Few surprises among Golden Globes nominations
HBO's gothic vampire tale "True Blood" and therapy drama "In Treatment" became the sole freshman television shows to be nominated for outstanding series awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. on Thursday morning.
The Golden Globes is known for singling out breakout shows before the more traditional Emmys. But after a year in which the writers strike hampered development, the nominations list contained mostly familiar shows and actors.
Among the 10 Globes nominees for drama and comedy series, only three were first-time nominees. The acting categories had a similar percentage of new honorees, with "Blood" actress Anna Paquin and January Jones from "Mad Men" among the exceptions.
"Since when are the freaking Emmys more risk-taking than the Globes?" asked Time.com.
Cable ruled again, with more than double the nominations of broadcasters. HBO, which had the two most-nominated programs — “Treatment” and the election thriller “Recount” — led the pack with 22 nominations. It was followed by Showtime, which nabbed its best Globes performance with eight noms, all in the series categories. Then there's NBC (6), ABC (5) and AMC, Fox and PBS (3 each).
Though nominated for only a few Emmys, HBO's "In Treatment" had the most nominations of any series (5). In terms of ratings, "Treatment" is also the least-watched show among the nominees.
For Showtime, this marks the network's best performance in the series categories ever. AMC led among basic cable networks, with three nods.
"We can’t be anything but delighted," said Showtime CEO Matt Blank. "It’s a confirmation of our original programming, which has really broken through. It’s hard to not suggest that Showtime is one of the most important players in all of television."
The network’s “Dexter” landed its first best drama series nom, along with fellow first-time nominees “Treatment” and “Blood” as well as Fox’s “House” and last year’s winner and Emmy champ, AMC’s “Mad Men.”
The recognition for “Blood” caps a strong first season for the series, which started slow but grew nearly every week and earned a second-season order
“It’s always great to be recognized,” "Blood" creator Alan Ball said. “Doing this show is so much fun that’s it’s the reward in and of itself. This is like gravy.”
Five perennial favorites — HBO’s “Entourage,” NBC’s “The Office” and reigning Globes and Emmy winner “30 Rock” as well as Showtime’s “Weeds” and "Californication" -- are returning in the best comedy series category.
Snubbed from the series categories were contenders such as AMC's "Breaking Bad," CBS' freshman breakout "The Mentalist," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and the final seasons of "The Shield" and HBO's "The Wire."
Speaking of snubs, on the film side, fans are likely to howl about the absence of "The Dark Knight" from the best drama category, though Heath Ledger was given a nod as expected for supporting actor.
“In Treatment” star Gabriel Byrne is the only new addition to the best drama actor field, joining returning nominees Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Hugh Laurie ("House"), Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") and last year’s winner, Jon Hamm ("Mad Men").
The category provided the biggest upset in the TV categories, the snub of Emmy winner Bryan Cranston from “Breaking Bad.”
Other notable omissions this year include "Breaking Bad," CBS’ freshman breakout "The Mentalist," and FX’s "The Shield” and HBO’s "The Wire" -- both of which wrapped strong final seasons -- in the best drama category; as well as “Mentalist’”s Simon Baker and “Shield’”s Michael Chicklis for actor in a drama series.
Two new faces, January Jones ("Mad Men") and Anna Paquin ("True Blood"), joined the lead actress in the drama series field, along with Sally Field ("Brothers and Sisters"), Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: SVU"), and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer").
In the lead comedy actor category, Kevin Connolly earned his first major award recognition for his role on HBO’s ”Entourage.” He will face previous winners David Duchovny ("Californication"), Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"), Steve Carell ("The Office") and Tony Shalhoub ("Monk").
This is Debra Messing’s second consecutive acting Globes nomination for her role as starter wife Molly Kagan. Last year, it was in the lonform category for USA’s mini “The Starter Wife.” Now, it’s for the series the mini spawned. Messing’s comedy series actress competition include Christina Applegate ("Samantha Who?") and previous winners America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty"), Mary-Louise Parker ("Weeds") and Tina Fey ("30 Rock").
For outstanding movie and miniseries, HBO's "John Adams," "Recount" and "Bernard and Doris" are against ABC's "A Raisin in the Sun" and PBS' "Cranford."
The 66th annual Golden Globes will be awarded Jan. 11 at the Beverly Hilton and broadcast on NBC.
Comment: The Golden Globes are starting to rival the Emmys for predictability. These are mostly known Globes favorites, with "True Blood" being the most notable new pick (though even that was predicted).
