HBO Dominates 65th Golden Globe Award Television Nominations
December 2007
In what's come to be no surprise anymore, cable networks dominated the television categories for the 65th annual Golden Globe Award nominations. Only a third of the 60 nominations went to broadcast networks with ABC taking 11, NBC snagging six, Fox grabbing two for House and CBS left with one for a movie. HBO led the way for cable networks with 18 nominations, followed by Showtime and FX with six apiece, BBC America and TNT each with 3.
What follows are the nominees in each television category as well as commentary on surprises and who may win.
Best TV series - drama
Big Love - HBO
Damages - FX
Grey's Anatomy - ABC
House - Fox
Mad Men - AMC
The Tudors - Showtime
The only carryovers from last year were Grey's (last year's winner) and Big Love, meaning that 24, Heroes and Lost were snubbed. I would've probably liked to see Lost still in the hunt over Grey's or The Tudors, but I also would've like to see Battlestar Galactica make the list as well. Mad Men is the most deserving in this category, a compelling drama about the advertising business in the 1960s. Damages would be my guilty pleasure second choice.
Best performance by an actress in a TV series - drama
Patricia Arquette - Medium - NBC
Glenn Close - Damages - FX
Minnie Driver - The Riches - FX
Edie Falco - The Sopranos - HBO
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters - ABC
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace - TNT
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer - TNT
Sedgwick won in this category last year, so it wouldn't surprise me for her to take it again. But don't overlook a sentimental win for Falco or possibly a snag by Close for her fierce portrayal of an attorney in Damages.
Best performance by an actor in a TV series - drama
Michael C. Hall - Dexter - Showtime
Jon Hamm - Mad Men - AMC
Hugh Laurie - House - Fox
Bill Paxton - Big Love - HBO
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - The Tudors - Showtime
Laurie won this last year, but I'd love to see Hall or Hamm, both who turned in dynamic performances this year take home the prize.
Best TV series - comedy or musical
30 Rock - NBC
Californication - Showtime
Entourage - HBO
Extras - HBO
Pushing Daisies - ABC
Wow, talk about a shake-up. There's only one holdover nomination from last year (Entourage) and last year's winner Ugly Betty is gone. While I think Desperate Housewives probably deserved a nod over Californication (huh?!) after a strong return this season, I'm happy with the other additions. While 30 Rock has the buzz, I'm pulling for Pushing Daisies which enchants with each episode.
Best performance by an actress in a TV series - comedy or musical
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? - ABC
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty - ABC
Tina Fey - 30 Rock - NBC
Anna Friel - Pushing Daisies - ABC
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds - Showtime
The Globes likes to reward newcomers (Ferrera won last year) so don't be surprised to see Applegate pick up a win.
Best performance by an actor in a TV series - comedy or musical
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock - NBC
Steve Carell - The Office - NBC
David Duchovny - Californication - Showtime
Ricky Gervais - Extras - HBO
Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies - ABC
Baldwin won this last year and I don't see any reason he won't again this year. Please don't give it to Duchovny.
Best mini-series or motion picture made for television
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - HBO
The Company - TNT
Five Days - HBO
Longford - HBO
The State Within - BBC America
Best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television
Bryce Dallas Howard - As You Like It - HBO
Debra Messing - The Starter Wife - USA
Queen Latifah - Life Support - HBO
Sissy Spacek - Pictures of Hollis Woods - CBS
Ruth Wilson - Jane Eyre - PBS
Best performance by an actor in a mini-series or motion picture made for television
Adam Beach - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - HBO
Ernest Borgnine - A Grandpa for Christmas - Hallmark Channel
Jim Broadbent - Longford - HBO
Jason Isaacs - The State Within - BBC America
James Nesbitt - Jekyll - BBC America
Best performance by an actress in a supporting ole in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for television
Rose Byrne - Damages - FX
Rachel Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters - ABC
Katherine Heigl - Grey's Anatomy - ABC
Samantha Morton - Longford - HBO
Anna Paquin - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - HBO
Jaime Pressly - My Name Is Earl - NBC
While I wouldn't be surprised to see Heigl win this since she's such a firecracker, Byrne deserves this award as she transformed from a timid junior attorney who seemed to cower in the presence of Glenn Close to a fierce game player who can go toe to toe with anyone.
Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for television
Ted Danson - Damages - FX
Kevin Dillon - Entourage - HBO
Jeremy Piven - Entourage - HBO
Andy Serkis - Longford - HBO
William Shatner - Boston Legal - ABC
Donald Sutherland - Dirty Sexy Money - ABC
Piven's the likely winner here, though Danson is equally deserving for playing the ruthless CEO Arthur Frobisher. But where's Chi McBride from Pushing Daisies? Please don't let Shatner win here.
-- B. Fisher
