The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is usually so eager to create buzz by awarding their Golden Globes to obscure nominees (“Mozart in the Jungle,” best comedy series, 2016). But this year, they’re taking a page from September’s Emmy Awards: They’ve all but repeated last year’s ballot, with a few variations — some welcome.
The nominees for best drama series repeat four out of last year’s five choices (the winner “The Crown” and “Game of Thrones,” “Stranger Things” and “This Is Us”) with one new entry: “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which swept the Emmys in September with eight wins.
The comedy and musical series contenders only repeat one nominee from 2017, ABC’s “Black-ish,” reflecting what has been a much-needed revitalization of the genre. The hit revival of NBC’s “Will & Grace” will face off against Showtime’s “SMILF,” Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Netflix’s “Master of None.”
The HFPA wisely avoided a p.r. disaster here by completely shutting out “House of Cards” and “Transparent,” whose stars, Kevin Spacey and Jeffrey Tambor, both previous winners in 2015 for best actor in drama and comedy, respectively, are no longer starring on their shows following allegations of sexual misconduct.
It was a very good day for “7th Heaven” alumna Jessica Biel, who came back to TV in the unusual murder mystery limited series “The Sinner” on the USA Network. Biel picked up a nomination for best actress in a limited series or TV movie alongside “Feud” battle-axes Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, and “Big Little Lies” California dreamers Nicole Kidman, who won an Emmy for her performance, and Reese Witherspoon.
“The Sinner” was also nominated for best limited series or TV movie, up against big-budget blowouts, such as FX’s “Feud” and HBO’s Emmy darling “Big Little Lies.”
The other new nominees earned their place on the ballot in well-reviewed series. “The Good Doctor” star Freddie Highmore could take the best actor in a drama series prize for his turn as a brilliant surgeon who has autism. He’s a Brit (the HFPA are serious Anglophiles) showing his range (he previously starred as Norman Bates in “Bates Motel”) in a shamelessly awards-baity role.
Australian actress Katherine Langford is the surprise nominee as best actress in a drama series for her role as a suicidal teen in the controversial Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” Ignored by the Emmys, who gave this award to Elisabeth Moss for “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Langford may give the HFPA a reason to do what they love to do best: create a new star with a shiny trophy. In addition to Moss, she will face off against Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Deuce”) and last year’s winner, Claire Foy (“The Crown”).
The best actress, comedy series, category is truly refreshing, as nearly all the nominees are first-timers. Rachel Brosnahan scored for her star turn as a New York Jewish housewife who unexpectedly becomes a stand-up comic in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Her competition includes Frankie Shaw and Pamela Adlon, both playing beleaguered moms on “SMILF” and FX’s “Better Things,” respectively, and Alison Brie on Netflix’s “GLOW,” the series about women wrestlers.
Only Issa Rae from HBO’s “Insecure” is a repeat from last year, and she didn’t win then. Last year’s winner, Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”), was left out, attesting to the influx of new talent.
“Will & Grace” star Debra Messing was also noticeably missing from today’s list of nominees. Eric McCormack was the only nominated actor from that series, for best actor in a comedy series.
His competition includes previous nominees Anthony Anderson of “Black-ish,” Aziz Ansari from “Master of None,” William H. Macy of “Shameless” (his fifth nomination overall) and previous GG winner Kevin Bacon of Amazon’s new comedy “I Love Dick.”
The Golden Globes will air Jan. 7, 2018, with Seth Meyers as the host.