COMPLETE FILM AND TV NOMINATIONS LIST:
HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION 2008 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures - FROST/NIXON
Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures - THE READER
Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company - REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks Pictures in Association with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
- ANNE HATHAWAY – RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
- ANGELINA JOLIE – CHANGELING
- MERYL STREEP – DOUBT
- KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS – I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
- KATE WINSLET – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
- LEONARDO DICAPRIO – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
- FRANK LANGELLA – FROST/NIXON
- SEAN PENN – MILK
- BRAD PITT – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
- MICKEY ROURKE – THE WRESTLER
4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- BURN AFTER READING
Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal - HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Summit Entertainment, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films - IN BRUGES
Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features - MAMMA MIA!
Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Mediapro; The Weinstein Company
5.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- REBECCA HALL – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
- SALLY HAWKINS – HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
- FRANCES MCDORMAND – BURN AFTER READING
- MERYL STREEP – MAMMA MIA!
- EMMA THOMPSON – LAST CHANCE HARVEY
6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- JAVIER BARDEM – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
- COLIN FARRELL – IN BRUGES
- JAMES FRANCO – PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
- BRENDAN GLEESON – IN BRUGES
- DUSTIN HOFFMAN – LAST CHANCE HARVEY
7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
- BOLT
Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures - KUNG FU PANDA
DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures - WALL-E
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
- THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (GERMANY)
(DER BADDER MEINHOF KOMPLEX)
Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC
- EVERLASTING MOMENTS (SWEDEN/DENMARK)
(MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK)
Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films - GOMORRAH (ITALY)
(GOMORRA)
Fandango; IFC Films - I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (FRANCE)
(IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics - WALTZ WITH BASHIR (ISRAEL)
Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D'Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures Classics
9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
- AMY ADAMS – DOUBT
- PENELOPE CRUZ – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
- VIOLA DAVIS –DOUBT
- MARISA TOMEI – THE WRESTLER
- KATE WINSLET – THE READER
10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
- TOM CRUISE – TROPIC THUNDER
- ROBERT DOWNEY JR. –TROPIC THUNDER
- RALPH FIENNES – THE DUCHESS
- PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – DOUBT
- HEATH LEDGER – THE DARK KNIGHT
11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
- DANNY BOYLE – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
- STEPHEN DALDRY – THE READER
- DAVID FINCHER – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
- RON HOWARD – FROST/NIXON
- SAM MENDES – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
- SIMON BEAUFOY – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
- DAVID HARE – THE READER
- PETER MORGAN – FROST/NIXON
- ERIC ROTH – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
- JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY – DOUBT
13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
- ALEXANDRE DESPLAT –THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
- CLINT EASTWOOD – CHANGELING
- JAMES NEWTON HOWARD – DEFIANCE
- A. R. RAHMAN – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
- HANS ZIMMER – FROST/NIXON
14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
- “DOWN TO EARTH” — WALL-E
Music by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman
Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel - “GRAN TORINO” — GRAN TORINO
Music by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
Lyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens - “I THOUGHT I LOST YOU” — BOLT
Music & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele - “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” — CADILLAC RECORDS
Music & Lyrics by: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street - “THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLER
Music & Lyrics by: Bruce Springsteen
15. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
- DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions - HOUSE (FOX)
Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions - IN TREATMENT (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment - MAD MEN (AMC)
Lionsgate Television - TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
- SALLY FIELD – BROTHERS AND SISTERS
- MARISKA HARGITAY –LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
- JANUARY JONES – MAD MEN
- ANNA PAQUIN – TRUE BLOOD
- KYRA SEDGWICK – THE CLOSER
17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
- GABRIEL BYRNE – IN TREATMENT
- MICHAEL C. HALL – DEXTER
- JON HAMM – MAD MEN
- HUGH LAURIE – HOUSE
- JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS – THE TUDORS
18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- 30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little Stranger Inc. - CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then... - ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment - THE OFFICE (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios - WEEDS (SHOWTIME)
Lionsgate Television
19.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- CHRISTINA APPLEGATE – SAMANTHA WHO?
