‘Spotlight’ nabs Golden Globe nominations

For the first time ever, Netflix is the most-nominated TV network in the Golden Globes, dethroning long-time leader HBO.

This streaming favoritism was visible throughout the acting categories as well, with Aziz Ansari and Gael Garcia Bernal both picking up nominations for comedy actor (for Netflix’s “Master of None” and Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”, respectively) and Lily Tomlin for comedy actress for “Grace and Frankie” (Netflix). “Carol“, which received five nominations, including for actresses Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, took a similar deceptively simple approach, its glossy surfaces becoming their own visual language to tell the story of a closeted lesbian love affair in 1950s NY.

The 2015 Golden Globe nominations have been announced, and the list of nominees provides irrefutable proof of the growing status of digital-only content within the world of television and film. Also nominated were Michael Fassbender (“Steve Jobs”), Eddie Redmayne (“The Danish Girl“), DiCaprio and Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”).

Premium cable channel Starz earned six nods, including its Outlander, a time-travel series set in the Scottish Highlands that put Ireland’s Caitriona Balfe in the best actress race and garnered a spot in the best drama series category.

“The Irish film industry boasts some incredible talent and it is great to see this recognised internationally”, said Arts Minister Heather Humphreys.

The nominees for best motion picture director: Todd Haynes, “Carol”; Alejandro G. Inarritu, “The Revenant”; Tom McCarthy, “Spotlight”; George Miller, “Mad Max: Fury Road”; Ridley Scott, “The Martian”.

We’re also seeing a lot of television shows entering the competition with American Horror Story: Hotel and American Crime leading the pack.

Denis O’Hare, who portrays Liz Taylor, also expressed his excitement about Gaga’s Golden Globe recognition.

For once, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association may have actually restored order to awards season. In fact, for best television series (musical or comedy), only one linear show (HBO’s Veep) was among the nominees.

Meanwhile, the biggest snubs in the Golden Globes nominations list were reserved for Johnny Depp for Black Mass and the cast and crew of Straight Outta Compton, which was completely shut out.

Will Smith, whose upcoming “Concussion” has drawn headlines for its depiction of head trauma in football, joined the best actor, drama, nominees.

In the best foreign film category Belgian drama “The Brand New Testament”, “The Club” from Chile, Finland’s “The Fencer”, French movie “Mustang” and Hungarian project “Son Of Saul” are competing.

The nominees for best screenplay are Steve Jobs, Spotlight, The Hateful Eight, Room, and The Big Short.

Studios view awards recognition as an opportunity to draw renewed attention to their projects that, in turn, lead to more ticket sales. Delineating drama and comedy (or musical) is a task unique to the Golden Globes, which honor films and lead performances for both. According to tweets from Australian film critic Simon Miraudo, the Globes’ official Twitter account kept misidentifying presenter America Ferrera as Gina Rodriguez.

The Golden Globe winners will be announced at a televised ceremony in Los Angeles on January 10. The show will air on NBC.