The 2011 SAG & Golden Globe Awards, In Comparison

Last week, there uproar as two awards giving organizations, The Screen Actors Guild and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association rolled out their nominations for their respective awards shows, both of which will air sometime in early January. Though they achieve nowhere near the level of prestige of either the Oscars or the Emmys (though they do seem to rank above the Grammys and AMAs), television critics were nonetheless incensed, as they usually are, over the perceived injustices that awards organizations make when they overlook certain series. And while this critic-organization dialectic will most likely continue until the end of human existence, there is something about the way that these two nominations list compare – at least in terms of television nods - that’s particularly and peculiarly interesting.

The common knowledge in the television industry is that you can’t trust HFPA to make good selections for TV (or movies, for that matter), because there are more interested in promoting big name and/or foreign stars over those who have displayed actual talent. (Example: Last year, amid a myriad of negative reviews, The Tourist manages to snag a few nods, much to everyone’s confusion.) And even though the SAG Awards are much younger than the Globes or any other awards ceremony, it’s generally taken for granted that they do all right in their nomination, because hey, it’s actors voting for actors, and they now their craft, right?

Well, those two assumptions seemed to have gotten upended last week. Take a look at the television nominations that these two groups handed out:

SAG Awards: An Ensemble In A Drama Series Boardwalk Empire  Breaking Bad  Dexter  Game of Thrones  The Good Wife Male Actor In A Drama Series Patrick J. Adams, Suits Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad Michael C. Hall, Dexter Female Actor In A Drama Series Kathy Bates, Harry's Law Glenn Close, Damages Jessica Lange, American Horror Story Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series 30 Rock  The Big Bang Theory  Glee  Modern Family  The Office  A Male Actor In A Comedy Series Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock Ty Burrell, Modern Family Steve Carell, The Office Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family Female Actor In A Comedy Series Julie Bowen, Modern Family Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie Tina Fey, 30 Rock Sofia Vergara, Modern Family Betty White, Hot in Cleveland  Male Actor In A TV Movie Or Miniseries Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail Greg Kinnear, The Kennedys Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce James Woods, Too Big To Fail Female Actor In A TV Movie Or Miniseries Diane Lane, Cinema Verite Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult Betty White, Hallmark Hall Of Fame: The Lost Valentine Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Golden Globes: Best TV Series - Drama American Horror Story Boardwalk Empire Boss Game Of Thrones Homeland Best Actor In A TV Series - Drama Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad Kelsey Grammar, Boss Jeremy Irons, The Borgias Damian Lewis, Homeland Best Actress In A TV Series - Drama Claire Danes, Homeland Mireille Enos, The Killing Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife Madeleine Stowe, Revenge Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness Best TV Series - Comedy Enlightened Episodes Glee Modern Family New Girl Best Actor In A TV Series - Comedy Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock David Duchovny, Californication Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory Thomas Jane, Hung  Matt LeBlanc, Episodes Best Actress In A TV Series - Comedy Laura Dern, Enlightened Zooey Deschanel, New Girl Tina Fey, 30 Rock Laura Linney, The Big C Amy Poehler, Parks And Recreation Best Supporting Actor In A TV Series Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones Paul Giamatti, Too Big To Fail Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family Best Supporting Actress In A TV Series Jessica Lange, American Horror Story Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey Sofia Vergara, Modern Family Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce Best Miniseries Or TV Movie Cinema Verite Downton Abbey The Hour Mildred Pierce  Too Big To Fail Best Actor In A Miniseries Or TV Movie Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey Idris Elba, Luther William Hurt, Too Big To Fail Bill Nighy, Page Eight Dominic West, The Hour Best Actress In A Miniseries Or TV Movie Romola Garai, The Hour Diane Lane, Cinema Verite Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

I won’t pretend that there’s not some good choices in each, or that each doesn’t make bad choices, but for once in the history of these two organization, the Globes seems to have made the more informed nomination list than SAG did. I don’t know what to make of this, other than the fact that SAG members voted poorly this year, and HFPA member voted a little better, but it is interesting to note, and it makes me wonder how these nomination lists will play out when it comes to time to name winners in January.

Beyond that, I don’t have a lot to say generally/thematically, so let’s just run through some of the finer points, shall we?

• While I’m glad that the Globes gave notice to Homeland – it’s neither flashy nor established, which goes against their MO – I’m sad that there was no recognition from SAG, where it was more likely to win.
• The only reason Patrick J. Adams and Callie Thorne seem to be on the SAG list to fulfill this weird USA fetish that awards ceremonies have developed over the past few years.
• Really, nothing for Justified? Or Community? From either one of you? Fuck….
• Why the shit are the Globes treating BBC series as miniseries? Do they not understand how it works across the pond? I think they may need to drop the “Foreign” from their name.
• That being said, I’m glad that The Hour, which I think has been a bit underrated in terms of its cultural buzz, especially for Romola Garai, who gave a fantastic performance. I’m choosing to see Dominic West’s nom as way to make up for the dearth of awards recognition for The Wire.
• Glee? Modern Family? American Horror Story? On both lists? Shit….
• I’m beginning to think that these voters don’t actually Dexter anymore, and they’re just putting it on the list out of habit. 

I’d be happy to hear any individual complaints that you may have. Sound off below.