The Golden Globe Awards, presented annually since 1944, honor outstanding achievements in film and television. The awards ceremony, a significant event in the film industry's awards season leading up to the Oscars, typically takes place in January. The eligibility period spans from January 1st to December 31st. There have been instances where the ceremony was not televised, including 1969–1972, 1979, and 2022. Additionally, the 2008 ceremony was canceled due to the Writers Guild of America strike.
1943: Hollywood Foreign Press Association Founded
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), originally the Hollywood Foreign Correspondent Association, was founded in 1943 by foreign journalists.
January 1944: 1st Golden Globe Awards
The first Golden Globe Awards ceremony, recognizing achievements in 1943 filmmaking, took place in January 1944 at 20th Century-Fox studios.
1944: Golden Globe Awards Established
The Golden Globe Awards, honoring achievements in film and television, were first held in 1944.
1950: Foreign Press Association of Hollywood Forms
A group of journalists left the HFCA to form the Foreign Press Association of Hollywood (FPAH) in 1950. They created the Henrietta Award.
1950: Cecil B. DeMille Award Established
The HFCA created the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1950 to honor outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry.
January 27, 1951: First World Film Favorite Festival
The FPAH held its first World Film Favorite Festival on January 27, 1951, presenting Henrietta Awards.
January 26, 1952: Second World Film Favorite Festival
The second World Film Favorite Festival, held on January 26, 1952, awarded Henriettas based on an international poll.
February 14, 1953: Third World Film Favorite Festival
The third World Film Favorite Festival took place on February 14, 1953.
January 1954: Joint HFCA and FPAH Ceremony
The HFCA and FPAH held a joint awards ceremony in January 1954.
1955: HFCA and FPAH Merge
The HFCA and FPAH merged in 1955, becoming the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
February 1956: First Golden Globe for Television Achievement
The first Golden Globe Award for Television Achievement was presented in February 1956.
1958: HFPA President Resigns Over "Favors" and PR Influence
In 1958, HFPA president Henry Gris resigned, claiming some awards were given as favors and questioning the influence of a particular public relations firm on the winners.
1958: Golden Globes Televised Locally in Los Angeles
The Golden Globe Awards were televised locally in Los Angeles for the first time in 1958, marking an early step in their broadcasting history.
March 1962: Permanent Television Award Categories Introduced
Permanent television categories, including Best TV Series, Actor, and Actress, were introduced at the Golden Globes in March 1962.
1963: "Miss Golden Globe" Introduced
The tradition of having "Miss Golden Globe", typically the daughter of a celebrity, began in 1963.
1964: Golden Globes Televised Nationally
The Golden Globe Awards began national television broadcasts in 1964, expanding their reach to a wider audience.
February 1968: FCC Bans NBC's Broadcast of the Golden Globes
Following the February 1968 ceremony, the FCC imposed a ban on NBC's broadcast of the Golden Globes due to public deception about the award process.
1968: FCC Accuses Golden Globes of Misleading the Public
In 1968, the Federal Communications Commission accused the Golden Globe Awards of misleading the public about how winners were determined, leading to NBC refusing to broadcast the ceremony for several years.
1969: Golden Globes Untelevised
The Golden Globe Awards ceremonies were not televised between 1969 and 1972.
1972: Golden Globes Untelevised
The Golden Globe Awards ceremonies were not televised between 1969 and 1972.
1974: NBC Resumes Broadcasting Golden Globes After Hiatus
Following the 1968 controversy and subsequent hiatus, NBC resumed broadcasting the Golden Globe Awards after 1974.
1974: FCC Ban on Golden Globes Broadcast Lifted
The FCC ban on the broadcast of the Golden Globes, imposed in 1968, was lifted in 1974.
1978: Young Artist Foundation Established
The Young Artist Foundation, a major beneficiary of HFPA donations, was founded in 1978.
1979: Last Henrietta/World Film Favorite Award
The last Henrietta Award, also known as the World Film Favorite Award, was given out in 1980 for the 1979 movie year.
