Before the Golden Globes begin at 5:00 on Sunday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, we should all get a few things straight.
First, the Globes are chosen by only about 80 people – the voting members of the 85-member Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which is made up of full and part-time journalists covering Hollywood for foreign publications. (A handful of them aren’t eligible to vote.) They’re working to change their tattered image, but they’ve never been the most credible group, and their imprimatur certainly doesn’t make a winning film any better or a loser any worse.
Second, winning the Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama on Sunday would not make “Boyhood” or “Selma,” or “The Imitation Game,” or anything else the slightest bit more likely to land Oscar nominations, or to win the Best Picture Oscar six weeks from now.
Oscar ballots, after all, were all turned in three days ago. And by the time final Oscar voting begins on Feb. 6, even the Academy members who’ll still remember what won the top Globes won’t care, and certainly won’t use that knowledge to influence their own votes.
If you want an award that will mean something in predicting this year’s Oscar race, wait for the Producers Guild Award on Jan. 24.
So as long as we can get that straight – this is a weird and small group of voters; their judgment isn’t authoritative; they don’t influence the Oscars – we can enjoy the party.
And that’s what the Globes want us to do, anyway. I mean, which of these sets of Golden Globe factoids do we remember more?
A. “Avatar” beat “The Hurt Locker” … “The Social Network” beat “The King’s Speech” … and “Atonement” beat “No Country for Old Men.”
B.Ricky Gervais made fun of Robert Downey Jr. and lots of other stars when he hosted … Jodie Foster kinda sorta came out in her speech last year … and Christine Lahti once won a Globe when she was in the bathroom.
The answer is B, of course. The Globes are about looseness first and foremost; they’re about what’s said far more than they’re about who wins.
So yeah, some people care if “Boyhood” can ride its wave of critical awards to a Golden Globe victory, or if “Birdman” can hold off the big musical “Into the Woods” and the unexpectedly popular “Grand Budapest Hotel” to win the Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical category.
But more people care if Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are going to make jokes about Bill Cosby, and if the rain will turn the red carpet into a soggy mess, and if any stars will take the stage visibly inebriated.
“The more they drink, the better the show,” a longtime show crew member told me this week – and can you imagine a staffer at the Oscars plying the talent with liquor to make the show looser and livelier? I can’t.
Hell, once the Oscars start the Academy makes you pay for your drinks in the lobby bar. At the Globes, you don’t even have to leave your seat to get free booze.
So what happens on Sunday night won’t tell us much about the movies in contention or the awards race in general. Maybe, for what it’s worth, it’ll tell us a bit about the HFPA – whether they want to go along with the mainstream critical opinion and vote for “Boyhood,” or make a statement about the tension in our streets today by voting for “Selma.”
They’ll announce predictable winners and surprise winners, some people will try to act as if it all means something, and by the time Oscar nominations are announced four days later, it’ll all mostly be forgotten.
There will be time later to keep asking how this particular group of people got the power to make all of Hollywood show up to their party, but for now we might as well have another drink.
Golden Globes Party Report in Pictures: Oprah, Brad Pitt, & Angelina Jolie Lunch Together at AFI (Photos)
CBS TV Studios President David Stapf, nominee Julianna Margulies, nominee Claire Danes, and Showtime President David Nevins linked up at CBS' pan-corporate party at Soho House on Saturday night. They took over, and packed, the whole place.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler and the new guy in late night James Corden.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, John Voight, and David Nevins representing the Showtime delegation.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
Edie Falco, Showtime CEO/Chairman Mathew C. Blank in from New York, and Stephen Wallem on Golden Globes eve.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
Thank the Kings (Robert on the left, Michelle on the right) for "The Good Wife". The co-creators flank Tassler and star Julianna Margulies on Saturday night. Mr. Best spun as chicken and waffles, sweet tart lollipops, and arancini balls were on the menu.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
Joshua Jackson of "The Affair" and wife Diane Kruger got time with Nevins. Starting the week celebrating the return of three comedy series, it was Showtime's second party of the week.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
Good to see the CW in the awards mix: Justin Baldoni, CW President Mark Pedowitz, Jennie Urman and Jaime Camil.
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
Robin Wright and Ricky Gervais hail from different wings of the Netflix empire. The empire came together at Ted and Nicole Sarandos' house early on Saturday night to toast their Globes nominees.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images)
Fred Armisen, Gervais, and Will Arnett with the boss.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images)
"Orange is the New Black" creator Jenji Kohan and star Uzo Aduba led the spelling bee challenge. (This is a joke.)
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images)
Harvey Weinstein (who is in a distribution deal with Netflix) with hosts Ambassador Nicole Avant Sarandos and Ted Sarandos.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images)
Team "Boyhoood" (5 Spirit Award nominations) made the scene on Saturday at two events. First, Film Independent's Nominees and Filmmaker Grant brunch at Boa. Film Independent president Josh Welsh, with the man, Ellar Coltrane, producer Cathleen Sutherland, and Ethan Hawke.
