Can the Golden Globes return to its once lofty perch among Hollywood’s favorite awards shows? That placement on the winner’s mantlepiece was always shakey, but up until 2021 the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual shindig was, at its worst, a beloved post-New Year’s industry party. Now, after being dressed down for its business practices and a lack of specific POC inclusion in its ranks (that lead to a non-televised ceremony earlier this year), the HFPA is hoping after a membership overall that all can be forgiven. And in so doing, a very public P.R. game mea culpa continued with today’s announcement that NBC will telecast the 80th Golden Globes on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
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In an official statement, Frances Berwick, Chairman, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, remarked, “We recognize the HFPA’s commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80th Anniversary in January 2023.”
Helen Hoehne, President of the HFPA, added, “We are thrilled to announce the return of the Golden Globe Awards on NBC and to hosting the ‘Party of the Year’ for audiences around the world who have been waiting for its return. It’s great to be back at the Beverly Hilton for the must-see celebration recognizing the best in film and television. The HFPA remains committed to important changes and supporting programs that prioritize diversity, inclusion, and transparency. See you on January 10!”
Whether it returns as the “party of the year” remains to be seen. For decades, the Globes’ early evening ceremony was followed by a multitude of parties held on the Beverly Hilton grounds. Those parties would be filled by industry attendees (some stars, some execs, some agents, some press) who waited to be allowed onto the grounds after the telecast and would celebrate until the early morning hours. While both Sunday and Tuesday nights are “school nights” it’s unclear whether studios and networks will pay for massive soirees effectively in the middle of the week.
It’s also unclear why the telecast moved to Tuesday. Especially with NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage ending on Jan. 1. Perhaps the mid-week date lowers expectations for the show’s ratings. Maybe the Beverly Hilton was somehow booked already on those dates. Maybe NBC did not want to interfere with the launch of its Sunday night shows to In any case, it’s certainly putting more pressure on the HFPA to get stars in seats for the show. Whether that will occur, remains to be seen.
In theory, NBC and the HFPA would not have moved forward without many of Hollywood’s high-powered personal publicists and agencies assuring them their clients will attend. Those reps were part of the reason the 2022 ceremony was not televised. They were part of a number of organizations that pushed the organization to make changes to their membership and business practices.
Over the past six months, the HFPA has effectively doubled its membership adding 103 new voters to its ranks, marking the first time international-based voters were part of the voting body. Previously, members had to reside within Southern California. According to the HFPA, their voting body is now represented by 62 different countries. And, combined with the previous HFPA members, the total Golden Globe Awards voting body is now 52% female, 51.5% racially and ethnically diverse, with 19.5% Latinx, 12% Asian, 10% Black and 10% Middle Eastern. The organization also wants to remind everyone that it donated $4.5 million to 93 programs and organizations this year alone.
Still, there are questions over whether the biggest nominated names will appear at the ceremony. Will recent changes from the HFPA encourage expected nominees such as Steven Spielberg, Margot Robbie, Michelle Williams, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, and Viola Davis to make their way to Beverly Hills? And that’s not even taking into consideration that the Tuesday date might make it more difficult for others (many awards contenders keep their weekends free while working on other projects during awards season). So, while NBC is certainly moving forward with a Globes telecast, it does seem as though they have tied one arm behind the HFPA’s back in terms of their prospects for success.
This announcement also comes after NBC aired the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards on a Monday, resulting in the lowest ratings in that event’s history. Traditionally, the Emmys have always been held on a Sunday.
Questions will also be raised about who will host the ceremony. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, who earned acclaim for hosting in 2013, 2014, and 2015, returned for what was supposed to be a multi-year arc in 2020. Following the controversy over the organization later that year and the non-broadcast of the 2021 ceremony, it appears they are no longer in the HFPA or NBC’s plans.
The HFPA also announced that nominations will be revealed on Monday, Dec. 12. Just how quick studios and networks are to tout those nods in FYC ads will be a sign of how invested the industry is in welcoming the Globes back to the awards season carnival.
