The Front Page: January 11, 2008

By Randee Dawn

Recognition is a lovely thing, particularly when it's the New York Times doing the recognizing: Past Deadline (and most specifically a post by Ray Richmond) got extra-special linkage yesterday at David Carr's Carpetbagger column -- so hurrah! The way to get peoples' attention? Brutal, brutal honesty.

There's plenty of that in today's issue: Ray teams up with Steven Zeitchik (and a great pissed-off Peacock graphic) to tell the Golden Globes story truth: "Here is the cold, hard reality of the 65th annual Golden Globe Awards that will be handed out Sunday at the Beverly Hilton: A lot of people are going to lose a lot of money." NBC, which'll have to return ad revenue; the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which won't have its full license fee, and of course -- the studios. At what point does it become impossible to ignore the self-inflicted boot to the butt they've given themselves by refusing to back down to the writers?

Meanwhile, THR hits another high point today by using "poops" in a headline. I live for these things. It's in reference to the WGA, which has canceled its awards banquet -- which somehow only makes sense. (By the way: Day 68.) Carl DiOrio has all the details (and he's got a side piece with Gregg Goldstein on The Weinstein Co.'s deal with the WGA -- go Harvey). Noted the WGAW, "There will be no Writers Guild of America West show until the strike is over." At presstime, the WGAE hadn't necessarily signed on to that stoic way of thinking. (Here in New York, we don't cancel parties lightly.)

Now, on the one hand, I can see why they don't want a big televised shindig. You can't cross your own picket lines just for your own party. (Though, really, couldn't you have just given yourself a waiver?) But to cancel the whole banquet -- non televised, which had been the plan -- seems a bit hair-shirty. Just want to put that out there.

Looks like it really is turning into the Year Without a Santa Claus Awards Season. No wonder I keep thinking of Mr. Heat Miser.