify its existence to anyone, the same as any award show.

If corruption is the standard, then the Olympics and the federal government have failed to justify their existence also.

R4=shill for all awards shows.

Wonder how many members of the foreign press determined these nominees?

Can Rolling Stone justify its exisence anymore?

[quote]Can Rolling Stone justify its exisence anymore?

The Boomers aren't going to quit.

These award shows are way past their sell by date.

All of them.

When Pia Z. won, the jig was up.

The Golden Globes have managed to look like an even more self-congratulatory circle jerk.

How? What's the difference between them and the Oscars, Emmys, BET Awards,. etc?

I don't know; I do think you need an awards show that includes TV + movies & even though it isn't what it once was, it's still fun to see who shows up, what they're wearing, etc. Also, is someone is going to act like a (drunken) fool, it's at the GG.

R3: It ain't genius, but you are exactly right. To refresh: Social media and the internet generally have so oversaturated everything that award shows aren't special or interesting any more. The old studio heads weren't wrong. A little mystery and "unknowability" sold tickets and made special appearances, even though they were often as performative as any scripted role, eagerly watched. After thousands of tiktok posts from millions of no particular talent (with rare exceptions and not dissing animals,) fucking influencers, generic corporate entertainment meant for the Chinese market and a constantly changing cast of media whores of indeterminate gender, it's like going to Thanksgiving once a year with relatives you can barely stand. "Tower of Babel, it's your five minute call."

Gen-Z is more attuned to these awards.

American Influencer Awards. Vomit! Celebrating the talent-free!!