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Golden Globe Nomination Reactions: Television

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71st Annual Golden Globes – Television Category Nomination Reactions

Best Television Series – Drama: The Affair (Showtime), Downton Abbey (PBS), Game of Thrones (HBO), The Good Wife (CBS), House of Cards (Netflix).

Wash, rinse, repeat right? Out of this five, only one hasn’t been nominated before and clearly that’s The Affair. I’ve honestly heard nothing but good things about the program so I’m not surprised it’s here. It’s well documented that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) loves freshman shows too. Yet with that comes a good amount of snubs, like Homeland, Masters of Sex, and Hannibal, a show that people praise but is never recognized. I’m personally ecstatic that Game of Thrones is back after being edged out last year. Who can take this is up in the air though. Last year’s winner Breaking Bad is obviously gone. I’m putting my money on Game of Thrones because it’s time for that show to get recognized, and it can really happen here. But something tells me The Good Wife can make a strong play. You also have to consider the freshman show love too…

Photo Credit   Macall B. Polay/ HBO
Photo Credit Macall B. Polay/ HBO

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama: Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime), Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder (ABC), Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS), Ruth Wilson, The Affair (Showtime), Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix).

Hey remember when Tatiana Maslany was nominated last year? Guess people can go back to complaining. This category has easily received one of the bigger change ups. Only Julianna Margulies and Robin Wright are returning and with them is past nominee Claire Danes and newcomers Viola Davis and Ruth Wilson. This is easily the toughest category to pick simply because each are being pegged as worthy nominees. Homeland has rebounded hardcore, The Affair and How To Get Away With Murder are massively popular, and Robin Wright won last year. I’m willing to bet that Wright takes this again. She only got better and is a real acting powerhouse. Davis left it all out on the table for HTGAWM though, making her a good contender for a come behind steal.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama: Clive Owen, The Knick (Cinemax), Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan (Showtime), Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix), James Spader, The Blacklist (NBC), Dominic West, The Affair (Showtime).

Similar scenario to the show category here. Both Breaking Bad and Masters of Sex gone, The Affair and The Knick are in. I honestly don’t find myself surprised by these picks either. Clive Owen’s performance in The Knick received a ton of praise and The Affair being nominated for the top spot makes Dominic West’s appearance perfectly reasonable. Everyone else is just business as normal, honestly. Compared to James Spader and Liev Schreiber, Kevin Spacey is the one who gets most of the buzz here. His show borders on ridiculous a lot but Spacey is able to keep it together because he’s just great. Yet even though Robin Wright won a Globe last year, I still think there’s some trepidation for Internet based programs. This is easily the best chance Spacey has of winning, and I hope he does, but something tells me Owen or West will come in out of nowhere.

the-knick-s1-key-art

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical: Girls (HBO), Jane the Virgin (The CW), Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Silicon Valley (HBO), Transparent (Amazon).

The only thing surprising about Transparent being here is the fact that it’s an Amazon show. This is the first Globe nomination for anything Amazon related and it’s interesting to see that service enter the annals of streaming television greatness. The fact that Transparent is leading the charge doesn’t shock me by any means, considering all the praise. This category is definitely between that and Orange is the New Black, who’s going for the comedy awards this time instead of drama. Jane the Virgin is the real odd show out because it’s the only one here that’s actually on network television. The show is much beloved too and has that freshman appeal. As for Girls and Silicon Valley? After the Emmy’s, I expected Silicon Valley to be here, but it won’t win. Neither will Girls honestly. The buzz has died down and this category’s attention is definitely elsewhere. Apparently, that attention isn’t on past winner Brooklyn Nine-Nine. For shame!

Also, Modern Family is not here. Finally! At least the HFPA has the balls to move on. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences can learn a thing or two…

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical: Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO), Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO), Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin (The CW), Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black (Netflix).

No Amy Poehler makes me sad. Remember when she won last year? She finally gets the recognition she deserves…and then nothing. Oh well. At least she’s hosting! With her gone though, the stage is set for a showdown between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Taylor Schilling. Apparently, Schilling now acts in a comedy and not a drama. Sure, we’ll go with that. Her performance is great regardless and I’d love for her to take this, but Louis-Dreyfus is the one who is actually on a comedy show and that might be the dealmaker. Interesting that Gina Rodriguez is here. Jane the Virgin is very well received and clearly that’s because it has a good star. Freshman magic might work for her. Lena Dunham has a slight chance too, she always does, but Edie Falco continues her role as ballot filler.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical: Louis C.K., Louie (FX), Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Showtime), Ricky Gervais, Derek (Netflix), William H. Macy, Shameless (Showtime), Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (Amazon).

Photo Credit: HBO/Paul Schiraldi
Photo Credit: HBO/Paul Schiraldi

This is, by far, the most cut and dry category. Don Cheadle, despite being the only returner, is clearly a ballot filler because House of Lies gets nothing. Neither does Derek or Shameless, so you can count Ricky Gervais and William H. Macy out. Honestly, it blows me away that both Jim Parsons and last year’s winner Andy Samberg aren’t back. Jeffrey Tambor has this hands down. Beloved actor, groundbreaking performance, hot button topic. He has it all. Louis C.K. might take this from him, simply because he’s Louis C.K., but I can’t see this not being Amazon’s first major award win. It’s not even a contest.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Fargo (FX), The Missing (Starz), The Normal Heart (HBO), True Detective (HBO), Olive Kitteridge (HBO).

Now THIS is the category I’m excited for. It’s easily Fargo vs. True Detective vs. The Normal Heart. I love that True Detective is here too because that is definitely a miniseries and it should be here and not the drama category. I’ve heard some good things about The Missing too, so that being here isn’t a shock. Olive Kitteridge however is something I didn’t expect. I’ve barely heard about that show and literally have zero idea what it’s about. It beat out American Horror Story apparently so that’s something. Out of the three clear frontrunners, I really want Fargo to take this home. Make that happen!!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honourable Woman (SundanceTV), Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show, Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge (HBO), Frances O’Connor, The Missing (Starz), Allison Tolman, Fargo (FX).

Here’s a fun fact for you all. Frances McDormand was the lead actress in the 1996 Fargo movie, which saw her win a whole slew of awards, including the Best Actress Oscar. She’s now competing against Allison Tolman in this category, who is nominated for the show Fargo, which is a several year divided follow up to the movie. I don’t know what chances McDormand has of taking this, but I like to view this category as Fargo vs. Fargo. Who will win?! Marge Gunderson or Molly Solverson? But in all seriousness, Tolman has a legitimate chance to win this, which I expect her to do. She lacks star power but has garnered the most attention. On the other side of the spectrum, Maggie Gyllenhaal and McDormand are two exceptionally well-known actresses that could use their existing notoriety to get a lot of votes. Jessica Lange might as well, but not likely considering how ignored AHS is. I got nothing on Frances O’Connor though.

Photo Credit:  Matthias Clamer/FX
Photo Credit: Matthias Clamer/FX
Photo CreditL Matthias Clamer/FX
Photo CreditL Matthias Clamer/FX

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Martin Freeman, Fargo (FX), Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart (HBO), Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo (FX), Matthew McConaughey, True Detective (HBO), Woody Harrelson, True Detective (HBO).

You know, I actually forgot that the True Detective awards journey is still going on. It’s a shame that anyone else is in this category because this will clearly go to Matthew McConaughey. He lost the Emmy but has this in the bag. I’m shocked he doesn’t have it already.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX), Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey (PBS), Allison Janney, Mom (CBS), Michelle Monaghan, True Detective (HBO).

Just like with the Emmy’s, Allison Janney has snuck her way into a category she has no chance of winning. This is definitely down to Michelle Monaghan, because True Detective dominated the conversation for a while and she was great, Kathy Bates because she’s Kathy Bates, and Uzo Aduba because she is by far the best part of Orange is the New Black. My money is on Aduba taking this. She has to.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart (HBO), Alan Cumming, The Good Wife (CBS), Colin Hanks, Fargo (FX), Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge (HBO), Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (Showtime).

WHOA. Bill Murray is in Olive Kitteridge? Why did I not watch that mini-series? Honestly, I want him to win because he’s Bill goddam Murray. I also don’t know where the HFPA will go with this. This is such an all-encompassing category. Last year they picked Jon Voight over Aaron Paul, which still befuddles me. If they go for the old man pick again, then it’s between Murray and Voight. Matt Bomer and Colin Hanks can come up from the middle though and snatch it away, if the HFPA wants to focus on shows that garnered a lot of attention. It’s always tough to figure out where this one will go.

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Luke Kalamar is Pop-Break.com’s television and every Saturday afternoon you can read his retro video game column, Remembering the Classics. He covers Game of Thrones, Saturday Night Live and The Walking Dead (amongst others) every week. As for as his career and literary standing goes — take the best parts of Spider-man, Captain America and Luke Skywalker and you will fully understand his origin story.

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