It’s that time of year again. Entertainment lovers curl up on their couches with anticipation as the categories are read off. They cross their fingers until millions across the globe know the winner—cheers of joy, sighs of disappointment. If you’ve ever watched an award show, you know the drill. Especially in the movie industry, the competition this year was fierce. Some of the outcomes shocked the media.
Last year was significant in film and television. The Writer’s Guild of America went on strike from May 2 – September 27, 2023, halting the production of dozens of movies and shows. Shooting of the hit show Stranger Things was included in the long list.
The WGA strike also implicated these award shows. The Emmys were set to air on September 18, 2023, and nominations were announced in July. Many new shows premiered from the original date to January 15.
Ted Lasso and Succession led the pack with the most nominations, but the hit Apple TV series won none of its 21 nominations. In previous years, Ted Lasso has nearly swept the comedy categories; Jason Sudeikis won Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Comedy Series two years in a row. The Bear not only beat out Ted Lasso for the Comedy categories but also recently became the most-watched single season in the history of its network. Succession took home Best Drama Series and Leading Actor and Actress for Drama. Fans were pleased with the outcome because the nominations were for the show’s final season. To present awards, the casts of Cheers and the Sopranos reunited. The stars of Grey’s Anatomy also came together in honor of beginning their 30th season.
It’s safe to say that everyone watching this year was on the very edge of their seat. Many media outlets have called 2023 one of the music industry’s most productive years. Artists like Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo, and SZA released albums in the last year. They and a few others were nominated for Album of the Year. The buzz online surrounding the Grammy’s seemed to indicate that they were no match for Taylor Swift. Her album, “Midnights,” was released in late 2022, so it didn’t make the eligibility date for last year’s awards. It won Best Pop Vocal Album and the coveted Album of the Year. However, Swift did not have the most nominations this year. That title belongs to SZA, who led with nine nominations and won three categories (Best R&B Song, Urban R&B Album, and Best Pop/Duo Performance).
Despite Swift’s victory in the main categories expected, one group of fans were particularly upset. Lana Del Rey, whose career has spanned almost twenty years and nine albums, was nominated for five Grammys. The 38 year old singer is yet to win one, and this year was no different. Just hours after the award show ended, the internet was flooded with pictures of Del Rey’s reaction to Taylor Swift, one of her closest friends, winning Album of the Year. In turn, this meant she had lost every nomination. Speculation arose over Swift’s win because she announced her upcoming album during her acceptance speech. Fans feel that other, possibly more deserving artists were snubbed this year.
Once again, late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel returned to host the biggest event in the film industry: the Academy Awards. For many actors and actresses, this meant the end of the long-running, so-called “eras” of their careers, such as Barbie and Oppenheimer.
When nominations this year came out, the internet had a field day. Angry fans of the Barbie movie took to Instagram and Twitter to express their disbelief that Margot Robbie was not nominated for Best Actress. They were even more angry at Greta Gerwig being snubbed in the Best Director category. One user commented, “Greta Gerwig: Made a critically acclaimed, culturally profound, feminist movie about Barbie and the patriarchy that made a billion dollars in box office. Oscar nomination goes to… Ken.”
Ryan Gosling, who was also up for Best Song (I’m Just Ken), and America Ferrera were nominated in the Best Supporting categories, respectively; neither won. Barbie also did not win best picture. However, two songs from the film delivered breathtaking performances. Ryan Gosling performed “I’m Just Ken” alongside his fellow Kens. Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell broke the record for the youngest person(s) to win more than one Oscar. They won for their song in the latest James Bond movie in 2021 and for “What Was I Made for?” this year.
Speaking of, the Best Picture-winning movie Oppenheimer took home many awards. 3-time nominee Robert Downey Jr. won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and Oppenheimer himself, Cillian Murphy, won Best Actor. The film also won Best Director, Score, Film Editing, and Cinematography.
The next award show season seems far away, but time flies by fast! It’ll be here before we know it!
