Digital TV storms Golden Globes, ousting old favorites

The 73 Golden Globe Awards, hosted by comedian Ricky Gervais, will air on NBC on January 10 at 8:00 PM EST. It’s more that the HFPA, like many other awards groups this season, was especially fond of movies most audiences have yet to see – either because they haven’t been in theaters yet or were small, independent films that didn’t find much of an audience earlier this year. Carol, the romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes is leading the board. George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” was named best film by the National Board of Review. In the Golden Globes, it received top nominations for Best Director and Best Film – Drama. Then Dennis Quaid, another friend, read her name when announcing the best actress in a film comedy category. “Spotlight“, Tom McCarthy’s “Boston Globe” drama, got three nominations, including best director and best screenplay.

Michael Fassbender’s turn as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is also a strong contender in this category and so is Bryan Cranston’s performance in the role of a blacklisted Hollywood writer Dalton Trumbo in “Trumbo” and Will Smith for sports thriller “Concussion”. Second spot in the list is shared by “The Revenant“, “The Big Short” and “Steve Jobs” with four nominations each.

Six streaming series from online venues Netflix, Amazon and Hulu were the heavy nominees for TV awards.

Hotel also received the nomination for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, along with American Crime, Fargo, Flesh and Bone, and Wolf Hall – another baffling decision in the eyes of some, as the show has received hefty criticism for a gratuitous, directionless storyline.

Cartoon fans will probably be miffed that “Minions” was left off the list of Best Animated Feature nominees, apparently in favor of “Shaun the Sheep Movie”.

Same with Cate Blanchett’s “Carol” co-star Rooney Mara.

Depp takes on the role of Whitey Bulger in the gangster film and is being called his best roles in years… however, he did not make the cut this time around. It was refreshing, therefore, to see the HFPA this year nominate actual comedies “Trainwreck” and “Spy“.

So did Sylvester Stallone for “Creed”, giving him a nomination for the same character (Rocky Balboa) who first earned him his last Globe nomination in 1976 for “Rocky”.

While Mark Ruffalo is in the Golden Globe mix for Best Actor Musical/Comedy he has not been recognised for his performance in Spotlight… instead it is his turn in Infinitely Polar Bear for which he has picked up the nod.

Indeed, it was the Big Three’s oddball cousins, FOX and the CW, that ended up making the biggest splash-the former with nominations for “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson and Jamie Lee Curtis, in Ryan Murphy’s kooky horror comedy “Scream Queens”, and the latter with two Comedy Actress nominations, for Rachel Bloom (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”, an hourlong sitcom musical) and defending champion Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”, a comic telenovela).

David O. Russell’s matriarch portrait “Joy”, won nods for best picture, comedy, and best actress for Jennifer Lawrence, a Globe victor the last two years.

-Series, Drama: “Empire”, “Mr. Robot”, “Game of Thrones”, “Outlander”, “Narcos”.

Actress Lily Tomlin, who has been making a comeback at age 76, was nominated for best actress in a comedy for “Grace and Frankie”.

Acting categories were also ripe with digital talent.