Golden Globes Reject ‘Michael' as a “Musical,” But ‘Obsession' Is a “Comedy”

So, let me get this straight. “Obsession,” a horror movie, is a comedy according to the Golden Globes. “Michael,” a movie where Michael Jackson sings and dances his way through two hours of hits, is not a musical.

Yes, the Globes are at it again. They have rejected Lionsgate's attempt to submit Antoine Fuqua's “Michael” in the Musical/Comedy categories. The decision means Jaafar Jackson will also have to compete in Best Actor – Drama, which is a far tougher place for a first-time lead to break through. Lionsgate has promised to fight the decision.

Strategically, you can see why the studio tried it. Musical/Comedy has historically been the softer category in terms of competition, and a movie loaded with wall-to-wall performances sounds, on paper, like a musical.

Then again, strictly, by the rules, this is probably the right call. The problem is that the Globes are only strict in one direction — and have a history of not following the rules. They have been consistently inconsistent. They'll be strict about what counts as a musical while treating the comedy label as a free-for-all, which is how “Obsession” got in.

I know, I know, the Globes shouldn't be taken seriously. They have always been kooky, and now that Penske Media owns the show, we can add ethically dubious in caps locks to the list. That said, I'll never waste an opportunity to dunk on them.

This is hardly the first time they have dealt with category fraud.

Remember 2012? Michelle Williams won Best Actress in a Comedy for “My Week with Marilyn,” a film about Marilyn Monroe's emotional unraveling. Then came “The Martian.” Ridley Scott's drama didn't just compete in the Comedy/Musical category, it won, and Matt Damon walked away with Best Actor in a Comedy. Even Scott looked confused. And here's the kicker: the Globes used to have zero problem calling music biopics “musicals.” “Walk the Line” won Best Musical or Comedy. Jamie Foxx won Actor in a Musical or Comedy for “Ray.”

I mean, let's not pretend the Globes have ever had any integrity. This is the same organization that showered “Emily in Paris” with nominations after Paramount treated more than 30 HFPA members to a lavish trip to the show's Paris set. The HFPA was dissolved a few years later, and the Globes were sold off and turned into a for-profit operation under Penske, which has inevitably led to accusations of their pimping the show.