It looks like over-the-top TV services are taking over, with both Netflix and Amazon snagging a total of nine 2015 Golden Globe nominations for their original series – seven for Netflix and two for Amazon, the latter service’s first. The award nominees were announced this morning in Los Angeles.
Netflix original series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black were both nominated for Best Television Series in the Drama and Comedy or Musical categories, respectively. The two highly popular series also received individual actor nominations. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright (House of Cards) were nominated for Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Television Series – Drama; and Taylor Schilling and Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical and Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix, says the company is “honored” to have received the nominations, and proud to see the creative accomplishments of everyone involved in the shows being recognized. He adds that the storytellers and ensembles in House of Cards and Orange is the New Black have “blazed a trail for TV in the new millennium.”
The seventh nomination for Netflix was bestowed upon Ricky Gervais for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical, for Derek.
Meanwile, Amazon will also be represented for the first time, with nominations for the original comedy Transparent, as well as its leading actor, Jeffrey Tambor. This is Amazon’s third original series, but the first time the service has, quite literally, shown up for this party.
Netflix is on fire, also having recently received five nominations for the SAG Awards for both HOC and OITNB, along with three nominations each for the WGA and PGA Awards, and eight NAACP Image Award nominations. The Netflix documentary Virunga earned a nomination for Best Documentary for the Film Independent Spirit Awards, a nomination for Outstanding Producer of a Documentary Theatrical for the PGA Awards, as well as three nominations for the Cinema Eye Honors, including Outstanding Nonfiction Feature.
OTT TV started to make its mark in 2014, but something tells us 2015 will be the coming out party. As for traditional TV, thank the network TV gods for shows like The Good Wife and The Blacklist. While the majority of the awards will go to the shows from the traditional networks, this year, even awards show veteran winners Modern Family, New Girl, and The Big Bang Theory were all shut out. Is this a sign of things to come?
The 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC on January 11, 2015 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.