Golden Globes 2021: Why Were They so Bad This Year?

One year into a global pandemic, Hollywood has attempted to press on as normal with its awards shows. Unfortunately, the 2021 Golden Globes was an actual disaster. From the diversity scandal to horrible technical difficulties, and hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler making fun of the show, it was as if we were all on a chaotic Zoom with some of Hollywood’s A-listers.

This is why the Golden Globes were so bad this year.

Who voted for the 2021 Golden Globe winners?

Each year, films and TV shows are nominated and voted for by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Founded in 1944, the association consists of journalists. However, unlike the 9,632 voting members of the Motion Picture Academy who vote for the Oscars each year, there are just 87 members of the HFPA.

The HFPA also relies on a pretty archaic voting system when it comes to the Golden Globes. The nominees each year are the top five vote-getters in each category. Then, the winners were selected in the second round of voting. The winners are determined by whoever receives the most votes.

Though the HFPA has said they are open to expanding they are extremely selective, adding only five new members each year. Additionally, applicants must be based in Southern California, be an accredited correspondent for a foreign publication, and pay a $500 initiation fee.

The 2021 Golden Globes has major technical difficulties

The 2021 Golden Globes were chaotic from the moment they kicked off. We’ve seen awards shows like the BET Awards and MTV’s VMAs do virtual award shows. However, the Golden Globes tried to pull off a live show with its hosts and nominees zooming in from across the world. It was not very successful.

It was full of lags, awkward jokes, and terrible audio. When actor Daniel Kaluuya won the first award of the evening for Best Actor in a Motion Picture for Judas and the Black Messiah his mic was still muted.

When his audio finally did cut in, the Get Out actor was heard saying, “You’re doing me dirty, you’re doing me dirty! Is this on? Can you hear me now?” The rest of the evening went off the same way with Viola Davis’ “over it face” and Jason Sudeikis’ hoodie.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler called some of the Golden Globes for being meaningless

When the Golden Globe nominations were initially announced, people were appalled and offended by some of the erasures. Major series like Lovecraft Country and I May Destroy You were excluded. Moreover, stellar performances like Deloy Lindo’s turn in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods were also ignored.

Instead, some critically panned series like Emily In Paris and films like The Prom were given nods. As a result, the hashtag #TimesUpGlobes began trending and the HFPA was put under fire for having no Black voters in their organization.

In the middle of the chaotic technical difficulties and awkward delays, Poehler who was live from LA, and Fey, who was broadcasting from New York, called the show meaningless.

“I realize, HFPA, maybe you guys didn’t get the memo [on diversity],” Fey said. “You guys gotta change that”