The 2024 awards season is officially underway, with the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice and Emmy Awards starting one of Hollywood’s most prominent times of gathering for the year.
This year started on an interesting note, beginning with the host of the Golden Globes, which aired on Jan. 7.
Joseph Glenn Herbert, known professionally as Jo Koy, is a stand-up comedian who can best be recognized for his six comedy specials on Netflix and Comedy Central. According to Koy, he only discovered he was hosting a few weeks prior to the ceremony and spent those weeks binge-watching as many nominated works as possible.
However, during many of his monologues, Koy made several jokes that were not well received by the audience and viewers at home.
“‘Oppenheimer’ is based on the 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and ‘Barbie’ is about a plastic doll with big boobies,” Koy said.
“The ‘Barbie’ movie broke an incredible amount of records while conveying a beautiful message that applies to women and girls of all ages, and Jo Koy tore it down with one insulting joke,” said Alexis Snyder, a senior psychology major. “Current women — and the little girls who will become women — deserve so much more than constant casual sexism.”
When it was noticed some jokes were not landing, Koy then attempted to throw his writers under the bus.
“Some I wrote, some other people wrote,” Koy said. “I wrote some of these, and they’re the ones you’re laughing at.”
Fans were surprised when “Barbie,” nominated for six awards, only went home winning Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and Best Original Song for Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” took home the most movie wins with five Golden Globes by the end of the night, including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director and Best Actor in a Drama.
History was also made on stage the same night by “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily Gladstone, as she became the first indigenous person to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
HBO’s “Succession” led the night with four wins, including Best TV Drama for their final season. Following behind was Hulu’s comedy show “The Bear.” Winning Best TV Comedy and Best Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edibiri, the show has been sweeping the competition this season.
After the backlash from Koy’s hosting of the Golden Globes, viewers were eagerly awaiting the Critics’ Choice Awards on Jan. 14, hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler.
Handler, who has previously been in a relationship with Koy, took a very different approach to hosting.
“Women were victorious in all venues,” Handler said during the show. “‘Barbie’ at the box office, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé with their tours, Gwyneth Paltrow and her ski trial. Women show up and dominate our culture.”
“Barbie” scored several awards throughout the night, including Best Song, Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Comedy and Best Hair and Makeup.
One of the most notable moments of the night for “Barbie” was supporting actress America Ferrera receiving the SeeHer Award from co-star Margot Robbie. The award acknowledged Ferrera’s portrayal of women in media, mostly due to her famous monologue from the film, which discusses how hard it is to be a woman in today’s society.
“They both had such beautiful speeches, and I think it was a great moment for women in film and television,” said Abbey Ottaway, a junior marketing major.
“Oppenheimer,” for the second time, won Best Picture and Best Director along with Best Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor.
“Succession,” yet again, took home awards for Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series and Best Actress in a Drama Series. “The Bear” scored Best Comedy Series along with Best Comedy Actor wins again for White and Edebiri.
The day after the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Emmy Awards, or Emmys, were held on Jan. 15 and hosted by Anthony Anderson, best known for the TV show “Black-ish.”
This year, the Emmys paid tribute to many popular TV shows from the past several decades by hosting cast reunions and remaking set displays from popular shows, such as “Cheers,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “All in the Family,” “Martin” and “The Sopranos.”
This year’s Emmys also proved to be one of the most diverse ceremonies ever.
Edebiri, yet again, went home with the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role in “The Bear.”
This win helped pull off a historic first this year, as Quinta Brunson took home the trophy for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Abbott Elementary.” This is the first time Black women have been the Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the comedy category in the same year.
Like the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, the top winners were “The Bear,” “Succession” and “Beef.”
Currently, the top winners of award season for films have been “Oppenheimer” with 11 award wins, “Barbie” with eight and “The Holdovers” with five.
As for TV, it has been “The Bear” dominating the comedy field with 11 wins and “Succession” for drama with 10 wins. “Beef” has been overtaking limited series awards as well, having won 10 awards so far this award season.
With tough competition for both film and TV, awards season will continue over the next several months between the Oscars, BAFTAs and various guild awards ceremonies.