1979: Last World Film Favorite Award
The final World Film Favorite Award was given out in 1980 for the 1979 movie year.
1979: Golden Globes Untelevised
The Golden Globe Awards ceremony was not televised in 1979.
1980: World Film Favorite Award Discontinued
The HFPA's World Film Favorite award, similar to the Henrietta Award, was presented until 1980.
1980: Henrietta Award Discontinued
The Henrietta Award, later known as World Film Favorite, was discontinued in 1980 after the 1979 movie year.
1982: NBC Terminates Contract with HFPA After Pia Zadora Scandal
Following the 1982 Pia Zadora scandal, NBC ended its contract with the HFPA.
1982: Pia Zadora's Win Sparks Controversy
In 1982, Pia Zadora's "New Star of the Year" win for "Butterfly" sparked controversy and accusations of bribery due to her husband's influence on HFPA members.
1993: Dick Clark Productions Begins Producing Golden Globes
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) began producing the Golden Globe Awards ceremony in 1993, taking over during a period of instability for the awards.
1993: DCP Granted Perpetual Producer Role
In 1993, Dick Clark Productions (DCP) was granted a perpetual role as producer of the Golden Globe Awards, contingent on maintaining a broadcast agreement with NBC.
2001: HFPA Approves Extension Without Formal Vote
In 2001, the HFPA disregarded its own bylaws by approving an extension without a formal vote, highlighting its sometimes "unbusinesslike" approach.
2007: Writers Guild of America Strike Begins
The Writers Guild of America strike began in 2007, impacting the 2008 Golden Globe Awards.
2008: Golden Globes Cancelled
The 2008 Golden Globe Awards ceremony was cancelled due to the Writers Guild of America strike.
2009: Golden Globe Statuette Redesigned
The Golden Globe statuette was redesigned and unveiled in 2009.
2010: DCP Extends Contract with NBC, HFPA Sues
In 2010, Dick Clark Productions extended its contract with NBC without the HFPA's knowledge, leading to a lawsuit from the HFPA.
2010: Publicist Raises Ethical Concerns about HFPA
In 2010, publicist Michael Russell and his partner raised concerns about payola and ethical breaches within the HFPA, including allegations of bribery for nominations and awards.
2010: Ricky Gervais Hosts Golden Globes and Televised Live Across US Time Zones
Ricky Gervais hosted the Golden Globe Awards in 2010, marking the introduction of a regular host for the ceremony. That year also saw the awards being televised live across all US time zones.
2011: The Tourist's Nominations and Sony's Influence Draw Skepticism
The 2011 nominations for "The Tourist" in musical/comedy categories, despite being a spy thriller, raised skepticism. Allegations of Sony influencing voters with trips and concerts surfaced.
2011: Lawsuit Filed Against HFPA Alleging Payola Scheme
Three days before the 2011 Golden Globe Awards telecast, Michael Russell filed a lawsuit against the HFPA alleging a "payola scheme" and unethical practices related to nominations and awards. The HFPA denied the allegations and the lawsuit was later settled.
2012: Yoshiki Hayashi Composes Golden Globe Theme
In 2012, Japanese musician Yoshiki Hayashi composed the theme song for the Golden Globe Awards.
2012: Court Rules in Favor of DCP in HFPA Lawsuit
In April 2012, a judge ruled in favor of Dick Clark Productions in the lawsuit filed by the HFPA, upholding the NBC perpetuity clause.
2013: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Begin Hosting Golden Globes
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler began their run as hosts of the Golden Globe Awards in 2013, hosting for three consecutive years.
2014: DCP and HFPA Reach Settlement
In 2014, Dick Clark Productions and the HFPA reached a settlement in their legal dispute, with DCP continuing as producer.
2015: End of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Hosting Run
2015 marked the end of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's three-year stint as hosts of the Golden Globe Awards.
2017: Decline in Golden Globe Ratings
Between 2017 and 2018, the Golden Globe Awards experienced an 11% drop in television ratings.
January 5, 2018: "Miss Golden Globe" Renamed to "Golden Globe Ambassador"
The title "Miss Golden Globe" was changed to "Golden Globe Ambassador" on January 5, 2018.
