Anxious World Awaits Golden Globe Nods

This morning before the crack of dawn, a sleepy-eyed press corps will descend on the Beverly Hilton Hotel to deliver the news the entire world is waiting breathlessly to hear: Who will be nominated for the Golden Globes? What’s that? You don’t think that 80-some members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. announcing what movies and TV shows they liked the best in 1999 is hot news? Think again. In today’s entertainment-saturated media, the Golden Globes have become a cash cow, delivering big ratings for NBC and watched by 250 million people worldwide. Indeed, all three major network morning shows--ABC’s “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Today” and CBS’ “The Early Show”--plan live coverage at 5:39 a.m. (PST), when actors Salma Hayek, Martin Sheen, Victoria Principal and Beau Bridges read aloud a partial list of this year’s nominees, both for drama and comedy, in movies and television. NBC will cover the awards show live from the Hilton on Jan. 23. Seen as a precursor to the more prestigious Academy Awards, Golden Globe nominations allow studios to hype their films and position them for Oscar consideration. Despite criticism that the Hollywood press association is largely comprised of part-time, fringe journalists who use their status to schmooze with stars and milk studios for free junkets, foreign press association President Helmut Voss defends the group, noting that members must submit clippings annually to receive their credentials. Meanwhile, the Globes have become the hottest ticket in town, a night of glamour and glitter where movie and television stars table hop openly with directors, producers, studio and network executives, agents and even the media. That success allowed the nonprofit association to shell out $2.1 million for its new headquarters--a 1940s European-style two-story building near Robertson and Santa Monica boulevards. But success breeds controversy. When Voss announced recently that the Globes had signed a pact with NBC for an hourlong preshow of exclusive live celebrity arrivals, E! Entertainment Television arrival specialist Joan Rivers derided the group, sniffing: “I know them all because they wait on me during the year in various restaurants.” Voss took umbrage at the comment. “It’s funny. I laughed at it. But it was definitely below the belt.”

‘PJs’ Waits for Spring Cleaning

Fox will repeat “The PJs’ ” holiday special on Christmas night following a rerun of “The Simpsons,” but that will likely be all anyone sees of the foam-animated comedy for quite awhile. The series, produced by and featuring the voice of Eddie Murphy, isn’t expected to return as a regular component of Fox’s prime-time lineup until the spring. After premiering to much fanfare, generally positive reviews and a bit of controversy in January, the series--set in a housing project, with Murphy as cantankerous building super Thurgood Stubbs--has teetered along an uncertain path. Fox left the program off its fall schedule, angering Murphy enough that he temporarily refused to do voice work, requiring Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles on “Seinfeld”) to fill in for him. Murphy eventually relented, but it remains unclear where the show fits in Fox’s long-term plans, and sources say the WB network has done some sniffing around about its availability--a rumor some dismiss as a bargaining ploy by the producers. Because of the lead time associated with producing animation, even an order for more episodes of “The PJs” probably wouldn’t result in its third season beginning until 2001, by which time old Thurgood might be really cranky.

Concert Industry Seeking Younger Fans

Watch this week for some much-needed new blood to officially make its mark as the concert industry’s tally of the top acts for 1999 is announced. For years the concert industry has enjoyed the lush paydays brought in by baby boomer acts (think Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Elton John) and their well-heeled fans, but there has also been an undercurrent of concern among promoters that no new generation of acts capable of arena sellouts seemed to be developing. Sure, there’s the Dave Matthews Band, Phish and the mercurial Pearl Jam, but the list of 1990s rock acts that qualify as big-time ticket sellers doesn’t go far beyond them. Ah, but who needs rock? When Pollstar, the concert industry trade publication, announces its audit of the year’s top-grossing tours on Thursday, there will be two youth pop acts in the Top 10 for the first time this decade: the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync. Love them or hate them, the two heartthrob squads hailing from Florida have energized the teen audience. “It’s the most encouraging thing the concert industry has seen in some time,” says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of Pollstar. “Teen pop made a huge impact this year. . . . You have a lot of young kids going to their first concerts and at a young age, and in the years to come they may not be fans of ‘N Sync anymore, but live music may be part of their lifestyle.” It appears ‘N Sync will also take the honor of the hardest-working act among the Top 50 tours, piling up 123 shows in 1999. Who will be the top-grossing act of the year? That will be a tilt between two rock warhorses, the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. The early money--literally--is with the Stones, whose tour ended at midyear and had fewer dates, but also had far more expensive tickets (best seats at $300) than the Boss (top price of $68).

--Compiled by Times Staff Writers