Hot Take: Streaming services are up for many Golden Globe awards, but it doesn’t mean anything because the system is “rigged.”
After reading that, you’re probably thinking that Stuart Sweet has taken the reigns of this week’s Streaming Saturday column. It makes sense because he’s a bitter, old cord-cutter who’s practically married to his TV antenna. Sorry to burst your bubble, but the comment above is 100% Buckler. That’s right! The “Streaming guy” said it and I stand behind it. All these Golden Globe nominations don’t mean much to me. You’ll agree when I explain why; but first…
…Let’s look at the streaming services nominated for 2021 Golden Globe awards:
- Netflix: 22
- Amazon Studios: 7
- Focus Features: 5
- Searchlight Pictures: 5
- Sony Pictures Classics: 5
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures: 5
- Warner Bros. Pictures: 4
- Universal Pictures: 3
- Hulu: 2
- NEON / Hulu: 2
- STXfilms: 2
- Vertical Entertainment / IMAX: 2
- A24: 1
- Apple / A24: 1
- Apple / GKIDS: 1
- Magnolia Pictures: 1
- Samuel Goldwyn Films: 1
- Shudder: 1
Clearly, Netflix has the proverbial lion’s share of Golden Globe nominations this year. Amazon Studios comes in second, but it can’t be called a “close second.” Not by a long shot. From there, the differences between each of the distributors, aka streaming service providers, isn’t so big. In fact, three distributors are tied for the “bronze medal,” so to speak, at five nominations each.
Let’s be honest about the Golden Globes. When it comes to this red-carpet event, most of us want to know which shows are nominated, not distributors. Here’s a closer look at this year’s nominations for TV series or programs:
- The Crown: 6
- Schitt’s Creek: 5
- Ozark: 4
- The Undoing: 4
- The Great: 3
- Ratched: 3
- The Comey Rule: 2
- Emily in Paris: 2
- The Flight Attendant: 2
- Normal People: 2
- The Queen’s Gambit: 2
- Small Axe: 2
- Ted Lasso: 2
- Unorthodox: 2
- Better Call Saul: 1
- Black Monday: 1
- The Good Lord Bird: 1
- Hollywood: 1
- Hunters: 1
- I Know This Much Is True: 1
- Killing Eve: 1
- Lovecraft Country: 1
- The Mandalorian: 1
- Mrs. America: 1
- Perry Mason: 1
- Ramy: 1
- Your Honor: 1
- Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: 1
When it comes to streamers, TV series aren’t the only things we watch. There are also the original movies. Here’s the list of the motion pictures nominated for this coveted award:
- Mank: 6
- The Trial of the Chicago 7: 5
- The Father: 4
- Nomadland: 4
- Promising Young Woman: 4
- Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: 3
- One Night in Miami…: 3
- Hamilton: 2
- Judas and the Black Messiah: 2
- The Life Ahead: 2
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: 2
- The Mauritanian: 2
- Music: 2
- News of the World: 2
- Palm Springs: 2
- The Prom: 2
- Soul: 2
- The United States vs. Billie Holiday: 2
- Another Round: 1
- The Croods: A New Age: 1
- Emma: 1
- French Exit: 1
- Hillbilly Elegy: 1
- I Care a Lot: 1
- La Llorona: 1
- The Little Things: 1
- The Midnight Sky: 1
- Minari: 1
- On the Rocks: 1
- Onward: 1
- Over the Moon: 1
- The Personal History of David Copperfield: 1
- Pieces of a Woman: 1
- Sound of Metal: 1
- Tenet: 1
- Two of Us: 1
- Wolfwalkers: 1
There are a lot of good TV series and movies up for nominations in their respective categories. I’m especially pleased to see that The Undoing, a phenomenal mini-series on HBO Max, earned four Golden Globe nominations. Other shows and movies from the streaming service owned by AT&T earned nominations as well. I love my HBO Max, so that’s great news to me. But you’re not here for good news, are you? You want to know why I think…
…The System is “Rigged” for Streaming Service Providers
We’re not going to the movie theaters as much if at all, and everyone knows why. (I’d spell it out for you but we’re not that kind of blog.) Because all of us are spending more time at home – much more time at home – more people are choosing to stream. Because of this, more movies that were slated for a theater-only release are now available for streaming on “opening day.” This is why we shouldn’t be surprised to see streaming represented so strongly in this year’s awards.
In regards Netflix’s lead, I think that’s “rigged” too. Not that they don’t produce quality programming, because they do. It’s just that they also release some turkeys, too. Actually, they release A LOT of turkeys. Many of these TV shows and movies aren’t worthy of sweeping the floors after the Golden Globe event, let alone a nomination. My point? Well, when you throw enough stuff against the wall, eventually something is going to stick. Sorry, not sorry.
Oh, one more thing! After reading what I’ve written, I wonder if I was projecting when I called Stuart “bitter.”
