There is hope for broadcast TV comedy and for smart, tough women of a certain age, according to Tuesday’s Golden Globes nominations.
After a fallow period in network comedy, this season’s lineup is so strong that four of the five nods for best comedy or musical went to broadcast shows, including ABC freshman “Modern Family.”
NBC’s “30 Rock” and “The Office” also received nominations in the category, as did Fox’s “Glee,” a sassy, clever take on the high school musical. The one cable contender is HBO’s “Entourage.”
Veteran actresses also proved hot, with Glenn Close of “Damages,” Kyra Sedgwick of “The Closer,” Courteney Cox of “Cougar Town” and Edie Falco, star of “Nurse Jackie,” receiving best actress in a comedy or drama series bids.
“I’m thrilled to be in such great company and it underlines my conviction that the best writing for women today is on television,” Close said in an e-mailed comment. “I know I wouldn’t h ave received this great nomination if it weren’t for our writers on ‘Damages.'”
Youth was not ignored, with Lea Michele of “Glee” earning a bid for best actress in a musical or comedy.
“I got up right after 5 this morning and figured I’d turn on the TV to see if our show got nominated, and literally the first thing I heard was, ‘Glee’ got two nominations – for Jane Lynch and Lea Michele. And I thought, ‘Did THAT just happen?!'” Michele said.
“I have not moved from that same spot on the couch yet. I’m in shock,” she said.
The show also earned a nod for Matthew Morrison, who plays a high school teacher and glee club adviser.
But if comedy is making a comeback on network TV, it’s still cable that prevails in drama, according to the Globes. The best drama contenders are HBO’s “Big Love” and “True Blood,” Showtime’s “Dexter” and AMC’s “Mad Men.” On the network side, Fox’s “House” got a best drama bid.
HBO, as is its habit, claimed most of the g lory in the miniseries or movie category, with contenders including its “Grey Gardens,” Into the Storm” and “Taking Chance.” Bids also went to “Little Dorrit,” PBS, and “Georgia O’Keeffe,” Lifetime Television.
Lifetime made a splash with three nominations for “Georgia O’Keeffe,” its probing portrait of the famed artist. With its fourth nomination, for Sigourney Weaver in the movie “Prayers for Bobby,” Lifetime has the most of any basic cable network, and edges out ABC and PBS.
AP Television Writer Frazier Moore in New York contributed to this report.