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"Selma" director Ava DuVernay (who was on the "Daily Show" the day of the Charlie Hebdo attack) back in L.A. with Warner Bros. president Sue Kroll. DuVernay kidded Kroll about how many people wanted Kroll's photo.
Mikey Glazer
"Brett Ratner!" Michael Pena joked, as he announced one of the filmmaker grant recipients. "What?!," some people in the crowd gasped. It was a joke. Emmy Rossum helped present the grants.
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The winners (from top left): Ben Affleck look-alike Dan Krauss, Chris Ohlson (with Welsh), and Daniel Garcia and Rania Attiehand, whose"H." screens at Sundance later this month.
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IMDB founder Col Needham told Spirit guests, including this columnist, that he started the site on October 17, 1990 (not a typo) as a full-database download.
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Striking a familiar observer's posture, Ellar Coltrane caught a breather at the Spirit Brunch.
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Brad Pitt sat with the "Unbroken" table at the AFI Awards Lunch on Friday, but merged his two film families afterwards.
Michael Kovac for AFI
Winfrey must have been happy. Everyone at the luncheon was a winner which meant "everyone" went home with loot (a plaque commemorating their inclusion in AFI's almanac of film).
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI
Ethan Hawke (repping team "Boyhood") and Miles Teller (repping "Whiplash") at AFI. The lunch is known for bringing cross-film casts together.
Michael Kovac for AFI
Pitt and McConaughey, there for "True Detective".
Kevin Winter for AFI
Anne Sweeney and Bob Daly at the Four Seasons before the AFI Lunch.
Kevin Winter for AFI
"Into the Woods" producer John DeLuca, "Into the Woods" director Rob Marshall, Sir Howard Stringer, and AFI CEO Bob Gazzale prepare for the crowded ballroom by crowding the carpet.
Kevin Winter for AFI
Arianna Huffington hosted a lunch in her home for pal Jennifer Aniston on Tuesday, a celebration of Aniston's film "Cake." Best buddy and spirit enthusiast Chelsea Handler helps raise a glass.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
Salma Hayek greets the hostess.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
Better with "Friends" ....zing! Artist Kimberly Brooks and Lisa Kudrow at the "Cake" luncheon.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
"Cake" producer and industry veteran Mark Canton says Mazel Tov.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
Michele and Rob Reiner with Huffington.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
The intimate lunch party included Kristin Hahn, Handler, Mary McCormack, and director Niki Caro, whose "McFarland, USA" debuts next month on Oscar weekend.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
The Barnz boys: "Cake" producer Ben (left) and director Daniel (right) sandwich the host.
(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
Before long hours on air for E!, Ross Matthews got his pearlies pearlier at one of the suites - Colgate Optic White's Beauty Bar sponsored by Rove and Tuleste at the Selma House in LA on Saturday.
(Alex Wyman from AP / Invision Images)
Need more "Inherent Vice?" Warner Bros. partnered with the Ace Hotel (where P.T. Anderson screened the film early last month) for an art show by L.A. artists inspired by the movie. Tuesday night was the exhibit's VIP preview. (From bottom right: Travis Millard, John Van Hamersveld, and painter Alia Penner.)
(Lindsey Best)
Away from Globes action, Chris Hardwick went bowling with Terrell Owens and Nick Cannon at Chris Paul's Celebrity Bowling invitational in Torrance on Thursday night. It will air as Super Bowl counter-programming on ESPN.
(Courtesy: CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational)
Showtime has nine nominations and three comedy series all returning on Golden Globes night. Matt LeBlanc ("Episodes"), Emmy Rossum ("Shameless"), Don Cheadle ("House of Lies), and William H. Macy ("Shameless") bonded together to celebrate at Cecconi's in West Hollywood on Monday night.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
This is your lineup.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
As for the season premieres airing opposite the Globes, for which Macy (above with Felicity Huffman) is nominated himself, Emmy Rossum is bullish: "Bill Macy is going to win on one channel and then he is going to be winning on Showtime too," she told TheWrap.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
"House of Lies" Executive Producer Jessika Borsiczky with Cheadle inside the frequent party place.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
After last season's executive meltdown on "Episodes," meet the new network boss: Andrea Savage joins the suite alongside veteran Kathleen Rose Perkins (who was in charge of Showtime's social media during Monday night's party).
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
Showtime President David Nevins with "Shameless" Executive Producer John Wells.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
Though she plays a secretly over-the-hill character on "Episodes," Mircea Monroe (left) is actually on the CW in her other job.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
Macy and Nevins.
(Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images)
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TheWrap’s updating gallery of the people, places and parties leading up to the awards on Sunday, Jan. 11
CBS TV Studios President David Stapf, nominee Julianna Margulies, nominee Claire Danes, and Showtime President David Nevins linked up at CBS' pan-corporate party at Soho House on Saturday night. They took over, and packed, the whole place.
Best Motion Picture -- Drama: "Boyhood" (pictured), "Foxcatcher," "The Imitation Game," "Selma," "The Theory of Everything"
Best Director -- Motion Picture: Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Eva DuVernay, "Selma"; David Fincher, "Gone Girl"; Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, "Birdman"; Richard Linklater (pictured), "Boyhood"
Best Screenplay -- Motion Picture: Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Gillian Flynn (pictured), "Gone Girl"; Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone,Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo, "Birdman"; Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"; Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"
Best Performances by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Drama: Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher"; Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"; Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"; David Oyelowo (pictured), "Selma"; Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Jennifer Aniston (pictured), "Cake"; Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"; Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"; Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"; Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"; Jessica Chastain (pictured), "A Most Violent Year"; Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"; Emma Stone, "Birdman"; Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Robert Duvall, "The Judge"; Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"; Edward Norton, "Birdman"; Mark Ruffalo (pictured), "Foxcatcher"; J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"
Best Motion Picture -- Comedy or Musical: "Birdman" (pictured), "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Into the Woods," "Pride," "St. Vincent"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical: Ray Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Michael Keaton, "Birdman"; Bill Murray (pictured), "St. Vincent"; Joaquin Phoenix, "Inherent Vice"; Christoph Waltz, "Big Eyes"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Comedy or Musical: Amy Adams (pictured), "Big Eyes"; Emily Blunt, "Into the Woods"; Helen Mirren, "The Hundred-Foot Journey"; Julianne Moore, "Maps to the Stars"; Quvenzhané Wallis, "Annie"
Best Animated Feature: “Big Hero 6," "Book of Life," "Boxtrolls," "How to Train Your Dragon 2," "The Lego Movie" (pictured)
Best Foreign Language Film: "Force Majeure Turist" (Sweden), "Gett: The Trival of Viviane" (Israel), "Ida" (Poland/Denmark), "Leviathan" (Russia, pictured), "Tangerines" (Estonia)
Best Original Song – Motion Picture: “Big Eyes” – “Big Eyes”; “Glory” – “Selma”; “Mercy Is” – “Noah”; “Opportunity” – “Annie”; “Yellow Flicker Beat” – “The Hunger Games, Mockingjay – Part 1” (pictured)
Best Original Score – Motion Picture: Alexander Desplat, “The Imitation Game”; Yohan Yohanson, “The Theory of Everything”; Trent Reznor (pictured), “Gone Girl”; Anthoy Sanchez, “Birdman”; Hans Zimmer, “Interstellar”
Best Television Series -- Drama: "The Affair," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "The Good Wife," House of Cards" (pictured)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Drama: Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Viola Davis (pictured), "How to Get Away with Murder"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"; Ruth Wilson, "The Affair"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -- Drama: Clive Owen, "The Knick"; Liev Schreider, "Ray Donovan"; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"; James Spader, "The Blacklist"; Dominic West (pictured), "The Affair"
Best Television Series -- Comedy or Musical: "Girls," "Transparent" (pictured) "Jane the Virgin," "Orange Is the New Black," "Silicon Valley"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Comedy or Musical: Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Gina Rodriguez (pictured), "Jane the Virgin"; Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -- Comedy or Musical: Louis C.K., "Louie"; Don Cheadle (pictured), "House of Lies"; Ricky Gervais, "Derek"; William H. Macy, "Shameless"; Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: "Fargo," "The Missing," "The Normal Heart," "True Detective" (pictured), "Olive Kitteridge"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Maggie Gyllenhaal (pictured), "The Honorable Woman"; Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Freak Show," Frances McDormand, "Olive Kitteridge"; Frances O'Connor, "The Missing"; Allison Tolman, "Fargo"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Martin Freeman (pictured), "Fargo"; Woody Harrelson, "True Detective"; Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective"; Mark Ruffalo, "The Normal Heart"; Billy Bob Thornton, "Fargo"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Uzo Aduba (pictured), "Orange Is the New Black"; Kathy Bates, "American Horror Story: Freak Show"; Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"; Allison Janney, "Mom"; Michelle Monaghan, "True Detective"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Matt Bomer (pictured), "The Normal Heart"; Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife"; Colin Hanks, "Fargo"; Bill Murray, "Olive Kitteridge"; Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan"
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Take a look at the stars who might be accepting a Golden Globe when the annual ceremony thrown by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association airs on Jan. 11
Best Motion Picture -- Drama: "Boyhood" (pictured), "Foxcatcher," "The Imitation Game," "Selma," "The Theory of Everything"
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
(Michael Underwood/ABImages)
