Since its launch in Netflix original films, the streaming service has been an annual force in Hollywood's awards season.
Since its launch in Netflix original films, the streaming service has been an annual force during Hollywood's awards season. It will also host the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday.
The 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards will air live on Netflix for the first time, starting at 8pm Eastern. The ceremony, which will be held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, should see a bigger audience than in recent years — and not just because it offers another battle between front-runners „Oppenheimer” and „Barbie.”
Netflix bought the broadcast rights to the SAG Awards in early 2023 after more than two decades of telecasts on TNT and TBS dropped in viewership. Last year, the SAG Awards aired live on Netflix's YouTube channel before Netflix prepared its site for the event. This time, the SAGs will be live to Netflix's 260 million global subscribers.
How to watch the show
It's easy: Stream it on Netflix. The ceremony will run for about two hours without a commercial break. And for anyone playing catch-up later, the show will stay on Netflix for 28 days. This is one of the service's most significant forays into live streaming events. Netflix previously hosted a live Chris Rock comedy special, a celebrity golf tournament and a live reunion „Love Is Blind” episode that was derailed by technical issues. But Netflix is gearing up for more. On March 3, it will stream a live tennis event.
What are your favorites?
The movie favorite — you've probably heard this one before — is “Oppenheimer.” Christopher Nolan's nuclear epic is up for a leading four awards, including SAG's top honor, Best Ensemble. But Greta Gerwig's „Barbie” is up for four awards and could challenge „Oppenheimer” for best ensemble.
Academy Awards voters will be watching. Voting for the Oscars is currently underway and closes on Tuesday. Three of the last four SAG Group winners have won Best Picture at the Oscars. Before winning at the Academy Awards, „Everything Everywhere All at One,” „Coda” and „Parasite” all won at the SAG Awards. The exception is the 2021 winner „Chicago's Test 7.”
Among the TV nominees, „Heir” will add to its Emmy and Golden Globe haul. It has five awards. Also in the mix are “The Bear,” “Dead Lasso,” “Beef” and “The Last of Us.”
Where is the greatest drama?
While some categories have been seemingly ironclad for weeks, some big awards, such as supporting actress favorite Davin Joy Randolph („The Holdovers”), are less likely. The most closely watched contests of the night were in the lead actor awards.
Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) may have a slight edge for Best Actor, though Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”) is neck and neck with him. The same can be said for Best Actress, either Lily Gladstone („Killers of the Flower Moon”) or Emma Stone („Poor People”).
What else to expect?
The SAG Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Barbra Streisand. Presenters include a trio of „A Devil Wears Prada” stars: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt.
This year's SAG Awards follows a grueling months-long strike in which the SAG-AFTRA union waged a bitter struggle over a number of issues. Most of the layoffs were spurred by changes in the film and television industry brought about by streaming, a sea change led by Netflix.
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Follow AP film writer Jake Coyle: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP