Written by Bill Bodkin and Luke Kalamar
The Golden Globes have an odd place in the season of awards show.
On the one hand, they are seen as the flashier, boozier cousin of the Emmys and Oscars. The ceremony shows stars getting blitzed in a ballroom and is known to honor cooler, more relevant TV shows and films than the more stodgy Academies.
On the other hand, the Globes — chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — mean very little to those looking to sweep their office Oscar pool. Their voting bodies don’t overlap at all, and often their winners don’t match much up.
Nevertheless, those who tune in on Sunday, Jan. 12 are likely in for a fun night. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are hosting again, and this year’s TV categories actually look like they might resemble the Emmy’s final field pretty closely. Below, Pop-Break breaks down who will likely win. –Brent Johnson
Best Television Series – Drama: Breaking Bad (AMC), Downton Abbey (PBS), The Good Wife (CBS), House of Cards (Netflix), Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Luke’s Pick – Breaking Bad: Does this really require any explanation? The highly lauded final season of Breaking Bad makes the meth-fueled drama a complete lock for this award.
Bill’s Pick – Breaking Bad: True story — the only time I’ve ever watched Breaking Bad was the last 15 minutes of the final episode. Those 15 minutes are better than any other drama I’ve seen all year.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS), Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America), Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Kerry Washington, Scandal (ABC), Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)
Luke’s Pick – Kerry Washington: As I said in my reaction piece, this is bound to be a tight category. Each leading lady has received immense acclaim for their roles. I can personally say that both Robin Wright and Taylor Schilling are beyond excellent. Yet Hollywood, and the public as a whole, adores Kerry Washington. Expect her to finally take this one home.
Bill’s Pick – Taylor Schilling: Yes, this’ll be tight. I think a lot of people fell in love with Orange is the New Black and are going to reward its star for it. Washington has a great chance of taking it home if the voters think Orange is more of an ensemble piece. Don’t rule out Maslany either people loved Orphan Black and the HFPA has been known to go across the pond for an upset (like Idris Elba last year).
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC), Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan (Showtime), Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex (Showtime), Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix), James Spader, The Blacklist (NBC)
Luke’s Pick – Bryan Cranston: No one can deny the immense talent held by Liev Schreiber, Michael Sheen, Kevin Spacey, and James Spader. If it was just those four men this would be a tight category. Yet Bryan Cranston is there and even Sir Anthony Hopkins believes he’s one of the greatest actors to ever exist. No one else has a chance. Just take the Globe now Cranston.
Bill’s Pick – Bryan Cranston: Any other year, Spacey takes this home. Bryan Cranston delivered one of the most praised performances ever and he should awarded accordingly.
Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical: The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox), Girls (HBO), Modern Family (ABC), Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Luke’s Pick – Modern Family: I really want Brooklyn Nine-Nine or Parks and Recreation to win this, but they probably won’t. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association broke ground last year giving this to Girls over Modern Family. Will that happen again? Recent syndication and a growing fanbase says no.
Bill’s Pick – Girls: Critics loved the show. People love Lena Dunham. The ratings were beast. It’s HBO. The competition is a bit long in the tooth (outside of B99), so the HFPA will go with the hot hand here.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical: Zooey Deschanel, New Girl (Fox), Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO), Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO), Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Luke’s Pick – Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Lena Dunham was as much of a surprise win as was her show’s triumph over Modern Family. Yet Julia Louis-Dreyfus is still a force to be reckoned with considering her recent Emmy win. I’d say she’ll take this prize home with her, but wouldn’t it be nice if Amy Poehler did instead? One can dream…
Bill’s Pick – Julia Louis-Dreyfus: I really think Dunham could take it, but there’s just an overwhelming amount of love for Dreyfus. She raised praise for her part in Enough Said and this season of Veep was something everyone talked to about and rightfully so — she was hilarious in it. Plus an Emmy win doesn’t hurt.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical: Jason Bateman, Arrested Development (Netflix), Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Showtime), Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC), Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)
Luke’s Pick – Jason Bateman: Jim Parsons and Don Cheadle are past winners so this race is likely between them. Bateman however is the most deserving as he was able to flawlessly revive a character and show that has been missing for 7 years with huge acclaim. If he won this, I would blue myself with glee.
