So instead of a glitzy star-laden Hollywood awards soiree, we get a press conference and “American Gladiators.” Ain’t strike-life grand?
With the Golden Globes’ usual swankfest having been deep-sixed by the ongoing writers-studio feud, NBC has announced the following lineup to run in place of Sunday’s previously scheduled booze-o-rama:
7-9 p.m. – “Going for Gold,” described as a “Dateline NBC” special hosted by Matt Lauer and featuring interviews with such Globes nominees as Sally Field, William Shatner and Kyra Sedgwick. Also included: commentary by Kathy Griffin and, be still my heart, trophy predictions from the “Football Night in America” team. (Translation: NBC-Bravo promotional platform.)
9 p.m. – “65th Annual Golden Globe Awards Announcement,” apparently to be covered by NBC News, which would get around payment requirements for film clips used in entertainment programming.
10 p.m. – “American Gladiators” -- and not even a fresh contest, either, but a repeat! What, they didn’t have any episodes of “Law & Order” lying around?
Clearly, the Peacock Network will throw anything at the wall these days to see if it sticks -- even if the dog, uh, created it.
So what will ABC do about Feb. 24’s Academy Awards ceremony, also being threatened with union pickets and actor no-shows? Stay tuned.
[AP photo: Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy with the trophy no one will be picking up Sunday night.]