Preliminary figures revealed on Monday that the Golden Globes successfully rebounded from a series of controversies and declining viewership, attracting an audience of 9.4 million. Despite the positive ratings, criticism abounded for the gala’s struggling host.
The improved ratings mark a significant turnaround for the Globes, a prominent awards show in Hollywood for film and television that once held the second position only to the Oscars. However, in recent years, the event faced a crisis and teetered on the brink of non-existence.
In the previous year, television ratings plummeted to a historic low of 6.3 million viewers after an inconvenient scheduling decision placed the event on a Tuesday evening. A year before that, the gala didn’t even air as NBC, the former broadcaster, pulled the plug due to public outrage over the lack of diversity and ethical issues within the group of journalists organizing the awards.
Under new private ownership led by US billionaire Todd Boehly, the Globes made a comeback this year, relocating the telecast to CBS and restoring it to its original Sunday night slot. Reports suggest that CBS agreed to a discounted one-year broadcast deal, making the 50 percent increase in ratings crucial for the event’s future.
Despite the positive rebound, this year’s ratings are still significantly lower than the 2020 figures, when over 18 million viewers tuned in. Additionally, comedian Jo Koy, who stepped in as the host at the last minute after several bigger names declined, faced criticism from reviewers.
Koy found himself facing a lackluster response to his opening monologue, leading him to defend that he had only been given the hosting role just 10 days prior. He shifted blame onto the show’s writers for the poorly received jabs. A particular crude joke about Barbie dolls’ breasts and another comparing Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in “Maestro” to a penis were met with awkward silence.
The New York Times characterized the opening monologue as a “highlight reel of mortifying moments,” while Vanity Fair criticized it as a “horrid, sophomoric mishmash of lazy jokes.” One of the most notable moments of the night occurred when Koy made a joke about Taylor Swift, known for her appearances on NFL telecasts supporting her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. Koy remarked, “The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? On the Golden Globes, fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift.” The camera then cut to Swift, who stared coldly as she sipped her drink.
Despite the mixed reviews for the hosting, the gala saw significant victories, including key wins for Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster “Oppenheimer,” which grossed $950 million, earning the title of best drama. Native American actress Lily Gladstone made history with her triumph in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” In the comedy category, “Poor Things,” a surreal fantasy featuring Emma Stone and reminiscent of Frankenstein, outperformed “Barbie” to secure the best comedy award.
