Golden Globes Producers on Finding a Host, Landing at CBS and Where Nominee Taylor Swift Might Be Seated

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The dual Hollywood strikes wiped out much of the scripted programming this fall on the linear networks. And yet, according to Variety‘s annual list of the year’s 100 most-watched primetime telecasts, we actually watched more entertainment fare this year. CBS’ “NCIS” led the pack in 2023 with 12 episodes making the list, followed by the Eye’s “Blue Bloods,” with five.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large There are several popular social media accounts that graph weekly cable network schedules, and it’s always stunning to see how many schedulers have just given up. Nearly every cable network, large and small, now mostly program marathons of their most popular shows. You know about “Ridiculousness” on MTV, of course.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Cheating pays — for Bart and Homer, that is. This Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons” takes on sports cheating, college admissions scandals (like “Varsity Blues”) and more, as father and son become kings of the blue-collar sports circuit. But in “Do the Wrong Thing,” Marge soon suspects that there’s something dishonest going on.

Valerie Wu Intern Norby Walters, a music agent who hosted the annual “Night of 100 Stars” Oscars viewing party for more than 25 years, died Dec. 10 in Burbank. He was 91.

Todd Longwell The Golden Globes have always been a boozy, intimate good time, valued by studios for the promotional boost they provided movies in the run-up to the Academy Awards. But few in the industry outside of the membership of its parent organization the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.

Preeminent comedian Jo Koy has been set to host the 81st Golden Globe Awards, in what will be his first outing in that capacity at a major awards show.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the two-hour Season 10 Finale of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Dec. 20 on Fox. Because of you, Ne-Yo just had the time of his life on Fox’s “The Masked Singer.” The artist won the Season 10 finale of the hit series on Wednesday night, becoming the last celebrity to be unmasked this season. Ne-Yo won by performing “Rhythm Nation,” by Janet Jackson; “Take a Bow,” by Rihanna, before being revealed as Cow.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large And then there were four. Season 10 of Fox’s “The Masked Singer” airs this Wednesday with finalists Donut (Group C champion), Sea Queen (Group B winner), Cow (Group A victor) and Group A “Ding Dong Keep It On” recipient Gazelle.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large While Netflix awaits Season 2 of its breakout hit “Wednesday,” the latest adaptation of the “Addams Family” franchise, it is already eyeing a way to expand that universe. Variety has confirmed that Netflix and producer MGM Television are indeed aiming to spin off “Wednesday” to focus on Uncle Fester.

Valerie Wu Intern Asian talent from this year’s biggest movies and television shows gathered at the Beverly Hilton for the Unforgettable Gala on Dec. 16. The Character Media event celebrated emerging and established Asian American talent in the entertainment industry.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Max’s “Warrior,” a breakthrough series boasting one of the few Asian ensembles on television, has been canceled after three seasons. The series’ repeats will live on, however, via a off-net deal with Netflix, which has acquired the series’ run in a non-exclusive deal and could now potentially expose it to a new audience.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Pete Davidson has more than bupkis to say. The “Saturday Night Live” alum and star of Peacock’s “Bupkis” will star in his second Netflix hour-long special, “Turbo Fonzarelli,” which premieres Jan. 9, 2024, on the streamer.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large And so goes the most unusual TV awards season ever, where a delayed Primetime Emmys — with its June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023, eligibility window — falls smack into a Globes, Critics’ Choice and guild awards season with a January to December, 2023 time frame. The Hollywood strikes also may have had an impact on the even more limited-than-usual showing for broadcast networks at the Globes.

Golden Globes took the first step into its future on Monday morning with the announcement of the nominees for the 81st edition of the awards ceremony — but if anyone expected the Globes to completely abandon its did-not-see-that-coming reputation, they were sorely disappointed. No musicals were nominated for best musical or comedy, but “May December” — a melodrama with a deliberately confrontational score — was nominated in that category.

The nominations for the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards were revealed Monday morning, helping to kick awards season into high gear.

Ethan Shanfeld Awards season is fully underway in Hollywood, as the nominations for the 81st Golden Globe Awards were announced early Monday morning. Cedric “The Entertainer” and Wilmer Valderrama read the nominees on a livestream via CBS, which picked up the broadcast rights to this year’s kudocast, airing Jan. 7 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Jaden Thompson The 2024 awards season is starting up, and the Golden Globes nominations are ready to be unveiled. The film and TV nominees will be announced on Monday, Dec. 11, at 8 a.m.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor The prospect of a picket line outside the Beverly Hilton on Golden Globe Awards day has been averted now that the hotel has reached a tentative agremeent to end the weeks-old walkout. The hotel and Unite Here Local 11 released a joint statement on Friday afternoon. “Together the iconic Beverly Hilton and its employees set the stage for the awards season, and we are delighted to be able to do so once again,” the statement read.

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars will not have to contemplate crossing a picket line at the Golden Globes next month.

The 81st Golden Globe Awards will be handed out next month, but the nominations are coming Monday, December 11. Here’s a guide on how to watch the reveal.