Golden Globes Stand-Up Category: Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes & Trevor Noah Among First Comics Recognized On Netflix-Dominated List

Matt Grobar
·3 min read
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The Golden Globes displayed a fair amount of consensus with the Recording Academy when it unveiled its first Golden Globe nominations for Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television, giving nominations Monday to such recently Grammy-nominated comedians as Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes, Trevor Noah and Sarah Silverman.

Rock was nominated for Netflix’s Selective Outrage, which was certainly the most discussed special of the year given its kickoff of a livestreaming initiative for the service, as well as Rock’s long anticipated dissection of his altercation with Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards, when Smith rose from the audience and slapped Rock on stage after a joke made at the expense of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

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Establishing itself in recent years as the leading purveyor of stand-up specials, Netflix leads this morning’s noms haul in the category with a commanding five nominations out of six, seeing Sykes recognized for her special I’m an Entertainer, released on the service in May. Others repping Netflix include Ricky Gervais with Armageddon, Trevor Noah with Where Was I (rather than the Grammy-nominated I Wish You Would), and Amy Schumer with Emergency Contact.

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Repping HBO with the only other nom of the day was Silverman with the recently Grammy-nominated Someone You Love.

It was back in September that the Golden Globes officially brought comics into the fold, in one of two new categories, joining ceremonies like the Grammys and Emmys in recognizing the oft overlooked performers. Comics looking to submit, either individually or as part of a troupe or ensemble, must have presented a special airing either on broadcast, basic and premium cable, streaming or pay-per-view, meaning that those debuting on platforms like YouTube were ineligible in the first go-round.

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Also new to this year’s ceremony is the category of Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, recognizing films that have made a major impact, both at the box office and in pop culture. Noms there today included Barbie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, John Wick: Chapter 4, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Oppenheimer, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

When Deadline caught up recently with an array of notable comics at an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Improv Comedy Clubs, comedian Bert Kreischer was among those speaking to the significance of the Globes’ new stand-up category, given that comedians have long been considered (or considered themselves) the black sheep of the entertainment family.

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“As comics…it’s like whenever we take ourselves serious, people go, ‘Really?‘ So I think it’s cool as sh*t that we’re included and getting looked at, even in that light,” said the stand-up being Netflix’s recent special Razzle Dazzle. “I’m so excited to see the list [of nominees] for the first time. I’m going to watch the f*cking Golden Globes.”

Added comedian Jeremiah Watkins, “I think it’s way overdue and I think it’s something that’ll be another accolade that comedians will strive for. It’s just nice to be recognized for something that a lot of people in the industry, and surrounding the industry, consider to be one of the hardest things to do, or their biggest fear is to even get on stage and do something like that. So, it’s cool that it’s being acknowledged in a different way.”

Winners in all categories will be announced live at the 81st Golden Globes ceremony Sunday, January 7, 2024.

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