NBC cancels Golden Globes

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will forgo the fancy-schmancy awards ceremony and instead hold what sounds like a press conference to present the winners. The network didn't have much choice, considering that most of the nominated actors would not be crossing the Writers Guild picket lines. Under the new plan, the winners will still be able to pick up their awards during the concocted press conference (the network has the nerve to describe this as a "news event"). NBC still plans to broadcast an adulterated Golden Globes evening, starting with an edition of "Dateline" that will have clips and interviews, followed by another hour-long clip show, then the press conference, and finally an hour-long show that visits the parties celebrating the winners. They must really think their viewers are morons. And they may be right, depending on what the ratings look like. The honchos probably figure that anything with movie stars - even pre-recorded ones - will scare up a decent audience. Looks like Nikki Finke landed first with the story.