The 73rd Golden Globe Awards, honouring the best in film and television in 2015, were broadcast live on January 10, 2016. Ricky Gervais hosted the show for the fourth time.
In 1943, a group of writers banded together to form the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and by creating a generously distributed award called the Golden Globe Award, they now play a significant role in film marketing. The 1st Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best achievements in 1943 filmmaking, was held in January 1944, at the 20th Century-Fox studios. Subsequent ceremonies were held at various venues throughout the next decade, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
In 1950, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association made the decision to establish a special honorary award to recognize outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. Recognizing its subject as an international figure within the entertainment industry, the first award was presented to director and producer, Cecil B. DeMille. The official name of the award thus became the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
In 1963, the Miss Golden Globe concept was introduced. In its inaugural year, two Miss Golden Globes were named, one for film and one for television. The two Miss Golden Globes named that year were Eva Six (of the films Operation Bikini and Beach Party) and Donna Douglas (of television's The Beverly Hillbillies), respectively.
In 2009, the Golden Globe statuette was redesigned (but not for the first time in its history). The New York firm Society Awards collaborated for a year with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to produce a statuette that included a unique marble and enhanced the statuette’s quality and gold content. It was unveiled at a press conference at the Beverly Hilton prior to the show.
Revenues generated from the annual ceremony have enabled the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to donate millions of dollars to entertainment-related charities, as well as funding scholarships and other programs for future film and television professionals. The most prominent beneficiary being the Young Artist Awards, presented annually by the Young Artist Foundation, established in 1978 by late Hollywood Foreign Press member, Maureen Dragone to recognize and award excellence of young Hollywood performers under the age of 21, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.
The broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, telecast to 167 countries worldwide, generally ranks as the third most-watched awards show each year, behind only the Oscars and the Grammy Awards. Until Ricky Gervais hosted the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards Ceremony in 2010, the award ceremony was one of two major Hollywood award ceremonies (the other being the Screen Actors Guild Awards) that did not have a regular host; every year a different presenter introduced the ceremony at the beginning of the broadcast. Gervais returned to host the 68th annual Golden Globe Awards in 2011, and the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in 2012. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards in 2013, the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards in 2014, and the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards in 2015. The Golden Globe Awards' theme song, which debuted in 2012, was written by Japanese musician and songwriter Yoshiki Hayashi.
Categories
Motion picture awards
- Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Best Director
- Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
- Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
- Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
- Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
- Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
- Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
- Best Screenplay
- Best Original Score
- Best Original Song
- Best Foreign Language Film
- Best Animated Feature Film (since 2006)
- Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures
Television awards
Awarded since 1956:
- Best Drama Series
- Best Comedy Series
- Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
- Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series
- Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
- Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series
- Best Limited Series or Motion Picture made for Television
- Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture made for Television
- Best Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture made for Television
- Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture made for Television
- Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Retired awards:
- Best Documentary Film • Last awarded in 1977 at the 34th Golden Globe Awards
- Best English-Language Foreign Film • Awarded from 1957 to 1973
- New Star of the Year – Actor • Last awarded in 1983 at the 40th Golden Globe Awards
- New Star of the Year – Actress • Last awarded in 1983 at the 40th Golden Globe Awards
- Henrietta Award (fr) (World Film Favorite – Female) • Awarded from 1950 to 1979
- Henrietta Award (World Film Favorite – Male) • Awarded from 1950 to 1979
- Best Film Promoting International Understanding (1945–63)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Cinematography – Awarded from 1947 to 1952, in 1954 and in 1962.