Jerrod Carmichael confronts Globes race scandal in opening monologue – NBC Los Angeles

[ad_1]

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael deftly managed a rocky start to the Golden Globes on Tuesday night, presiding over a celebration of TV and film – as well as a comeback of sorts for a show that is the most visible product of the Hollywood Foreign scandal. Press Union.

“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here because I’m black,” Carmichael said in the opening minutes of the Beverly Hills ceremony, immediately addressing diversity issues with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group behind the awards, which have long been a highlight of Hollywood awards season.

Leading the awards live broadcast, Carmichael was a rare black host for a show that has been criticized for neglecting black projects in film and television.

“I won’t say it’s a racist organization. But they didn’t have a single black member until George Floyd died, so do with that information what you want,” he said. he continued.

A 2021 investigation of the group by the Los Angeles Times found that the HFPA had no black members, and hadn’t since at least 2002. The report sparked widespread outrage, boycott threats and , ultimately, for NBC to pull the show for 2022.

As Carmichael spoke about his decision, the feeling in the room at the Beverly Hilton was a visible mix of discomfort and laughter.

Carmichael expressed skepticism about the depth of the changes made by the HFPA, but said he would have hosted the ceremony anyway.

“I took this job assuming they hadn’t changed at all,” Carmichael said. “I heard they have six new black members. That’s not why I’m here. Whatever their background is, it’s a night we can celebrate [each other] and I think this industry deserves nights like these. I hope we have a little fun tonight.”

Untangling the mess of globes

The Globes were thrown into chaos shortly before a widely remote 2021 pandemic awards show when a report from the Los Angeles Times revealed that the HFPA, which then had 87 members, had no black members. A separate New York Times report showed that the group, an often-derided collection of little-known foreign journalists based in Los Angeles, paid its members some $3 million in annual salaries and detailed a litany of ethical lapses in how the organization regularly interacted with potential candidates. .

Under increasing pressure, the HFPA vowed to reform itself, diversify its membership, and change some of its methods of operation. It now has 96 members, including six black members, as well as 103 non-member voters. Billionaire Todd Boehly purchased the Globes through his Eldridge Industries and began to turn the non-profit group into a for-profit enterprise.

Anyone still boycotting?

The reaction to last month’s Globe nominations was mixed, with few stars publicly celebrating. But only one candidate has insisted that he will not participate: Brendan Fraser. Although nominated for Best Actor for his performance in The Whale, Fraser said he will not be competing at the Globes. In 2018, Fraser said he was groped in 2003 by longtime Hollywood Foreign Press Association member Philip Berk. Berk, who is no longer a member of the HFPA, denied it.

We didn’t expect Tom Cruise to attend, whose Top Gun: Maverick is nominated for Best Drama Picture. Cruise responded to the HFPA revelations more forcefully than almost anyone in the industry, returning his three Golden Globe Awards.

But all the studios are participating in the Globes again.

As is the case with most awards shows, viewership for the Globes telecast plummeted. After the 2020 awards were watched by 18.4 million people, the 2021 edition drew just 6.9 million, according to Nielsen. Still, the Globes remain a valuable marketing tool for awards contenders, supporting ads for films between the holidays and the Oscars, which air March 12. Some of this season’s top contenders, including Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans and Todd Fields ‘Tr’, have struggled to attract large audiences.

[ad_2]