NBC Executives on Golden Globes Fate: HFPA is ‘Absolutely Committed to Meaningful Change’

Cynthia Littleton

14 May 2021 at 2:21 pm·2-min read

NBC is counting on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to make the reforms necessary to allow the network to resume carrying the Golden Globe Awards.

Frances Berwick, NBCUniversal’s chairman of entertainment networks, told reporters Friday that the company believes the Globes will eventually return to NBC’s air. On Monday, NBCU took the extraordinary step of scrapping its annual Globes telecast that would have aired in January 2022 amid the growing scandal about the lack of diversity and questionable ethical activities of HFPA members.

More from Variety

“We do we believe that the HFPA is absolutely committed to meaningful change and they are going to do the work. We just need to give them time to do that work,” Berwick said.

During a conference call to discuss NBC’s upcoming 2021-22 schedule, Berwick was also pressed about the fate of award shows in general for the network given that ratings have been in decline, even before pandemic conditions complicated the production of live events.

“It’s a little hard to judge awards shows given what we’ve been dealing with,” Berwick said. “There very much is a place for live and event shows including awards shows. Going forward, it will be a lot easier when we get beyond the confines of the pandemic and can have people at these awards ceremonies in person.”

After NBC pulled the plug on televising the 2022 Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association released its timeline for reforming the organization. Its goals include adding 20 new members by August, implementing new policies on gifts, travel and press conferences, requiring existing members to meet the same standards as new members and electing a new board.

Best of Variety