The Strike Claims a Major Victim

As you have no doubt heard by now, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has pulled the plug on the Golden Globes.

Now the winners will be announced at an NBC News news conference at 9 p.m. ET. The WGA will most likely be picketing the news conference.

NBC had hoped to have reaction from winners at the after-parties, but the studios have cancelled those as well.

The HFPA had lobbied NBC to scrap the telecast entirely so that the ceremony could continue since the WGA said it would not picket an untelevised ceremony. But NBC head honcho Jeff Zucker refused, continuing his hard line on the strike.

The WGA had reached an agreement with Dick Clark Productions on other awards shows, but refused to give in on the Globes.

WGA West President Patric Verrone said, “I’m hoping [the major studios] see the collapse of awards season and our ability to make interim deals with other companies as a sign that we are serious, and they need to get back to the table with us.”

The cancellation will have far-reaching implications across Hollywood as stars loose PR, nominated films lose box office and the local economy loses millions of dollars.

And the impact on the Oscars remains to be seen…

Is this thing getting ugly or what?