Choice of Amy Poehler, Tina Fey keeps Globes in the conversation
The high-profile pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host the Golden Globes was seen by some in the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. as a little poke in the eye of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its recent decision to announce its Oscar nominees three days before the 2013 Globes ceremony.
“It is really a smart and wonderful choice,†says HFPA member H.J. Park, who writes for the Korea Times and reviews movies for Radio Seoul. “It’s a coup against the academy who hates us.â€
Well ... “hate†might be a bit strong of a word. But the touted selection of Poehler and Fey as hosts, which was made, according to HFPA President Aida Takla-O’Reilly, by executives at NBC, the network that broadcasts the Globes, does keep the show relevant and in the conversation. The news grabbed bigger headlines and, arguably, a more positive reaction than the academy’s recent naming of “Family Guy†creator Seth MacFarlane as Oscar host.
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“Good luck to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes,†Ricky Gervais, the show’s host for the last three ceremonies, said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “After failing three years in a row to make E! Channel’s best-dressed list, I decided to hand over the reins. Let me know if you run out of Scientology gags.â€
As the one other film awards show televised in prime time on a broadcast network, the Globes are the closest thing the Oscars have to a rival. The show pulled in 16.8 million viewers early this year, compared with the 39.3 million people tuning in to the Billy Crystal-hosted Oscar telecast.
In the past, the networks and studios behind Golden Globe winners have enjoyed a little over a week’s time to tout their Globe victories before Oscar nominations were announced. This year’s revised calendar complicates matters since, in the awards-season heirarchy, the Academy Awards trump the Globes in prestige. The thinking goes: Why would studios trumpet a Globe win in advertisements if the academy has already bestowed its approval?
However, the Globes’ influence on the Oscars, limited as it may be, remains largely unaffected by the shuffle in dates. Globe winners will still receive a high-profile, televised platform to boost awareness of their work as well as a perception of worthiness. In February, for instance, the best picture race seemed to narrow in the eyes of many awards-season pundits to “The Artist†and “The Descendants†after the films won the Globes’ two top movie honors: best picture drama and best picture musical or comedy.
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“The timing really doesn’t affect us one way or another,†Takla-O’Reilly says. “After all, we are honoring the members of the academy. There is not a competition in my mind. We are just getting there first. And with Tina and Amy, two super ladies, we know we’re going to have a great show.â€
ALSO:
Golden Globes will reunite BFFs Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
New York film critics move back vote, though it’s still early
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
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