Each year, some of the most beloved and recognizable entertainers vie for an elusive award in a highly competitive season. In a field of incomparable talent, some nominees manage to dominate with several wins while others never get to hear their name (s) being announced as the victor. As they say, history is written by the victors, and that is proven by the constant press given to the winners of these awards.
Although this is an ever-present reality of award shows and ultimately the purpose of them, other aspects of the shows gain equal attention. Among the talk of who won certain categories is chatter about what nominees wore on the red carpet, diversity (or lack of) in the categories, and varied critiques of jokes from the award show host/presenters.
The Golden Globes and Primetime Emmy Awards have kickstarted the award season and proved the clear illumination of aspects beyond just the award winners. The Golden Globes was first in line, airing on Sunday, January 7. In the first few minutes of the show, host Jo Koy sparked wide criticism for his various comments in the form of “jokes.” One of the most criticized jokes was his comment about the meaning of the Barbie movie: “Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and Barbie is on a plastic doll with big b**bies.” Comments like these, viewers argue, prove the entire motive of the movie which centers around women’s empowerment and defying harmful societal standards.
Koy was responsible for other noteworthy and rather eyebrow-raising “jokes” throughout the show, but still much press was given to the actual award winners. Notably, Oppenheimer received several awards, winning five of their eight nominations. Similarly, “Succession” dominated the Television category winning four awards throughout the night.
These and other successes carried onto the Primetime Emmy Awards which premiered on Monday, January 15. Once again, “Succession” made their mark on the award show, winning six of their whopping twenty-seven nominations. Popular FX series “The Bear” also won big, earning six Emmys, while Netflix’s “Beef” trailed slightly behind with five Emmys. As opposed to Jo Koy, Anthony Anderson received incredible praise for his performance as host of the Emmys. Viewers also raved over the various references to iconic series, including Grey’s Anatomy, Martin, and The Sopranos.
Ultimately, these two awards shows have kickstarted a highly anticipated season for this year. Keep on the lookout for upcoming shows, including the Grammy’s and Oscars, to see if your favorites win the awards they deserve!
