The Golden Globes are Cancelled: What Does This Mean?
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
The 2022 Golden Globes have been cancelled. This revelation follows the expulsion of former Hollywood Foreign Press Association member Phillip Berk for his explicit racism (his alleged sexual assaults don’t help either), and the party’s lack of desire to make great changes to its foundation (amongst other problems, including apparent self-dealing within the community). The lack of black members and the half-hearted attempts at rectifying this was the final straw. NBC declared it wouldn’t show the Golden Globes in 2022. Many film stars spoke out; Tom Cruise even gave back his three awards. Studios, companies and sponsors showed their disdain. The Globes of 2022 subsequently folded.
It’s true. All of these kinds of awards shows have their own various forms of corruption, but the Golden Globes had to have been one of the more problematic ceremonies with one of the more toxic academies out there. For years, even just the head scratching nominations and wins have been negative press, but the other additional bizarre choices (the latest being the consideration of Minari as an international film, which also made it an illegitimate selection for any other nomination, which was another stupid decision by the HFPA) has always left the ceremony — which has always been dependant on ratings — in the parts of our minds where we chuck things we don’t care to reflect on. Stars would get smashed. Hosts would roast the life out of everyone (if Tina Fey and Amy Poehler weren’t making light jabs, Ricky Gervais would continuously try to get fired by dishing out his biggest punches). Wins were shrugged. Nominees were forgotten about. Basically, the Golden Globes marked the start of the awards season to prediction junkies (like myself), but it became a huge heap of nothing to just about everyone else. If it wasn’t going to change for the few viewers left, then what’s the point?
Will the Golden Globes come back? I honestly don’t know. At this rate, I’m crossing my fingers that the Academy Awards will even reach year one hundred (if it’s going to end, can we at least bring it to a full century for the sake of satisfaction?). Awards shows are already being questioned when they aren’t in hot water. No longer does anyone have to refer to these shows to know what to watch, because we have the internet. The shows came full circle with how they started: mostly for those in the audience on location. As people lose interest (including for the heightened politics in these shows), those who participate have built higher walls. If the Golden Globes were to remodel and then come back, will they get the viewers they need? They had less than ten million hits this year, which is an all time low for them.
I honestly think this may be the end for the Globes. Even if they try to pounce back, they may be placing themselves in danger once again: the awareness of corrupt and problematic practices, the lack of viewers, and the omission of overall respect. Even though I don’t care for the Golden Globes all too much (especially compared to other ceremonies), it is a bit saddening that a celebration of film and television will be gone. I love the conversation. Of course, we must change the ways we have said conversation, especially when so many people are exempted from being a part of the discussion. Will this cause a chain reaction that affects other awards ceremonies? I’m not sure, especially because the film and television industries do like celebrating together, no matter who cares or is watching. I’d argue that any potential downfalls of other ceremonies and academies wouldn’t be because of this supposed domino effect. If the Golden Globes don’t survive this hiatus, then we’ll know it’s entirely possible. Maybe other academies will try to steer their ships the right way to avoid such a fate? Either way, changes are happening, whether it’s the regulations or terminations of these ceremonies.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.