Over the years, the Golden Globes have built up a reputation as the less credible but more populist alternative to the Oscars. Not only do they cover both movies and television, but the ceremony itself is generally more laidback and fun. However, as a result, the integrity of the awards themselves also sometimes take a back seat to making the show more accessible. Perhaps the most questionable aspect of the Golden Globes is the fact that they have two separate award categories: Drama and Comedy / Musical. On the surface that might sound reasonable, but why are musicals and comedies in the same category? And more importantly, how do you determine what constitutes a comedy?

In recent years, savvy studios have been trying to slip more dramatic films into the Comedy category because it increases their odds of winning. This year, for instance, Ridley Scott’s The Martian will be competing in the Comedy category along with David O. Russell’s Joy. Previous films that have also been considered comedies include Birdman, Inside Llewyn Davis and The Tourist. Last month, Judd Apatow said on Twitter that putting a drama into the comedy category is a “punk move”, but he is the same guy who was once pushing for the Oscars to add a comedy category. I’m assuming they would have the same problem there. What do you think? Is it time for the Golden Globes to eliminate the Comedy / Musical category or is it a good thing to separate genres? What qualifies a movie as a comedy? Do you think The Martian fits the bill? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.