The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has always had a reputation for having a more progressive outlook when giving out awards to television actors, while the Emmy folks sometimes make an actor wait and wait their turn. Unlike Emmy voters, who basically check off the names of people they’ve worked with, the Golden Globes voters seem to actually watch television.
That is evident in their nominations this year, which reward many of the new, excellent programs (“House of Cards,” “Masters of Sex”) and performers (Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”) while shutting out those shows and actors who have lost their groove (“Homeland” and “Mad Men”).
Not surprisingly, the explosive season of “Breaking Bad” was honored with nominations for Best Drama Series and its star, Bryan Cranston. He may not need another award right this minute and his competition, much like the Golden Globe for film actor, is fierce — Kevin Spacey in “House of Cards,” Michael Sheen in “Masters of Sex,” Liev Schreiber in “Ray Donovan” and master scene-stealer James Spader in “The Blacklist.” Spader is the lone nominee from a network scripted drama.
Drama is where it’s at on television right now and that goes for the best actress category as well. A much-needed shaking up has occurred. The new faces here include Robin Wright, as the serenely demented political wife on “House of Cards” and Taylor Schilling as a prison newbie in “Orange Is the New Black.” The most gratifying nominee, though, is Tatiana Maslany for her multiple roles — and matching accents — in BBC America’s “Orphan Black.” The Canadian Maslany is a real Hollywood outsider and Emmy voters advertised their own obsolescence when they failed to nominate her this year — so don’t be surprised if the HFPA makes it up to her.
Comedy is not where it’s at on TV this year. The very fact that Andy Samberg and his witless new series, “Brooklyn 99,” were nominated is proof that something fishy is always going on with the Hollywood Foreign Press. The other nominees are faces that are so familiar at this point (Jim Parsons, Edie Falco, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler) that you want to scream: Can somebody write a new show that’s actually funny? Judging by the crop that was dumped on us this season, that blessed moment has yet to arrive.
A special note: two actors scored multiple nominations in the film and television categories this year in roles that clearly display their versatility and power. And guess what? They’re not from Hollywood. How’d that happen? Someone was actually watching. Idris Elba was nominated for his role as besieged London detective John Luther as well as for his turn as Nelson Mandela in the new biopic. And the amazing Chiwetel Ejiofor scored a nomination for “Dancing on the Edge,” a BBC America drama about jazz musicians in London in the 1920s, and for his heartbreaking performance in “12 Years a Slave.”