Could labor unrest sink the Golden Globes again?

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You may recall that earlier this year, the powers behind the Golden Globes decided to go ahead and produce a stripped-down version of the awards show, despite the fact that no winners showed up because of the writers strike.

The result was a low-rated disaster that left critics -- seemingly the only people who actually bothered to watch the telecast -- reeling.

Now, with another strike threatening Hollywood, this time by the Screen Actors Guild, could next month’s Globes be victimized once more?

It’s possible, depending on what happens in the next few weeks. And the outcome could have major repercussions for the Oscars, which traditionally bookends the Hollywood awards seasons with the Globes.

SAG officials recently decided to ask their members for a vote to authorize a strike. If that measure passes -- and the result could be known by the end of this month -- then the union would have just enough time to call a strike before the Globes’ Jan. 11 telecast. While SAG could grant a waiver that would allow striking performers to appear at the awards event, that’s unlikely considering the Writers Guild’s decision last year.

If the various parties involved have developed any sort of contigency plan, they’re keeping it under close wraps. A SAG spokeswoman declined to discuss the situation. NBC, which telecasts the awards, said it would have no comment.

‘It’s way too early’ to address the strike question, said a spokesman for the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which administers the Globes. ‘No one’s gone to that point yet.’

That, however, is essentially the same thing that organizers said this time last year -- and chaos ensued.

Bottom line? If a strike does happen, the Globes could face a virtual preemption for the second year running.

-- Scott Collins