Bill’s Pick – Michael J. Fox: People love Michael J. Fox and the fact he came back to television and is addressing Parkinson’s is something that will garner sympathy and admiration. Let’s be honest, he could’ve stayed “retired” or hid his condition, but instead he embraces it. While his show might not be a home run, he should get recognized for the major risk he took returning to television.
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: American Horror Story: Coven (FX), Behind the Candelabra (HBO), Dancing on the Edge (Starz), Top of the Lake (Sundance), The White Queen (Starz)
Luke’s Pick – Behind the Candelabra: I have not seen any of them programs. At all. Behind the Candelabra won an Emmy, American Horror Story: Coven is everywhere, and everything else is quietly off to the side. My money is on Candelabra.
Bill’s Pick – Behind the Candelabra: It’s always a safe bet to go with HBO. While I love me some AHS, it’s an anthology that appears on television every year while Candelabra was an event featuring two Hollywood heavy-hitters coming to the small screen to deliver amazing performances. Believe the hype, Candelabra takes it.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Helena Bonham Carter, Burton & Taylor (BBC), Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen (Starz), Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven (FX), Helen Mirren, Phil Spector (HBO), Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake (Sundance)
Luke’s Pick – Jessica Lange: Again, have seen very little, but Coven has enough popularity and praise for Jessica Lange to take this home. I will say this though: Helen Mirren is awesome. I’d be happy if she won too.
Bill’s Pick – Elisabeth Moss: She stars in one of the most critically-acclaimed shows on TV (Mad Men) and she received a gargantuan amount of praise for this role. Lange’s won already for AHS, Carter and Ferguson’s respective shows were not that popular, so that leaves Mirren as Moss’ stiffest competition. With the amount of good TV mojo she has, Moss will take it.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra (HBO), Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra (HBO), Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge (Starz), Idris Elba, Luther (BBC America), Al Pacino, Phil Spector (HBO)
Luke’s Pick – Michael Douglas: The talent. IT’S PALPABLE. Michael Douglas won an Emmy for his role, Matt Damon was nominated, Chiwetel Ejiofor is getting Oscar buzz, Idris Elba won before, and Al Pacino is one of the most legendary actors of all time. I’m going with Douglas but this is really anyone’s game.
Bill’s Pick – Michael Douglas: There will be no Irdris upset like last year. Douglas owned it as the flamboyant pianist and deserves to showered with awards for this brilliant performance.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge (Starz), Janet McTeer, The White Queen (Starz), Hayden Panettiere, Nashville (ABC), Monica Potter, Parenthood (NBC), Sofia Vergara, Modern Family (ABC)
Luke’s Pick – Sofia Vergara: I am probably the worst person to talk to about any of these programs. Vergara’s popular, so is Modern Family, and she’s somehow the only Modern Family cast member nominated. The HFPA is practically obligated to give this to her.
Bill’s Pick – Monica Potter: I think the Modern Family awards avalanche has to stop some time, right? So I’m going to be with Potter, who stars on the critically acclaimed NBC uber-drama. Besides, she starred in Con-Air, she deserves an award.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Josh Charles, The Good Wife (CBS), Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra (HBO), Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC), Corey Stoll, House of Cards (Netflix), Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Luke’s Pick – Aaron Paul: This is just like the Best Performance for an Actor – Drama Globe. The talent is there, but Aaron Paul is destined to win this.
Bill’s Pick – Aaron Paul: Rob Lowe was hilarious and Jon Voight was brilliant, but this year it’s all about Breaking Bad.
Comments are closed.