This year’s Golden Globes 2021 telecast will be produced virtually — and, for the first time, from both coasts.
Beyond that lies the great unknown.
Sunday’s show — co-hosted, respectively, by Tina Fey at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center and Amy Poehler at the Beverly Hilton in LA — airs at 8 p.m. on NBC. Producers have been busy working behind the scenes to adapt the pandemic-era broadcast to its virtual realities, which involves much more than just the lack of a live celebrity audience at either venue.
“You can expect a star-studded night,” Barry Adelman, one of the show’s executive producers, told The Post. “With all the nominees who are participating, plus the presenters who are coming to both venues, we will have a star presenting every single award — live.”
Awkwafina, Cynthia Erivo, Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger and Kristen Wiig are among the celebrities who have been announced so far as Golden Globes 2021 presenters.
“All in all, I think we have around 150 stars involved right now, and the bookings are increasing every single day,” he said. “The biggest challenge has been trying to re-create the magic of being together in one place. However, our tech team and our director, Louis J. Horvitz, have come up with a number of creative and innovative ideas that will capture some of the intimacy and spontaneity that audiences love about the Globes.
“I think you’ll see things you haven’t seen before in any virtual awards show.”
(An insider told The Post that there’s the possibility that viewers will see a “virtual bar element” on the telecast, with nominees remotely interacting with each other.)
Adelman broke down different elements of the telecast, giving viewers a taste of what they will see Sunday night.
Fey and Poehler will be socially distanced
The co-hosts will be separated by some 2,700 miles — but there will be additional safety measures at the Beverly Hilton and Rainbow Room. “We are taking all health precautions,” he said. “As you probably guessed, we have strict testing and social-distancing protocols in both places and, with the exception of the artists onstage who are speaking, everyone else will be required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing.”
There won’t be any celebrities in the audience
There won’t be any pans to celebrities awkwardly laughing at the monologue jokes — but there will be everyday heroes. “Due to COVID protocols, we only have room for a small audience in each venue. We’ve decided to fill it with a mix of front-line and essential workers.”
Expect to see familiar elements of the telecast
“When Tina and Amy are hosting, we always start the show with their monologue, and this year will be no exception. And, of course, I’m sure we can count on a few surprises throughout the night.”
Winners will receive their Golden Globes statuettes . . . sort of
“With health protocols in place, we have decided to deliver the trophies later in the year when, hopefully, things improve COVID-wise. Honoring excellence while keeping people safe are our main priorities.”
There’s no red carpet, but nominees are encouraged to dress up
Just because there won’t be a red carpet this year doesn’t mean there won’t be any glam. “It wouldn’t be the Golden Globes without fashion,” Adelman said. “We haven’t been strict about saying ‘black tie’ this year, but we’re encouraging everyone to dress up for the occasion! There’s two things I’ve learned about working with Tina and Amy: I don’t advise them how to tell jokes, and I don’t consult on what they’re going to wear. I know they’ll handle both expertly.”
All the nominees will get face time
“Winning a Golden Globe is a career-defining moment, and we wanted to make sure the nominees can accept the honor no matter where they are. Since safety protocols don’t allow for large gatherings [at either venue], we’ve sent camera kits to our nominees, so they can broadcast from their homes. This will allow everyone the opportunity to join us from wherever they are around the world.”
