New shows and stars rule Golden Globes’ TV categories
IF VETERANS generally dominated the film categories at the recent Golden Globe awards, their TV counterparts were dominated by some relatively new finds:
The best drama series trophy went to “Mr. Robot.” What made the new series demolish the entrenched competition?
It is a dramatic thriller that premiered on multiple online and video-on-demand services on May, and is about a young man, Elliot (Rami Malek), who works as a security engineer at a cyber security company.
He’s clinically depressed and connects with people by hacking their online accounts—which sometimes causes him to act as a cyber-vigilante. He is recruited by a mysterious anarchist named Mr. Robot.
One of their missions is to cancel all debts by taking down one of the largest global corporations—which also happens to be one of the biggest clients of Elliot’s employer!
As you can see, “Mr. Robot” is an edgy, extremely “now” TV production, not just because of its subject matter, but also because it’s being telecast and watched by viewers on exceedingly innovative platforms.
The fact that it’s won the Golden Globe for best TV drama augurs very well indeed for the future of the “new television”—so, the more tradition-bound competition should take note with alacrity—and wake up!
To further underscore that urgent point, the best comedy series award went to another online production, Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”!
The series stars Gael Garcia Bernal as Rodrigo, a young orchestra conductor who stirs up the New York Symphony, as oboist Hailey (Lola Kirke) hopes for her big break.
The hit series is about love, money, ambition and music in New York’s music scene. Cast members include Bernadette Peters and Malcolm McDowell.
Bernal also won as best comedy actor. He’s already made his mark as a film star, with acclaimed movies like “El Crimen del Padre Amaro,” “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” “Amores Perros,” “Fidel” and “The Motorcycle Diaries” to his credit.
Also new to TV is Rachel Bloom, who romped off with the best actress (comedy or musical) award for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” which she cocreated for CW.
She plays a single woman, Rebecca, who is dumped by her guy after a summer fling, but continues to stalk him even after he moves from New York to California!
Each episode contains two to three original songs, which are implied to be delusional figments of Rebecca’s imagination.
The show has been lauded for its “lively musical numbers and energetic, refreshing lead player,” and for being “a charming commentary on relationships.”
Other significant winners are on the “mature” side, with Jon Hamm copping the best drama actor trophy for “Mad Men” on the hit series’ last season, and Christian Slater winning as best supporting actor for limited series or TV movie for “Mr. Robot.”
Slater’s award is deemed particularly welcome because his film career has generally faltered of late, after he made it big as one of A-list stars with hits like “Robin Hood,” “True Romance,” “Heathers,” “Untamed Heart” and “Interview with the Vampire.”
It’s hoped that Slater’s crackerjack performance as a computer hacker in “Mr. Robot” will boost his film career, so he can finally fulfill the promise that many directors saw in him decades ago!
