Hollywood Awards Season Covid Edition

The Hollywood awards season has begun and this year looks different than past years. Some students at FHS enjoy watching the Hollywood Awards and seeing their favorite celebrities win awards and perform.

“My sister and I like to watch the awards and see the singers or actors win awards especially if we have followed them. We just like to see if they are successful” sophomore Mikayla Betts said.

The Golden Globes took place on February 28, 2021 and had many clear COVID precautions taken in order to be able to hold the ceremony.

The hosts, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, were in different locations during the awards despite being pictured beside each other. Tina Fey was in the Rainbow Room in New York City and Amy Poehler was at the Beverly Hilton.

“It was weird how they were not even close to each other and still had really good timing and the technology things were good too” sophomore Mikayla Betts said.

Betts watched parts of the Golden Globes ceremony and remarked that it was interesting the way the celebrities had presented their speeches. The celebrities had called into the locations and presented their speeches. The only speech that had difficulty was the very first speech of the night by Daniel Kaluuya.

“I wish we could hear him” an alleged producer was heard.

Kaluuya’s speech had to be cut short due to the most technical difficulties of the night; however, he was able to finish the speech later.

Different than usual Golden Globes ceremonies, the audience consisted of healthcare workers and workers of the front line.

“Tonight, our audience on both coasts is made up of smoking hot first responders and essential workers. We are so grateful for the work that you do and that you’re here, so the celebrities can stay safely at home” Fey announced.

Throughout the awards, many tributes were paid to all of the essential workers for their work through the pandemic.

With many A-list celebrities unable to walk the red-carpet in their extensive outfits, many resorted to posting on social media. The only celebrities allowed to take pictures and walk the red-carpet included those who were presenting awards. The presenters had a choice of which coast they wanted to present at.

The hosts’ humor was ultimately unaffected by the precautions, on the other hand. Fey and Poehler constantly made jokes regarding many celebrities.

Netflix was the biggest winner of the night in taking home 10 globes. The biggest winner being the telecast show of The Crown. The show won 4 globes and was nominated for 2 more.

Chloé Zhao, director of Nomadland, made history earlier in the night for being the first Asian woman to earn the helmer prize. This was also Nomadland’s second award of the night. The previous being the Best Director of a Motion Picture.

The next Hollywood Awards to be presented is the Grammys on March 14. They were originally set to take place in January but the date was ultimately moved to March because of the spirit that America was in at that point.

The performers were announced on Sunday, March 7th and they include Billie Eilish, BTS, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, and Harry Styles.

Ben Winston, this year’s Grammy show-runner, has premeditated that the Grammys will be as safe as possible for the extremely small audience as well as the few performers. It will also not be taking place at the Staples Arena per usual. It will take place in an undisclosed location in Los Angeles.

Winston is making it clear that the Grammys “absolutely are acknowledging what’s happened” throughout 2020 and the entire impact of it all.

Current COVID precautions to take place include the minimal contact of artists with others, continuous sanitation, designated areas, and pre-recording.

Everyone involved in Hollywood Awards is taking it one step at a time to ensure the wellness and safety of everyone.

Winston wants to make a lasting impression through this year’s Grammys.

“I want people to be able to watch the 2021 Grammys in 2040 and go, ‘Wow, what an amazing show that was,’ and not go, ‘Oh, that was the Covid year, that’s why they had to do that’”