Golden Globes TV Nominations: Out With the Old, In With the New for Comedies
Plus, HFPA gives CW and Amazon their first big awards breaks
Jethro Nededog | December 11, 2014 @ 8:51 AM
Last Updated: December 11, 2014 @ 10:26 AM
Nothing pleases me more than when my television journalism colleagues are freaking out. And that’s what they were doing on Twitter as the 2015 Golden Globes nominees rolled out on Thursday morning.
The Hollywood Foreign Press is usually pretty forward-thinking with its nominations anyway, but this is best exemplified in the comedy series category. Although in our daily lives, TV comedies seem to be experiencing a creative drought, we’re usually thinking our typical 30-minute sitcom. When it comes to awards, dramedies are also considered for the category and can throw off the mix of nominations. This year was no different.
Most notably, Amazon broke into the mix with “Transparent.” Created by Jill Soloway, it stars Jeffrey Tambor as a father of grown children as he’s going public as a transgender woman. The series deserves the spot.
Another startling, though deserved, newcomer to the awards stage is The CW and its telenovela adaptation “Jane the Virgin.” Star Gina Rodriguez also got an acting nom in the series about a young woman who get accidentally artificially inseminated. While the ratings for the show aren’t stellar, this kind of recognition may have bought it a second season.
The field is rounded out by returning series Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” and HBO’s “Girls” and “Silicon Valley.”
The bigger story here is which shows didn’t make the cut. Yearly awards veterans like “The Big Bang Theory,” “Modern Family,” “Louie” and “Parks and Recreation.” And what about “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which the HFPA championed last year? Out with the old, in with the new.
For drama, probably the most competitive field in awards races (which is why dramedies enter the comedy race instead), the nominees are all very worthy with “Downton Abbey,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Good Wife,” and “House of Cards” in the mix. HFPA’s new offering here is Showtime’s “The Affair,” which documents said event with the cheaters’ different point of views.
Again, this is a tough category and the big story here are the dramas that got snubbed, such as Showtime’s “Homeland” and AMC’s “Mad Men.” I would’ve liked to see “The Americans” get a nom, but again I can’t argue with the field that did.
In the miniseries or movie category, Starz’s “The Missing” would be the surprise inclusion here. Otherwise, FX’s “Fargo” was joined by a HBO trifecta of “True Detective,” “Olive Kiiteridge” and “The Normal Heart.”
Believe it or not, I would’ve liked to see them give Lifetime its props for either “The Trip to Bountiful” or “Bonnie and Clyde,” but possibly their other offerings in the year (the “Saved by the Bell” movie, the quick-paste Aaliyah biopic may ruin their chances for awards in the mind of voters.”
In the acting noms, comedy seemed pretty straightforward (with the exception of Rodriguez for “Virgin”). In drama, I’m continually disturbed by the inclusion of Viola Davis for “How to Get Away With Murder” paired with the exclusion of “Scandal’s” Kerry Washington. That’s not because I don’t believe Davis doesn’t deserve it, but that I think it shows that diversity is still a problem for voters.
37 Biggest Snubs and Surprises: Golden Globes 2015 (Photos)
SNUB: Perennial Golden Globe favorite Angelina Jolie was left off the list of Best Director nominees for her work on Universal's "Unbroken."
Getty Images
SNUB: HFPA made room for Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo on their list of nominees but failed to include "Foxcatcher" star Channing Tatum.
Sony Pictures Classics
SURPRISE: This is Joaquin Phoenix's third straight year with a Golden Globe nod and fifth nomination overall. His role in "Inherent Vice" hasn't received nearly as much buzz as his competitors.
Warner Bros.
SNUB: Even though she's hosting the show this year, Amy Poehler failed to pick up a Best Actress in Comedy nomination for her work on "Parks and Recreation."
NBC
SNUB: As was the case with SAG voters, Kerry Washington and "Scandal" were replaced by Shonda Rhimes' newest TV superstar, Viola Davis on "How to Get Away With Murder."
ABC
SNUB: One year after winning a Best Actor in a Comedy Golden Globe, Andy Samberg was shut out completely for his role on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."
