I don’t put a whole lot of stock in the Golden Globes as arbiters of quality. If I had had any respect for the Globes before (which I probably didn’t), I didn’t after the Golden Globes were guilty, just like the Emmys, of failing to even NOMINATE The Wire, probably the greatest hour long show of all time, and in the top five at the absolute least. This was a complete and utter lapse that would be a travesty if it wasn’t so obviously absurd as to render the award shows as jokes. The Golden Globes even did the Emmys one worse, as the Emmys acknowledged the show existed in passing with two writing nominations.
I’m glad I got that scathing rant out of the way, but it seems some people still care about the Globes, and their shady Hollywood Foreign Press Association benefactors, so I’ll share a couple of thoughts I had on the awards. Notice how Golden Globe award titles are needlessly cumbersome (Best Performance by an Actor instead of simply Best Actor, for example).
Pleasant surprises (and non-surprises):
Homeland, Best Television Series – Drama – Well, let’s get it out of the way first. An award ceremony that does not nominate Breaking Bad in this category does not deserve to be able to give out awards, or certainly to be able to give out awards and have people care about them. With that caveat, I’m very happy with the choice of Homeland, as it’s in that top tier with Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Game of Thrones and does richly deserve the award, as does Claire Danes. I was strangely touched by Danes’ chance to thank her parents after she forgot when she won over a decade ago for My So-Called Life (only strange in that I’m not usually touched by anything).
Idris Elba, Best Performance in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Actor – I’ve never seen Luther, the British detective show for which Elba won. Still, it was both disturbing and great at the same time to hear The Wire’s Stringer Bell talk with a British accent, and to see McNulty hug him as he went up the aisle to accept the award.
Downton Abbey, Best Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television – Let’s get this out of the way. It’s not a miniseries, it’s a series. There were 12 episodes of Homeland, and that’s a series. There were 7 of Downton Abbey. Where is the line? (Is there an official line?) That said, it’s good; I got on the bandwagon relatively late, and I’m encouraging others to jump aboard. To 1910s Northern England!
Peter Dinklage, Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Actor – Not a surprise, as he won the Emmy. Still, I’m always glad when Game of Thrones gets some recognition. Tyrion is probably my favorite character in the books, and it doesn’t hurt that my first impression of him was as played by Dinklage.
Unpleasant surprises (or at least not quite pleasant enough to make it to pleasant surprises)
Michelle Williams, Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Actress – This has nothing to do with her performance. Williams is nominated in the Best Actress, Musical or Comedy. In what world is My Week With Marilyn a musical or comedy?
Modern Family, Best Series – Musical or Comedy – just kidding. What’s the opposite of a surprise, doubled, and then cubed? This is it.
Matt LeBlanc, Best Performance in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, Actor – I don’t feel strongly about this category, but I thought this was a little surprising. That said, the more I look over the nominees the more I realize there’s no obvious choice. If it was three years ago, Alec Baldwin probably would have been. If only Ty Burrell from Modern Family submitted into this category instead of Supporting Actor. Most of the best comedies on TV either don’t have definitive male leads (Parks and Recreation) or simply aren’t recognized by award shows.
Kelsey Grammer, Best Performance in a Television Series – Drama, Actor – I care less about Grammer than the fact that this should clearly go to Bryan Cranston. Considering Breaking Bad couldn’t even get a show nomination though, it’s not particularly surprising.
Laura Dern, Best Performance in a Television Series – Comedy, Actress – I’m going to try to watch a midseason episode of Enlightened, and I hope I will personally be enlightened about the quality of the show. From just the pilot though, I’m not getting the hype.
Television, the Drug of the Nation 
Having seen “Episodes” I am going to defend Matt LeBlanc here. I like that show. Its funny. I could see the argument he is the supporting actor not the lead but other than that I think he deserves it as much as anyone. You should have a third category for no-opinion-nor-surprise level. Certainly you should give this show a shot. Its not the greatest comedy to ever grace TV but still better than the majority of whats out there. I put it on par with “Bored to Death”
I’m going to give it a good ol’ college try. I have been watching a lot of British shows anyway these days, and I’m sure it’s only a few episodes…um…no pun intended.