Boob Tube: Golden Globular, a Rant-in-Progress

Alright, Boob Tubers, let’s talk Golden Globes.

Alright, Boob Tubers, let’s talk Golden Globes. Our first order of business? WTF is up with the categories this year? Nurse Jackie is up for “Best TV Series, Comedy”? Really? Don’t get me wrong; the show is hilarious. (And the fact that Merrit Wever, who plays Zoey wasn’t up for a “Best Supporting Actress, Comedy” Emmy this year was a crime against God and man.) But c’mon, this show as a whole is obvs not a comedy, to the point that seeing it competing with traditional sitcoms in this category is somewhat crazy-making.

I know, Jackie. I don’t get it either.

TV as we know it has evolved, and it’s high time for the Hollywood Foreign Press (and the Emmy’s, too, dangit) to recognize this by revamping their categories for TV awards. 

The Golden Globe drama categories are wonky this year, too. Have you seen the nominees for “Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama”? Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men), Katey Segal (Sons of Anarchy) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) all make sense, yeah? Except that my one true love, the vastly underrated Piper Perabo is also up for this award for her role in silly spy caper Covert Affairs. Say WHAT?

I love Piper so much that I can’t help but be delighted for her, but one of my biggest beefs with the spectacularly meh Covert Affairs is that this is a show that still can’t seem to decide what genre it wants to be. It’s not funny enough to be a comedy, and not dramatic enough to be a drama, so it’s kind of just an action show with bad writing, murky stakes, and a great lead. I dunno, maybe my problem is seeing CA up for ANY award, but I can’t help but send out a great big mental WTF to the universe to see it listed with so many great dramas, when it’s not really a drama at all.

Even the luminous and oh-so-watchable Piper Perabo 

isn’t enough to make me keep watching Covert Affairs.

There has to be a neater solution to the nomination process for these awards, like changing the categories to reflect individual performances as outstanding for either drama or comedy, instead of arbitrarily labeling entire series as “dramas” or “comedies,” when so many of the best shows on the air these days effectively function in multiple genres. Or, yanno, just don’t nominate shows with season finales so depressing they make Mad Men look like a wacky, fun little romp as a BEST FRICKING COMEDY.

But it’s not all doom and gloom and WTeffingEff from me on this happy occasion of the Golden Globe nominations announcement. Things the Hollywood Foreign Press are doing right so far this awards season?

  • Jane Lynch (Glee) and Julia Stiles (Dexter) going head to head for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.” (A little weird to have them going up in the same category, but at least there’s no obvs mislabeling to call shenanigans on here.)
  • Chris Colfer (Glee) up for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.” (If he doesn’t win, I am starting a protest campaign to send a kajillion boxes of tampons to The Hollywood Foreign Press.)
  • Zombie apocalypse goodness The Walking Dead up for “Best Television Series – Drama.” Given the historic failure of Hollywood voting bodies to recognize outstanding series that mix speculative genres with drama and/or comedy (Um. Hi. Buffy the Vampire Slayer!), this was such a great surprise! (And maybe a sign that all you hookers in H-town are evolving a little faster than I’m giving you credit for.)

Here’s the full listing of TV-related Golden Globe nominations for the 2010 season. Let’s discuss!

Best Television Series – Drama

Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions, HBO Entertainment

Dexter (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions

The Good Wife (CBS)
CBS Television Studios

Mad Men (AMC)
Lionsgate Television

The Walking Dead (AMC)
AMC

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama

Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife (CBS)

Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men (AMC)

Piper Perabo – Covert Affairs

Katey Sagal – Sons Of Anarchy

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama

Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)

Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)

Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)

Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical

30 Rock (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little Stranger Inc.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Warner Bros. Television

The Big C (Showtime)
Showtime, Sony Pictures Television, Perkins Street Productions, Farm Kid, Original Film

Glee (FOX)
Ryan Murphy Television, Twentieth Century Fox Television

Modern Family (ABC)
Twentieth Century Fox Television

Nurse Jackie (SHOWTIME)
Showtime, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber, Caryn Mandabach Productions

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical

Toni Collette – United States Of Tara (SHOWTIME)

Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie (SHOWTIME)

Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)

Laura Linney – The Big C (Showtime)

Lea Michele – Glee (FOX)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)

Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)

Thomas Jane – Hung (HBO)

Matthew Morrison – Glee (FOX)

Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

Carlos (Sundance C)
Film En Stock and Egoli Tossell Film, Sundance Channel

The Pacific (HBO)
Playtone and DreamWorks in association with HBO Films

Pillars Of The Earth (STARZ)
Starz, Tandem Communications, Muse Entertainment Scott Free Films

Temple Grandin (HBO)
A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production, HBO Films

You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)
Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions, HBO Films

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hayley Atwell – Pillars Of The Earth (STARZ)

Claire Danes – Temple Grandin (HBO)

Judi Dench – Return To Cranford

Romola Garai – Emma

Jennifer Love Hewitt – The Client List

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Idris Elba – Luther

Ian McShane – Pillars Of The Earth (STARZ)

Al Pacino – You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)

Dennis Quaid – The Special Relationship

Edgar Ramirez – Carlos (Sundance C)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hope Davis – The Special Relationship

Jane Lynch – Glee (FOX)

Kelly MacDonald – Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Julia Stiles – Dexter (SHOWTIME)

Sofia Vergara – Modern Family (ABC)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Scott Caan – Hawaii Five-O

Chris Colfer – Glee (FOX)

Chris Noth – The Good Wife (CBS)

Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family (ABC)

David Strathairn – Temple Grandin (HBO)