The plot for the season thickens

Nancy: "I think Julian Schnabel winning best director is a huge surprise. I thought the Coen Brothers would win. Who would think anyone else would win this one?"

Billy: (pause) "Good point."

It is no secret that NBC decided to take matters into their own hands after the HFPA refused to give their Globe network exclusivity and took over the official press conference announcement of winners, inviting most media outlets to participate including all the anchors from "Access Hollywood's" rival shows who took turns opening the envelopes.

Not once did NBC cut to the actual Globes event going on inside the Beverly Hilton or even acknowledge it other than a cursory mention at the top that the "Hollywood Foreign Press Association was releasing" it's list of winners.

Perhaps they didn't want to show rival ET anchor Mary Hart being treated as the biggest star of the night.

Not that the press conference was anything but a mere shadow of the usual Globe glitz. In fact it looked like the kind of stripped-down ceremony you might expect would occur in a time of a major war. And in some respects the one being waged by the WGA against the studios seems to fit.

The most cringe-inducing moment was when E! Entertainment anchor Giuliana Rancic professed her undying support of the WGA strike just before announcing some winners.

Considering what the HFPA and its good natured, but war-torn president, Jorge Camara have been through lately due to the strike, the remarks were met by deafening silence in the room.


The HFPA has taken a lot of hits in it's sixty five years, particularly in the press, but they are good people and have always survived no matter what is thrown at them.

As one person connected to the group said of this year's unfortunate circumstances,"What we are making here is lemonade."

The HFPA is deciding now how to deliver the actual awards to the winners. The idea of a "winners party" is being tossed around. That would certainly bring a much-needed sense of Golden Globe celebration and likely some positive press coverage as grateful winners shower their thanks on the group.

The plot for The Season thickens Wednesday with the British Academy's announcement of their BAFTA nominations followed by the biggies, the 80th Oscar nominations just a week away on the 22nd.

Place your bets now.