There were some good — even great — moments at the 2024 Golden Globe awards. For one, Lily Gladstone, who played an Osage woman whose family is murdered as part of a larger conspiracy in Killers of the Flower Moon, won the Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) award.
In a ceremony largely devoid of surprises and clouded by awkwardness thanks to host Jo Koy’s poorly-written opening monologue, these wins were among the few moments to remember. Not for the first time, the event brought up questions of whether the annual tradition of the glamorous award ceremony had run its course, particularly as year after year, there are reports of falling viewership ratings.
The biggest problem, by far, is the predictability. Was there ever any question, for example, that Oppenheimer would score big at the Globes — as indeed it did, winning Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director among other awards? Or that the fourth season of Succession would add to its already impressive collection of awards?
This is not to say that the winners were not deserving, but merely that the elements of surprise and discovery — once a big draw for viewers — are waning. Awards like the Globes were a platform to come across gems that the masses might have missed, but this function is now performed far more effectively by social media and the recommendation algorithms of streaming services. For the Globes, the fact that it was able to finalise a host only 10 days before the event — after high-profile hosts like Chris Rock had declined — should also have been a warning. It may be time to roll up the red carpet.
