Who cares about entertainment business paradigms? It’s the entertainment paradigm itself that’s changing. And we at TVWriter™ absolutely love the way things seem to be heading:
by Rebecca Nicholson and Gwilym Mumford
Network comedy is in a sorry state
For the first time in Golden Globes history, not one of the traditional big four networks – NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX – received a nomination for best comedy or musical series. Even that reliable hoover-upper of awards, Modern Family, failed to make the list, with the nods going instead to the relatively young network addition The CW (Jane the Virgin), HBO (Silicon Valley, Girls) and web-based shows (Orange Is The New Black, Transparent). It tells us a lot about both the remarkable rise of the internet upstarts – Amazon, nominated with Transparent, only released their first original series in 2013 – and also the demise of the once-redoubtable network sitcom. And, given the quality of many of the fall additions – Mulaney, Bad Judge – it’s a situation that might not change any time soon.?
The Affair is this year’s Masters of Sex
The outstanding Showtime drama, which stars Ruth Wilson and Dominic West as the participants in the titular affair, both telling their side of the story as they saw it, hasn’t been a ratings smash, though figures have been rising as the first season progresses. The nods for Wilson, West and the big one, best drama series (where it is the only debut season to compete) are a vote of confidence for its sheer quality – it’s a grownup, sophisticated drama that deserves the love, much like Masters of Sex last time.
Downton Abbey is still getting away with it
This hasn’t been a solid show since its first season, and yet somehow it’s nominated for best drama series again, alongside the vastly superior Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, The Affair and House of Cards. Sorry about that, America. And while we’re at it: Ricky Gervais for Derek? Sorry about that, too.
The Good Wife is officially Not Snubbed
There was much discussion around last year’s Emmys and a perceived Good Wife “snub”, when the truly brilliant fifth season failed to get a best drama series nod (though Julianna Margulies did eventually walk away with a best actress award). At the Golden Globes, The Good Wife is emphatically included: best drama, best actress for Margulies and a much-deserved best supporting actor for Alan Cumming. Of course Christine Baranski should have been up for best supporting actress and Josh Charles best actor, but you can’t win ’em all.