Golden Globes return earlier than ever in 2009

By Gregg Kilday

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Golden Globe Awards, reduced to a news conference this year by the Hollywood writers strike, will return next year on Sunday, January 11.

Nominations for the 66th annual event will be announced at 5 a.m. Thursday, December 11, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. said Tuesday.

Beginning in the early '70s, the Globes traditionally were held in late January. But since the Academy Awards moved from March to late February in 2004, the Globes have been steadily inching closer toward the beginning of the year. January 11 will be the earliest date yet for a Globes ceremony.

Still, the Globes presentation will not have much of an impact on the Oscar nomination process. Although the Academy's nominations polls will close January 12, a day after the Globes, most Academy voters will have mailed off their choices before NBC broadcasts the Globes telecast from the Beverly Hilton.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter