Golden Globes effort to return to television reportedly ‘hanging by a thread’

An effort to get the Golden Globe Awards show back on television is reportedly “hanging by a thread,” amid a new scandal involving a deal that would grant members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association a $75,000 payout for several years.

The ritzy awards show fell out of favor last year after the Los Angeles Times revealed that there wasn’t a single black member of the HFPA’s group of Golden Globe voters. After the newspaper described the 87 members at the time as a “tiny group full of quirky characters — and no Black members,” NBC dropped the Golden Globes, as did Netflix and WarnerMedia studios. The loss of NBC would prove costly, as the Globes reportedly received up to $31 million per show from the network.

“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform. However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023,” the network said in a statement at the time.

Adding to the organization’s woes, Tom Cruise returned his three Globes in disgust — the A-list actor won two Best Actor awards at the Golden Globes for his performances in “Born on the Fourth of July” in 1989 and “Jerry Maguire” in 1996, as well as a third for his supporting role in “Magnolia” in 1999.

As for the $75,000, according to the Daily Mail, the Globes “hope that this ‘salary’ will go part way to preventing the journalists from receiving gifts that have in the past led to accusations of bribery in the selection of winning movies, actors and TV shows.”

“For years the Globes has preceded the Oscars and gotten huge publicity despite its small base of voters. The show’s popularity with viewers was partly due to the HFPA providing free booze at the event leading to a much more laid back atmosphere than at the stuffier Academy Awards,” the British tabloid reported. “Now a private company has taken over the previously nonprofit organization. The takeover and cash handouts to members have raised fears that the HFPA’s pot of at least $50 million, supposedly meant for charitable uses, will instead go to its Hollywood insider membership.”

More from the LA Times, from a July 28 article:

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. on Thursday voted to accept a proposal by interim Chief Executive Todd Boehly that will effectively transform the nonprofit international journalists’ group into a for-profit venture.

The new private entity will manage its Golden Globes assets while maintaining the charitable and philanthropic programs in a separate nonprofit entity. […]

Under the deal, HFPA members would be paid $75,000 annually for several years, according to two members who declined to be named as they are not authorized to speak publicly.

 

The HFPA has “undertaken a series of reforms, including establishing new bylaws, banning gifts and adding 21 new members, six of whom are Black,” the Times reported, adding that the organization “also announced a series of partnerships including with the NAACP and the World Bank.”

Using all the proper woke catchphrases, the HFPA announced sweeping changes surrounding its membership last year.

“Regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, implementing transformational changes as quickly – and as thoughtfully – as possible remains the top priority for our organization. We invite our partners in the industry to the table to work with us on the systemic reform that is long overdue, both in our organization as well as within the industry at large,” HFPA said in a statement at the time.

Tom Tillison

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