2018: DCP's Contract with NBC Set to Expire
Dick Clark Production's contract extension with NBC, made in 2010, was set to expire in 2018.
2018: Golden Globe Ratings Decline
In 2018, the Golden Globe Awards saw a decline in television ratings compared to the previous year.
2018: NBC Renews Golden Globes Rights
In September 2018, NBC renewed its broadcasting rights for the Golden Globe Awards through 2027.
2019: NFL Playoffs as Golden Globe Lead-in
In 2019 and 2020, NBC televised NFL playoff games as a lead-in to the Golden Globes to boost ratings.
2019: Carol Burnett Award Created
The Carol Burnett Award, a television counterpart to the Cecil B. DeMille Award, was established in 2019 and named after its first recipient.
2020: HFPA Criticized for Categorizing Asian Films as Foreign Language
In 2020, the HFPA faced criticism for nominating Asian/Asian American films like "The Farewell," "Parasite," and "Minari" for Best Foreign Language Film while excluding them from Best Motion Picture categories, sparking accusations of anti-Asian racism. The categorization of "Minari" as a foreign language film, despite its American production and setting, drew heavy condemnation.
2020: NFL Playoffs Lead-in to Golden Globes
NBC continued the strategy of using NFL playoff games as a lead-in to the Golden Globe Awards in 2020.
May 3, 2021: HFPA Announces Reform Plans
On May 3, 2021, the HFPA announced reform plans to address criticism regarding lack of diversity.
May 7, 2021: Companies Boycott HFPA
Several media companies, including Amazon, Netflix, and NBC, boycotted the HFPA on May 7, 2021, demanding reforms.
2021: Golden Globes Postponed Due to Pandemic
The 2021 Golden Globe Awards ceremony was postponed to February 28 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 9, 2022: 79th Golden Globe Awards Held Privately
On January 9, 2022, the 79th Golden Globe Awards were held as a non-televised, private event due to the Omicron variant and controversy surrounding the HFPA. The ceremony had limited guests and strict COVID-19 protocols.
January 2022: 79th Golden Globe Awards Held Amidst Controversy
The 79th Golden Globe Awards, held in January 2022, faced criticism and boycotts due to the HFPA's diversity issues.
July 2022: HFPA Restructuring Approved
In July 2022, the HFPA approved a major restructuring, creating a for-profit entity to manage the Golden Globe Awards and a separate non-profit for philanthropic activities. This restructuring aimed to modernize and professionalize the awards.
2022: Golden Globes Untelevised
The Golden Globe Awards ceremony was not televised in 2022.
January 10, 2023: 80th Golden Globe Awards Air on NBC
The 80th Golden Globe Awards aired on NBC on January 10, 2023, marking the return of the televised ceremony after a period of restructuring and controversy. The ceremony was moved to Tuesday to avoid conflicts with sporting events.
June 12, 2023: HFPA Rebranded to Golden Globe Foundation
On June 12, 2023, the HFPA was rebranded as the Golden Globe Foundation, and all assets and intellectual property related to the Golden Globe Awards were acquired by DCP and Eldridge. The foundation continued the HFPA's philanthropic work.
November 2023: DCP Announces One-Year Agreement with CBS and Paramount+ for 81st Golden Globes
In November 2023, DCP announced a one-year agreement to air the 81st Golden Globe Awards ceremony on CBS and stream it on Paramount+. This followed a one-year deal with NBC to televise the 2023 ceremony after they declined to air the 2022 ceremony due to a boycott.
2023: Exclusive Press Conference Requirement Removed
In 2023, the HFPA removed the requirement for nominated films to host exclusive press conferences for the organization, addressing previous transparency concerns.
2023: NBC Open to Televising Golden Globes
NBC stated its willingness to televise the Golden Globe Awards in 2023, contingent on successful HFPA reforms.
2027: NBC's Golden Globe Contract Set to Expire
NBC's contract for the Golden Globe Awards, renewed in 2018, is set to expire in 2027.