Hollywood Foreign Press sets January 9 for Golden Globe Awards with or without a telecast

Despite being embroiled in controversy after controversy, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced on Friday that it will present the 79th Golden Globe Awards on January 9, 2022 with or without a televised component. Nominations will be revealed December 13, 2021.

The HFPA also revealed submissions deadlines for film and TV submission entry forms will be November 15.

Over the last 10 months, the oft-ridiculed HFPA was hit by an exposé by the LA Times that revealed the less than 100-member group of LA-based international journalists had no Black members among their ranks. On top of several questionable nominations (par for the course for the Golden Globes), the group’s penchant for gifts and incentives was also hit hard, ironically by the networks and studios who provide them. As a result, longtime show partner NBC decided to drop out of the 2022 telecast. In August, the Hollywood Foreign Press announced on that for HFPA president Phil Berk was expelled as a member of the organization after accusations of sexually assaulting actor Brendan Fraser resurfaced. “Effective immediately, Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” the HFPA’s board said in a statement.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, in light of these scandals, committed to sweeping changes in their board of directors, membership (including adding several new members), and a wider diversity standard for new members. Also, there would be a new CEO/CFO appointed and other Executive Team approved and engaged to manage HFPA. Several of these changes have already been implemented.

No word yet from the studios, networks or publicists who had vowed to keep their clients away from the Golden Globes and other HFPA events and activities until the org executed these reforms and no other broadcaster has stepped up to replace NBC at this time.

The HFPA earlier this summer also made big changes in their film and television categories and eligibility.

Here is the complete of changes announced by the HFPA today.

• Non-English language motion pictures are now eligible for the Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy awards if they meet the eligibility requirements for those awards (i.e. release in the Los Angeles area during the relevant eligibility period).
• Animated motion pictures are now eligible for the Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy awards if they meet the eligibility requirements for those awards (i.e. release in the Los Angeles area during the relevant qualifying period).
• Renaming “Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language” award to “Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language.”
• Productions of stage plays, operas, concerts, and other live events recorded on a theatrical stage or other similar venue (i.e. not adapted for production as a motion picture or television program) are now considered documentaries and are not eligible.
• Refining the definition of foreign television programs (programs produced principally outside the United States) which are eligible only if they are a co-production (both financially and creatively) with a United States partner and defined a “United States partner.”
• Requiring that all eligible episodes of television series must be a minimum of twenty (20) program minutes.
• Updating the Golden Globe ballot certifications each member makes to comply with HFPA’s current conflicts disclosure requirements.

After the Golden Globes were put on hold, the Critics Choice Association swooped in and took both the previous nomination and show date from the Globes (December 13 and January 9, respectively).