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Tonight in Hollywood

Nicole Fallert   Paste BN

A red carpet, designer gowns, rushed acceptance speeches before the commercial break: Even if you haven't recently wanted a Hollywood awards show on television, you're probably familiar with the essence of these kinds of spectacles. They're exactly that − a spotlight on the most talented and famous players in television and cinema. And in recent years these spectacular performances have been less and less relatable to the average American viewer.

Tonight is the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards celebration, a show that is expected to separate contenders from the pretenders on the way to Oscar night in March (here's how to watch). Beyond the frills and festivities, this night is a valuable opportunity to take a pulse on Hollywood in the new year. What stories are resonating with audiences the most? What characters do viewers crave, and why?

👋 Nicole Fallert here, and welcome to Your Week, our newsletter exclusively for Paste BN subscribers (that's you!). This week, we talk with Paste BN Entertainment Reporter Patrick Ryan about his interview with host Jo Koy and what the 2024 Globes mean for a Hollywood.

But first, don't miss these stories made possible by your Paste BN subscription (and keep scrolling for more top stories from our newsroom below):

A pivotal moment for the Golden Globes

Jo Koy will host the 81st annual Golden Globes at a pivotal moment for the awards show. In 2021, a Los Angeles Times report revealed the lack of diversity among the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presented the Globes. Boycotts eventually led to the Globes turning into a for-profit entity and a new deal with CBS.

Then there's the state of the industry itself after 2023, when Hollywood actors and writers walked off the job for months to demand fairer contracts with studios. Despite a backdrop of change and challenges, Hollywood saw mega-successful movies last year. "Barbie" arrives at the Globes as a blockbuster heavyweight with a leading nine nominations, including best comedy/musical. There's a fight brewing for best drama, with Christopher Nolan's acclaimed biopic "Oppenheimer" (which boasts eight nods) in a high-profile tussle against "Killers of the Flower Moon" (with seven). And don't forget Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" movie, nominated for cinematic and box-office achievement.

The Globes, most importantly, serve as a bellwether for the Oscars. The Globes aren't voted on by critics, so Ryan says they're a "great way to read the tea leaves about who's ahead in the race."

Will it be Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) or Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”) who wins best drama actor? Will Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) or Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) take best supporting actor, or might Charles Melton (“May December”) pull off an upset?

"I’m super-curious about the long-awaited “Barbenheimer” showdown," Ryan said. Experts have said "Oppenheimer" was a shoe-in for best picture at the Oscars. But "Barbie" is right behind, snagging the most Globe nominations, and it has a chance to win multiple categories like best comedy/musical, best screenplay and best original song.

"If it dominates at the Globes, could 'Barbie' just steamroll through the rest of the season?" Ryan said. "It’s extremely rare to have two movies become such huge box-office and pop-culture sensations. That they’re now both major awards contenders is just very fun to see."

He's also looking forward to seeing emerging talents Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”).

"They give two of the very best performances of the past year, and are the well-deserved favorites to win in their respective categories," he said. "They’re two actors who have been on a steady climb in Hollywood for the last decade or so, and I’m just excited for them both to have their moments."

Read more about the 81st Golden Globes from Paste BN:

Thank you

I've been an awards show audience member since I was a little kid (Yes, I'd beg my parents to let me stay up until best picture was announced!). I'll be watching Sunday with my wine and notebook in hand, and I hope you will be, too. Also, a quick note of gratitude to this newsletter's editor, Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen, who has provided insightful, thoughtful leadership to this project. Thank you, Sarah.

I appreciate your support of our newsroom and will be back next week!

Best, 

Nicole Fallert

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