Why the 2019 Golden Globes Are Already a Ratings Hit

NBC executives can relax and enjoy Sunday’s Golden Globes broadcast — the show might already be a TV ratings hit.

This weekend, the annual Golden Globe Awards follow the NFL’s NFC Wild Card game, when the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles visit the Chicago Bears, which is a “Sunday Night Football” on NBC production. The game kicks off at 4:40 p.m. ET, with the Globes slated to start at 8/7c.

That’s a pretty damn good lead-in.

Also Read: The CBS-Nielsen Deadline Has Come and Gone: What Happens Now?

Wild Card Weekend’s late-afternoon Sunday slot, which has historically gone to Fox, is usually the most-watched game of the playoffs’ opening round (and of the NFL season-to-date).

Over the last three years, that time slot has averaged 36.4 million viewers. Last year, Fox drew 31.2 million viewers for the New Orleans Saints-Carolina Panthers matchup, which was actually down quite a bit from what that time slot typically gets. In the prior two years, both aired by Fox, the late-Sunday game surpassed 38-million viewers.

This is the first time that NBC will get the prime late-Sunday afternoon time slot during the opening round of the NFL playoffs. The network, which airs one game during Wild Card Weekend and one game during next week’s Divisional Round, typically gets one of the two Saturday games each weekend.

Also Read: What Drove the NFL's TV Ratings Increase in 2018?

In other words, it’s a dream opening act for the Golden Globes — but what happens if the game goes into triple overtime?

The only risk in putting a live sporting event so close to the beginning of another live event is what happens if a game goes longer than expected and starts to bleed into the Golden Globes time slot? While NBC would probably be okay with that — a close finish to an NFL playoff game would mean gargantuan TV ratings — it seems that the show would at least be held back for the game to finish.

“We plan to air both live in their entirety,” an NBC Sports spokesman told TheWrap.

Also Read: What Happens if CBS Pulls the Plug on Nielsen Ratings

This whole thing sets NBC up to buck one of the more glaring and concerning trends in TV ratings. Over the past few years, awards show viewership has generally dropped with each passing season. Below are some of the harsher major drops from 2017 to 2018 in terms of the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic:

Academy Awards: -24% (6.9 vs. 9.1)
Grammys: -24% (6.0 vs. 7.8)
CMAs: -34% (2.1 vs. 3.2)
American Music Awards: -25% (1.8 vs. 2.4)

Comparatively, the Golden Globes only slipped 11 percent from ’17 to ’18, drawing 19 million viewers and a 5.0 rating in the demo. Expect this year’s show to plant a cleat in the turf, jump-cut and reverse field.

Golden Globes Snubs and Surprises, From 'Handmaid's Tale' to Sacha Baron Cohen

The 2019 Golden Globes nominations certainly surprised, with "Vice" leading the way in nods among movies -- shutting out some other deserving nominees in the process. Here are some of the biggest surprises and snubs from Thursday morning.
SURPRISE: Sacha Baron Cohen, "Who Is America?"

Sacha Baron Cohen's nod for his controversial Showtime satire "Who Is America?" was quite the shock -- especially because the comedian's nom helped push Ted Danson out of the running for "The Good Place."
Showtime
SNUB: No songs from "Mary Poppins Returns"

While Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda got nominated for their work in Disney's "Mary Poppins" reboot, none of the new, original songs in the musical got recognized, in favor of songs by Troye Sivan, Dolly Parton, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Annie Lennox.
Disney
SURPRISE: Rosamund Pike, "A Private War"

Rosamund Pike upset a huge field of actresses, including Viola Davis for "Widows," for her work as war correspondent Marie Colvin in "A Private War."
Keith Bernstein/Aviron
SNUB: Ryan Gosling and Damien Chazelle, "First Man"

With the exception of Claire Foy and its score from Justin Hurwitz, Damien Chazelle's "First Man" was almost entirely shut out of the Golden Globes race, including star Ryan Gosling as astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Universal
SURPRISE: Elsie Fisher, "Eighth Grade"

The teenage Elsie Fisher has been a dark horse for her work in Bo Burnham's "Eighth Grade," but we're happy to see she made the cut in the comedy and musical category with the Globes. Gucci!
A24
SNUB: Ethan Hawke, "First Reformed"

Ethan Hawke gave one of the best performances of his career in Paul Schrader's "First Reformed," leading many to believe he would be a dark horse contender. Not so this year.
A24
SURPRISE: Lucas Hedges, "Boy Erased"

Lucas Hedges was great in two films this year, "Ben Is Back" and "Boy Erased," so we're glad the one didn't cancel out the other.
Focus Features
SNUB: Sterling K. Brown and "This Is Us"

NBC's ratings and critical darling got no love from the HFPA Thursday, shaking things up after Sterling K. Brown grabbed a Best Actor win last year. "This Is Us" scored several previous acting noms, along with a nod for Best Drama series for both of its first two seasons.
NBC
SURPRISE: "The Alienist"

TNT's drama "The Alienist" had a big showing, including for Best Drama and for Best Actor in a Drama series, star Daniel Bruhl. The series' inclusion in the possible winners pool is a bit of a surprise, seeing as "The Alienist" only grabbed one Emmy after receiving six nominations
TNT
SNUB: "The Handmaid's Tale"

While actresses Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski both got nods, the Hulu adaptation did not, despite winning the award for Best TV series drama last year.
Hulu
SURPRISE: John C. Reilly, "Stan & Ollie"

It was a good year for John C. Reilly, who starred in "The Sisters Brothers" and "Ralph Breaks the Internet" in addition to the not-yet-released "Stan & Ollie," in which he stars opposite Steve Coogan as one half of the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
Sony Pictures Classics
SNUB: "Cold War"

A luscious, foreign language darling from Poland and thought to be a strong contender in the Oscar race considering its director previously won the prize for "Ida," the black and white drama "Cold War" was left out in the cold by the Globes.
Amazon Studios
SNUB: Yorgos Lanthimos, "The Favourite"

"The Favourite" had a big showing for its actors Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, and even for its screenplay, but surprisingly not so for its director, the Greek Yorgos Lanthimos.
Fox Searchlight
SURPRISE: Candice Bergen

Bergen's nomination for "Murphy Brown" is definitely out of left field, seeing as CBS' revival of the '90s sitcom's reboot has been seeing low Nielsen ratings and didn't receive a back order for additional episodes.
CBS
SNUB: "Atlanta"

While Donald Glover was nominated for his work as an actor, his show "Atlanta" failed to earn a nomination in the Best Comedy or Musical category, despite winning the prize for its first season two years ago.
FX

1 of 16

Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Gosling and the songs of ”Mary Poppins Returns“ were some of those left out

The 2019 Golden Globes nominations certainly surprised, with "Vice" leading the way in nods among movies -- shutting out some other deserving nominees in the process. Here are some of the biggest surprises and snubs from Thursday morning.

View In Gallery

Golden Globes Snubs and Surprises, From 'Handmaid's Tale' to Sacha Baron Cohen

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL