‘Fellow Travelers’ could be Showtime’s ticket back to Golden Globes
During the first half of the 2010s, Showtime programs achieved an even dozen Golden Globe victories from 35 nominations, a plurality of which went to “Dexter” and “Homeland.” Over the succeeding nine years, however, the network amassed just five additional wins from 33 bids and has not been involved in a main program race since “The Loudest Voice” vied for the Best TV Movie/Limited Series prize in 2020. According to Gold Derby’s current odds, its best chances of triumphing in 2024 lie with “Fellow Travelers,” which has great potential to bring it its second win in the top non-continuing program category as well as multiple acting honors.
“Fellow Travelers” – the official Showtime premiere of which is scheduled for Sunday, October 29 – is an eight-part adaptation of the 2007 book of the same name by Thomas Mallon. Centered on fictional characters Hawk Fuller and Tim Laughlin, it tells an expansive love story inspired by the breakthroughs and setbacks American gay men experienced throughout the second half of the 20th century. As Hawk, Matt Bomer is a candidate for the Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor Golden Globe, while Jonathan Bailey will be against him in the same category for his portrayal of Tim.
“Fellow Travelers” scoring even one Golden Globe victory would be great for Showtime, which has been left out of the winners’ circle since Russell Crowe was lauded for his lead performance as Roger Ailes on “The Loudest Voice” almost four years ago. Since 1997, the network has raked in 26 Golden Globe wins, including program ones for the telefilm “Dirty Pictures” (2001) and the continuing dramas “Homeland” (2013) and “The Affair” (2015). Within the past two years, however, only a single nomination (for “George & Tammy” star Jessica Chastain) has come its way.
Based on his fourth placing ranking in our predictions center, our 1,000+ Golden Globes prognosticators have come to the clear consensus that Bomer has a stronger shot at winning than Bailey or their series itself. The fact that each of this year’s acting lineups will include six names rather than the usual five makes him an especially safe bet, as does his status as a past Golden Globe champion for “The Normal Heart” (TV supporting actor, 2015). If he does prevail on his second outing, he will become the third man to achieve Golden Globe wins for both lead and supporting limited program performances, following Beau Bridges (“Without Warning,” 1992; “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom,” 1994) and Stanley Tucci (“Winchell,” 1999; “Conspiracy,” 2002).
In the Best TV Movie/Limited Series race, “Fellow Travelers” sits in 10th place behind a nearly even mix of presently Emmy-nominated titles and those (like it) that will be eligible for next fall’s TV academy honors. It being completely untested on the awards front gives it the opportunity to swoop in and pull off a sizable Golden Globe nominations haul, which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given its critical response. The series’ 100% Rotten Tomatoes score is bolstered by several glowing reviews, some highlights of which include Aramide Tinubu (Variety) calling it “complex, intimate, captivating and visually stunning” and Coleman Spilde (The Daily Beast) pointing out its capability to “revive the golden age of TV.”
Although Showtime has a couple of other horses in the 2024 Golden Globe races with “Yellowjackets” and “The Curse,” the former would have to rebound from its first season being totally overlooked last year, while the latter faces an uphill battle as a freshman drama series. In truth, those who believe in the winning potential of “Fellow Travelers” are wise to do so, and the Showtime team should prepare for a highly possible return to glory.
PREDICT the 2024 Golden Globe nominations through December 11
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