These Globes Fall Flat

It's that time of year again. No, not Christmas or Chanukah or and other holiday-type event. Now begins Award Season for Film and Television. That's right, the nominations for the 65th Annual Golden Globes (chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association) were revealed today. It is one of the few ceremonies that acknowledge both motion pictures and television.

The nominees in the film categories I pretty much agree with (although it would have been nice to see Ben Affleck nominated for his directorial debut of Gone Baby Gone). Kudos to TV alums Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies), George Clooney (ER), Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere), Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld), Johnny Depp (21 Jump Street), John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter), Aaron Sorkin amongst other things, The West Wing), Steven Spielberg (Night Gallery, Duel and Band of Brothers, to name a few) AND the Queen of Apparently Everything Oprah Winfrey (no explanation needed).

The honorees for the small screen held quite a few surprises, both good and bad. On the plus side, cable programs dominated the nominations. Newbies to the party AMC's Mad Men, FX's Damages and SHO's Californication did well in all categories as did the broadcast network freshman series Pushing Daisies. Hugh Laurie (House) was the lone competitor from network TV to make the grade for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. This leads to one of the problems this year: the snubs. What happened to any recognition (whether for the show or the actors) for Lost or Heroes? What about the triumverate from Grey's Anatomy of Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and Chandra Wilson?

However, the biggest atrocity (which continues to occur every year) is the fact that the supporting categories combine television series, miniseries and made for TV movies. If the Hollywood Foreign Press deems it necessary to separate the film categories into Drama and Comedy, at least they could separate the supporting actors of series from those of TV movies and miniseries. Would that really be so much to ask?