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Five Things to Watch for at the Golden Globes

The 75th awards show, to be hosted by Seth Meyers on NBC, lands Jan. 7 amid a time like no other time in Hollywood history.

The 75th Golden Globe Awards arrive amid a time like no other in Hollywood history. Here are five things to watch for during the Jan. 7 broadcast on NBC:

Women in Black

The year's first major awards ceremony also is the first to air since reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein sparked a reckoning that's reverberated through Hollywood, the news media and Washington. Actresses are expected to don black clothing in a show of solidarity. But expect the #MeToo-era protests to be far from silent.

Errors and Omissions

Also look for criticism of Golden Globes voters' failure to nominate women-driven box office hits "Wonder Woman" and "Girls Trip" for any awards. Ditto for the inexplicable director and screenwriter category snubs of "Lady Bird" filmmaker Greta Gerwig. Another likely subject to arise: Jordan Peele's absence from the screenplay and director action for "Get Out," a racial drama wrapped in a horror movie that somehow ended up in the Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category.

Movies vs. TV

The pre-Globes chatter appears primarily fueled by the movies. But television turned in another great year, thanks largely to "The Crown," "The Handmaid's Tale" and the return of "Stranger Things." Social media response on Jan. 7, rather than studio audience applause, may be the better gauge of the Globes contests that most excite the masses.

A Closer Look at Seth Meyers

The host of NBC's "Late Night" makes his Globes hosting debut with the tough task of wringing laughs out of the serious allegations roiling the entertainment business. But Meyers has displayed a knack for tackling tough topics in a smart way during his "A Closer Look" segments. He's also proven himself a fearless host – no more so than at the 2011 White House Press Correspondents' Association dinner, where he mercilessly mocked then-"Celebrity Apprentice" host Donald Trump.

Playing the Trump Card

A year ago, most would have predicted President Trump's first 12 months in office as the dominant topic of acceptance speeches and jokes. But it's unclear clear how much – or in what contexts – he'll come up amid the sexual harassment furor. Watch for whether he's watching – through his tweets.

Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.

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