Fox
SNUB: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," which won the Golden Globe for best TV comedy last year, failed to pick up any nominations.
Fox
SNUB: Oscar Isaac locked up a Globe nom last year for "Inside Llewyn Davis" but came up empty-handed Thursday morning for his performance in "A Most Violent Year." Co-star Jessica Chastain, however, did score a nod after being snubbed by SAG.
A24
SURPRISE: Jake Gyllenhaal earned his second major nom in as many days with a nod for his role in "Nightcrawler."
Open Road Films
SNUB: "Unbroken" was shut out completely by the HFPA, failing to pick up a single nomination Thursday morning.
Universal
SURPRISE: "Jane the Virgin" star Gina Rodriguez landed herself a nomination for Best Actress in a TV Series Comedy. The CW show just premiered in October.
The CW
SURPRISE: "Jane the Virgin" also scored a nomination for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical, which brings The CW into the awards race.
The CW
SNUB: "American Sniper" received zero love from the HFPA. Star Bradley Cooper failed to pick up a nod for Best Actor in a Drama while director Clint Eastwood was also forgotten.
Warner Bros./Getty Images
SURPRISE: Christoph Waltz has cleaned up at the Golden Globes before, winning Best Supporting for "Inglourious Basterds" and "Django Unchained." Will his nomination for "Big Eyes" make him 3 for 3?
The Weinstein Company
SNUB: He's taken home the Golden Globe for his role in "Game of Thrones" before but was left off the list of nominees this year.
HBO
SNUB: Heading into the series' home stretch, "Mad Men" was noticeably left off the list of Golden Globe nominees. The AMC series didn't score a single nomination.
AMC
SNUB: Monster-hit "The Walking Dead" didn't pick up any nominations on Thursday, despite its ratings success.
AMC
SNUB: Jim Parsons was left off the Golden Globes nominees list for the first time since 2012. "The Big Bang Theory" star took home the award in 2011.
CBS
SNUB: "The Big Bang Theory" itself also got shut out of any Golden Globe nominations this year.
CBS
SURPRISE: British comedy "Pride" landed a Golden Globe nomination on Thursday for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.
BBC Films
SNUB: Louis C.K.'s cable hit "Louie" was left off the nominees for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical.
FX
SURPRISE: Showtime's freshman drama "The Affair" picked up a nomination for Best Television Series - Drama. Stars Dominic West and Ruth Wilson also earned individual nominations.
Showtime
SURPRISE: After failing to secure an Emmy nomination earlier this year, Michelle Monaghan picked up a supporting actress nomination for her role on "True Detective."
HBO
SNUB: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine's" Andre Braugher was snubbed by the Golden Globes, despite picking up an Emmy nomination earlier this year.
FOX
SNUB: "Modern Family" was left off of the Best Television Series list for the first time since the ABC sitcom premiered.
ABC
SURPRISE: Frances O’Connor scored a nomination for "The Missing." The Starz/BBC One series also landed a nod for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Starz
SNUB: Just one day after receiving a SAG Award nomination, "Orphan Black's" Tatiana Maslany was snubbed by the HFPA.
BBC America
SURPRISE: 11-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis earned a Golden Globe nomination for "Annie."
Getty Images
SURPRISE: Wes Anderson got a Best Director nod for "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
Getty Images
SNUB: The HBO drama had its series finale in 2014 but went unrecognized by the Golden Globes.
HBO
SNUB: Cicely Tyson scored an Emmy nomination for her performance in Lifetime's "The Trip to Bountiful" but failed to pick up a Globe nomination.
Lifetime
SURPRISE: Jeffrey Tambor earned his first Golden Globe nomination of his career, playing a transgender woman in Amazon's "Transparent."
Amazon Studios
SURPRISE: "Transparent" also picked up a nod for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical.
Amazon Studios
SNUB: Once again, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association failed to recognize FX drama "The Americans."
FX
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Angelina Jolie and “Unbroken” were shut out completely while The CW stunned with a nom for freshman series “Jane the Virgin”
SNUB: Perennial Golden Globe favorite Angelina Jolie was left off the list of Best Director nominees for her work on Universal's "Unbroken."