Initial Thoughts on the Golden Globe Nominations – TV Edition

It is hard to make projections about the Golden Globe motion picture awards, but when it comes their small screen counterparts it is a lot easier.

The biggest question in my mind is whether this is, indeed, the year of Glee. The breakout hit on FOX leads the way with four GG nominations. Several other shows have three nominations.

It is hard to imagine the show, which has only aired 13 episodes, taking all four. And judging by its competition its seems more likely that it will only take one of the awards – that said I am not the judges.

It did lead the way in nominations, so someone obviously likes it. To me, however, it may be more likely that Dexter takes the cake – after another amazing season.

Here are my early predictions:

Best Television Series – Drama
Big Love (HBO), Dexter (SHOWTIME), House (FOX), Mad Men (AMC), True Blood (HBO)

House was amazing last year, but with all the buzz surrounding the recent Season Four finale of Dexter. This could be a good year for the cable show.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Glenn Close (Damages), January Jones (Mad Men), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Anna Paquin (True Blood), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Nobody owns their show more than Kyra Sedgwick owns The Closer. She is the heavyweight in this division.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), Bill Paxton (Big Love)

I think Michael C. Hall will get the win. Hugh Laurie should probably get a GG every year – he is that good, but Dexter is hot this year.

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
30 Rock (NBC), Entourage (HBO), Glee (FOX), Modern Family (ABC), The Office (NBC)

Glee. No doubt.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Courteney Cox (Cougar town), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Lea Michele (Glee)

Toni Collette was wonderful in the United States of Tara. She deserves the GG, but I could see Edie Falco getting some love in the lead role of Nurse Jackie. Lea Michele is the sleeper.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), David Duchovny (Californication), Thomas Jane (Hung), Matthew Morrison (Glee)

This is a real toss-up. The GG could easily go to Baldwin, Carell or Duchovny, but the 30 Rock star is the most deserving for his work. Although Morrison did some awesome break dancing on Glee this year it is hard to see him taking home a GG. My big prediction, however, is this: if Morrison wins, Glee with have a clean sweep of four GGs.

Best Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Georgia O'Keefe (LIFETIME), Grey Gardens (HBO), Into the Storm (HBO), Little Dorrit (PBS), Taking Chance (HBO)

I am pretty ambivalent about this category. I will only say that I enjoyed Into the Storm.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Joan Allen (Georgia O'Keefe), Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens), Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens), Anna Paquin (The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler), Siqourney Weaver (Prayers for Bobby)

Drew Barrymore got a lot of props when Grey Gardens premiered on HBO and I think that gives her a leg up against her serious competition, Joan Allen, whose film premiered on (scoff) Lifetime.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Endgame), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), Jeremy Irons (Georgia O'Keefe)

See above about Into the Storm.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Adams (HUNG), Rose Byrne (Damages), Jane Lynch (Glee), Janet McTeer (Into the Storm), Chloe Sevigny (Big Love)

Let's keep the Jane Lynch love train rolling. This is definitely her time in the sun.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Michael Emerson (Lost), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), William Hurt (Damages), John Lithgow (Dexter), Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

It's John Lithgow as a serial killer. How could he lose.