R.I.P. Critics’ Choice Television Awards — we hardly knew you. After five years of being a separate entity from its granddaddy the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, both kudos will combine into one main event for the first time beginning Sunday, January 17, 2016. “We are thrilled to bring the two Critics’ Choice Awards shows into one super-show,” said President Joey Berlin during a breakfast reception at the W Hotel in Hollywood. “Bringing all these stars together in one room is going to create an incredible night of entertainment.”
4 secrets from Critics’ Choice TV Awards you won’t hear anywhere else
The upcoming ceremony — dubbed simply the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards — will expand to three hours to accommodate all those extra categories and it will be preceded by a live one-hour red carpet pre-show. For the first time, the new gala will be trimulcast on three networks: A&E, Lifetime and LMN.
Despite the combination of all the movie and TV races, Berlin assures that no categories will be eliminated, though some of the smaller awards will be handed out before the live show begins. “Members will make all the nominations and vote for all the winners in the same categories as we have in the past,” he detailed. “And we’ll be presenting all the major film and television categories live on air in one glamorous and star-studded TV special.”
Regarding eligilibity for this year’s kudos, Gold Derby exclusively confirmed that movie eligibility is the 2015 calendar year, while TV eligibility for this year only will be June 1 through December 31.
What about eventual comparisons to the Golden Globe Awards, which already combine film and television? “Our voters are perhaps less star-struck and a bit savvier than our foreign peers,” Berlin remarked. “While the Globes have long been the party of the year, we believe the Critics’ Choice Awards are a little smarter, a little more in touch with American and Canadian tastes, and ultimately more useful to the viewers and ticket buyers.”
The Critics’ Choice Awards are bestowed by the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association to honor the best in cinematic and TV achievement. The BFCA is comprised of almost 300 members while the BTJA has almost 100 members.
Here’s the updated timeline for the 21st Critics’ Choice Awards following today’s announcement:
December 7, 2015 – Film nominating ballots go out to BFCA members; TV nominating ballots go out to BTJA members
December 11, 2015 – Deadline for returning all nominating ballots
December 14, 2015 – Critics’ Choice Awards nominees announced
January 14, 2016 – Final film ballots go out to BFCA members; final TV ballots go out to BTJA members
January 15, 2016 – Deadline for returning final ballots
January 17, 2016 – The 21st annual ceremony airs live on A&E, Lifetime and LMN from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California
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