Everybody in the industry knows that as far as any legitimacy as a competition, the Golden Globes has next to none. Voted on by fewer than a hundred members of that less than august body known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association {HFPA} that has the rep as more receptive than a Texas Congressman to lobbyists proffering free meals, cash starlets and other swag, hardly instills confidence in the creative community. Still, the Globes as an award show does get props as a broadcast where the celebrities looked great, got a load on and made all of us tuning in feel like we were part of it all. Thus, in year's past taking one of those little babies home, gave a show or film some marketing luster.

But this year, with the strike killing NBC's splashy Globe extravaganza, those statuettes won't have the same marketing clout of year's gone by. The embarrassing 'Dateline: NBC special in its place with profiles of such nominees as Sally Fields and Kyra Sedgwick only helped diminish the Globes even more. "Dateline" was followed by an even more squalid substitute for the canceled Globe ceremonies. I'm talking about the Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell hosted show where they uncomfortably read the names of the winners that were fed to them from the press conference the HFPA held instead of the award show. If you wanted to know who the winners were, without the lag on NBC, the press conference was aired live on E! and the TV Guide Channel.

What happened with the Globes this year is a shame. Some fine TV series, films and actors that could use the usual recognition the Globes bring won't get the same bump this year. Once in awhile lobbyist swag is proffered to do good. Condolences to AMC's "Mad Men" that deservedly won for Best Drama and its star John Hamm for best actor in a drama. Likewise to Glenn Close who won for best actress for a drama for FX's addictive "Damages" and David Duchovny, who many people think is method acting, in Showtime's full-value-for-your entertainment-dollar "Californication." And it's a pretty good bet the worthy art film "Atonement" won't see any significant box office for its upset win for Best Picture or "La Vie En Rose" whose star Marion Cotillard took home as Best Actress in a musical or comedy. Don't expect to see any of those among the group listed above bringing muffins to striking writers anytime soon.