KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Academy Awards, commonly referred to as the Oscars, remain the gold standard for movie awards.
They just aren't the most fun.
That distinction belongs to the Golden Globe Awards, which are at 7 p.m. Sunday on 41 Action News with a Red Carpet live stream beginning at 4 p.m. on NBC.com, and here's why:
1. Nutty journalists
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is a group of 90 eccentric foreign journalists whose votes decide the winners of the Globes each year.
Unlike the Oscars, where artists are judged by their peers, the Foreign Press Association is an unpredictable, some might say kooky, group and that can lead to surprise nominations (we’re looking at you “The Morning Show,” “Knives Out”) and winners.
2. Lots of stars
On the Globes, you can watch your favorite films and television shows be honored at the same event.
You can root for “The Irishman” and “The Crown."
Although there isn’t a divide anymore between TV and film actors, it’s still fun to see Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), Henry Winkler (“Barry”) and Beyonce (Best Original Song) mingling in the same room.
3. Strange categories
Splitting the best picture, director and actor awards into two groups ("Drama" and "Musical or Comedy") means you get twice as many winners.
Some of those nominees have no chance in the Oscars race, but here they get a chance to shine.
I doubt we will see Daniel Craig (“Knives Out”), Cate Blanchett (“Where’d You Go, Bernadette”) or Emma Thompson (“Late Night”) nominated at another award show this year.
The weird categories can also lead to head scratching moments like “Green Book” winning for Best Musical or Comedy, which just adds to the suspenseful uncertainty of who will win.
4. Lots of booze
The alcohol is free-flowing throughout the show and you never know who is going to deliver a deliriously drunken acceptance speech.
The Globes really delivers on the celeb watching. The actors all mill about at the start and end of each segment, and it’s fun to see who is talking to whom.
Where else could you see The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Mr. Robot (Rami Malek) and Kylo Wren (Adam Driver) hanging out?
5. It’s a party
The Globes doesn’t take itself as seriously as the Oscars and is thought of as much more of a party than a solemn ceremony.
Having Ricky Gervais hosting again (for the fifth time) will mean stinging insults and uncomfortable moments, but hopefully plenty of funny jokes about Hollywood, the nominees and the foreign press.
With the Globes you just never know what might happen, so tune in to NBC at 7 p.m. on Sunday and join in the fun.
