The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. The awards have been run as a fundraiser since 1944 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). They are a major part of the film industry's "awards season" which culminates each year with the Oscars and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards generally ranks as the third most-watched awards show each year, behind only the Oscars and Grammys, and film studios solicit support from HFPA members and mention nominations and awards in their advertisements.

The Golden Globes are awarded early in the year, based on votes from (as of 2005) 86 mostly part-time journalists living in Hollywood and affiliated with media outside of the United States. Unlike the Academy Awards, for which the eligibility period begins January 1, the eligibility period for the Golden Globe Awards begins October 1. Unlike the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Emmys, the Golden Globe Awards is one of two major Hollywood awards ceremonies (the other being the Screen Actors Guild Awards) that does not have a regular host: there is a presenter every year who introduces the ceremony at the beginning of the broadcast. Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury and Jack Nicholson hold the record for most Golden Globe wins with 6 each. Jack Lemmon holds the record for most nominations with 22, and Meryl Streep is second with 21. But, if we would include special awards (Henrietta Award - World Film Favorite Actor/Actress or Cecil B. DeMille Award) Barbra Streisand would win with 10 awards and behind her, Jack Nicholson with 7.

History

The first Golden Globes Awards were held in 1944 at the 20th Century Fox studios. It has since been held annually, at various locations throughout the next decade, notably the Beverly Hills Hotel, Hollywood Knickerbocker Club and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It was during the early stages of the 1950s that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association made the decision to establish a special award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. To give importance to the award and recognize its subject as an international figure in the entertainment industry the award was presented to Cecil B. DeMille in 1952, the official name of the award thus became the Cecil B. DeMille Award. The award was then first presented to Walt Disney the following year.

The awards at the ceremony had typically been presented by journalists who were part of the association. However at the 1958 Golden Globes which was the first year of local telecast, in an impromptu action, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. collectively known as the Rat Pack took flight to the stage, allegedly taking over the presenting with whiskey and cigarettes on hand. The action was met with great delight of the audience. The next year the association asked them to present the awards.