Golden Globe nominations announced

After the awkward press conference that became of last year’s Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association rolled out the expected nominees this morning for a show that is now guaranteed to draw all the names who shunned it last year.

Let the parade begin. The big pushers at the ceremony, as expected, will be The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon, which each earned five nominations and will go head-to-head for best feature (drama), best director, best actor (drama), best screenplay and best original score. (Doubt also earned five nominations, but all but one were in acting categories.)

Notably absent from the nominations is The Dark Knight, which, other than the ironclad nomination for Heath Ledger for supporting actor, was completely shut out. So was Milk, with a nomination for Sean Penn only in the same breath as its prominent showings in critics’ circle awards over the past week seemed to improve its awards chances.  

That out of the way, even our internal cynic who knows the Golden Globes amount to little more than an elaborate (and often ineffectual) audition for the Oscars is having a little bit of fun with these nominees. James Franco was nominated—but for Pineapple Express, not Milk. Both Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise were nominated for supporting actor for their much-discussed caricatures in Tropic Thunder. Colin Farrell snaked his way into a best actor nod in the musical or comedy category for In Bruges, which also got a best-picture nod under the same banner.

Kate Winslet managed dual nominations for actress in Revolutionary Road and supporting actress for The Reader, which is the game plan for her hopeful Oscar takedown. Anne Hathaway is also in for Rachel Getting Married.

On the television side, the nominations were less colorful, with the biggest surprise being True Blood’s best drama and actress nod. The Office, Entourage and 30 Rock led the way for comedy nominees, while Mad Men remains the drama to beat. John Adams will inevitably own every miniseries category, unless you consider Kiefer Sutherland in 24: Redemption to be competition.

The Globes show is set to air Jan. 11 on NBC. The television list of nominees (read the full list here):

TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“30 Rock”
“Californication”
“Entourage”
“The Office”
“Weeds”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES -COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Kevin Connelly, Entourage
David Duchovny, “Californication
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Dexter (Showtime)
House (Fox)
In Treatment (HBO)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
January Jones, Mad Men
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
A Raisin in the Sun
Bernard and Doris
Cranford
John Adams
Recount

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Judi Dench, Cranford
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Laura Linney, John Adams
Shirley Maclaine, Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon, Bernard and Doris

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
Paul Giamatti, John Adams
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption
Tom Wilkinson, Recount

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Melissa George, In Treatment
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Denis Leary, Recount
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Blair Underwood, In Treatment
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

Related links:
News: Independent Spirit Awards topped by tight budgets
News: Ballast, The Visitor, Synecdoche earn Gotham nominations
Ctrl-V: Oscar Buzz: Who's ahead in this year's key races?

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