January 13, 2010 > The Golden Globes The Golden Globes By Mona Shah The Golden Globe Awards are presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) to recognize outstanding achievements in the entertainment industry, both domestic and foreign. The formal ceremony and dinner at which the awards are presented is a major part of the film industry's awards season which culminates each year with the Academy Awards. The awards, like the Oscar's are based on critical reviews and winners are handpicked by the heads of entertainment. The Golden Globe Awards does not have a regular host; there is a different presenter every year who introduces the ceremony. This marks the first time the telecast will have a host since 1995. Multi-talented Ricky Gervais will host the event that will air on Sunday, January 17 from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be broadcast live on NBC. Unlike the Academy Awards, the Globes feature two acting categories - for drama and musical/comedy - doubling an actor's chances of recognition. This year three lucky actors, Sandra Bullock, Matt Damon and Meryl Streep have that honor. Bullock and Damon successfully straddled the drama/comedy line this year; they're each in twice for, respectively, 'The Proposal' and 'The Blind Side' and 'The Informant!' and 'Invictus.' Streep, on the other hand, is competing with herself. She has been nominated for both 'Julie and Julia' and 'It's Complicated.' This is a rare occurrence, literally competing against herself. Both nominations are in the same category: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. Here is a partial list of the nominees: Best motion picture, drama ¥ Avatar ¥ The Hurt Locker ¥ Inglourious Basterds ¥ Precious ¥ Up in the Air Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama ¥ Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria ¥ Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side ¥ Helen Mirren, The Last Station ¥ Carey Mulligan, An Education ¥ Gabourey Sidibe, Precious Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama ¥ Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart ¥ George Clooney, Up in the Air ¥ Colin Firth, A Single Man ¥ Morgan Freeman, Invictus ¥ Tobey Maguire, Brothers Best motion picture, comedy or musical ¥ (500) Days of Summer ¥ The Hangover ¥ It's Complicated ¥ Julie & Julia ¥ Nine Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical ¥ Sandra Bullock, The Proposal ¥ Marion Cotillard, Nine ¥ Julia Roberts, Duplicity ¥ Meryl Streep, It's Complicated ¥ Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical ¥ Matt Damon, The Informant! ¥ Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine ¥ Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes ¥ Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer ¥ Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man Best animated feature film ¥ Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ¥ Coraline ¥ Fantastic Mr. Fox ¥ The Princess and the Frog ¥ Up Best director ¥ Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker ¥ James Cameron, Avatar ¥ Clint Eastwood, Invictus ¥ Jason Reitman, Up in the Air ¥ Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds Best television series, drama ¥ Big Love ¥ Dexter ¥ House ¥ Mad Men ¥ True Blood Best performance by an actress in a television series, drama ¥ Glenn Close, Damages ¥ January Jones, Mad Men ¥ Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife ¥ Anna Paquin, True Blood ¥ Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer Best performance by an actor in a television series, drama ¥ Simon Baker, The Mentalist ¥ Michael C. Hall, Dexter ¥ Jon Hamm, Mad Men ¥ Hugh Laurie, House ¥ Bill Paxton, Big Love Best television series, comedy or musical ¥ 30 Rock ¥ Entourage ¥ Glee ¥ Modern Family ¥ The Office Best performance by an actress in a television series, comedy or musical ¥ Toni Collette, United States of Tara ¥ Courteney Cox, Cougar Town ¥ Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie ¥ Tina Fey, 30 Rock ¥ Lea Michele, Glee Best performance by an actor in a television series, comedy or musical ¥ Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock ¥ Steve Carell, The Office ¥ David Duchovny, Californication ¥ Thomas Jane, Hung ¥ Matthew Morrison, Glee