- AMERICA FERRERA – UGLY BETTY
- TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
- DEBRA MESSING – THE STARTER WIFE
- MARY-LOUISE PARKER – WEEDS
20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- ALEC BALDWIN – 30 ROCK
- STEVE CARELL – THE OFFICE
- KEVIN CONNOLLY – ENTOURAGE
- DAVID DUCHOVNY – CALIFORNICATION
- TONY SHALHOUB – MONK
21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
- A RAISIN IN THE SUN (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment, and Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment - BERNARD AND DORIS (HBO
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films - CRANFORD (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston. - JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
Playtone in association with HBO Films - RECOUNT (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films
22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
- JUDI DENCH – CRANFORD
- CATHERINE KEENER – AN AMERICAN CRIME
- LAURA LINNEY – JOHN ADAMS
- SHIRLEY MACLAINE – COCO CHANEL
- SUSAN SARANDON – BERNARD AND DORIS
23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
- RALPH FIENNES – BERNARD AND DORIS
- PAUL GIAMATTI – JOHN ADAMS
- KEVIN SPACEY – RECOUNT
- KIEFER SUTHERLAND – 24: REDEMPTION
- TOM WILKINSON – RECOUNT
24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
- EILEEN ATKINS – CRANFORD
- LAURA DERN – RECOUNT
- MELISSA GEORGE – IN TREATMENT
- RACHEL GRIFFITHS – BROTHERS AND SISTERS
- DIANNE WIEST – IN TREATMENT
25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
- NEIL PATRICK HARRIS – HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
- DENIS LEARY – RECOUNT
- JEREMY PIVEN – ENTOURAGE
- BLAIR UNDERWOOD – IN TREATMENT
- TOM WILKINSON – JOHN ADAMS
NOMINATIONS BY MOTION PICTURE STUDIOS AND TELEVISION NETWORKS
| MOTION PICTURE STUDIOS | |
|---|---|
| Warner Bros. Pictures | 11 |
| Universal Pictures | 9 |
| The Weinstein Company | 8 |
| Fox Searchlight Pictures | 7 |
| Miramax Films | 7 |
| DreamWorks Pictures | 6 |
| Focus Features | 6 |
| Paramount Pictures | 6 |
| Paramount Vantage | 6 |
| BBC Films | 5 |
| Sony Pictures Classics | 4 |
| Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | 4 |
| IFC Films | 2 |
| Overture Films | 2 |
| Sony Pictures Releasing | 2 |
| Studio Canal | 2 |
| Pathe | 1 |
| Summit Entertainment, LLC | 1 |
| Village Roadshow | 1 |
| TELEVISION NETWORKS | |
|---|---|
| HBO | 22 |
| SHOWTIME | 8 |
| NBC | 6 |
| ABC | 5 |
| AMC | 5 |
| FOX | 3 |
| PBS | 3 |
| USA NETWORK | 2 |
| CBS | 1 |
| LIFETIME TELEVISION | 1 |
| TNT | 1 |
| NOMINATIONS BY MOTION PICTURE | |
|---|---|
| THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON | 5 |
| DOUBT | 5 |
| FROST/NIXON | 5 |
| THE READER | 4 |
| REVOLUTIONARY ROAD | 4 |
| SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE | 4 |
| VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA | 4 |
| IN BRUGES | 3 |
| THE WRESTLER | 3 |
| BOLT | 2 |
| BURN AFTER READING | 2 |
| CHANGELING | 2 |
| HAPPY-GO-LUCKY | 2 |
| I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T'AIME) | 2 |
| LAST CHANCE HARVEY | 2 |
| MAMMA MIA! | 2 |
| TROPIC THUNDER | 2 |
| WALL-E | 2 |
| BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (DER BADDER MEINHOF KOMPLEX) | 1 |
| CADILLAC RECORDS | 1 |
| THE DARK KNIGHT | 1 |
| DEFIANCE | 1 |
| THE DUCHESS | 1 |
| EVERLASTING MOMENTS (MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK) | 1 |
| GOMORRAH (GOMORRA) | 1 |
| GRAN TORINO | 1 |
| KUNG FU PANDA | 1 |
| MILK | 1 |
| PINEAPPLE EXPRESS | 1 |
| RACHEL GETTING MARRIED | 1 |
| WALTZ WITH BASHIR | 1 |
| NOMINATIONS BY TELEVISION SERIES OR PROGRAM | |
|---|---|
| IN TREATMENT | 5 |
| RECOUNT | 5 |
| JOHN ADAMS | 4 |
| 30 ROCK | 3 |
| BERNARD AND DORIS | 3 |
| CRANFORD | 3 |
| ENTOURAGE | 3 |
| MAD MEN | 3 |
| BROTHERS AND SISTERS | 2 |
| CALIFORNICATION | 2 |
| DEXTER | 2 |
| HOUSE | 2 |
| THE OFFICE | 2 |
| TRUE BLOOD | 2 |
| WEEDS | 2 |
| 24: REDEMPTION | 1 |
| A RAISIN IN THE SUN | 1 |
| AN AMERICAN CRIME | 1 |
| CLOSER, THE | 1 |
| COCO CHANEL | 1 |
| HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | 1 |
| LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT | 1 |
| MONK | 1 |
| SAMANTHA WHO? | 1 |
| THE STARTER WIFE | 1 |
| UGLY BETTY | 1 |
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