Globe nominees overshadowed

The nominees for the 65th annual Golden Globe awards have taken a back seat to all the machinations behind the scenes.

Does anyone remember at this point that “Atonement” leads the pack with seven nominations? Or that “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and “No Country for Old Men” earned four nominations apiece?

With the striking Writers Guild of America threatening to picket the ceremony if it were telecast on NBC tonight – and Hollywood’s biggest names refusing to cross the picket line and boycotting the event – NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. initially compromised by planning a press conference to announce the winners and telecast under the auspices of NBC News.

But late Friday afternoon, the foreign press association announced that it would allow all media outlets to cover the press conference from the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. This latest move came after a financial dispute between the network and Dick Clark Productions, the entity that was to produce the three-hour Globe telecast.

Several entertainment-news anchors, including Brooke Anderson from “Showbiz Tonight,” Dayna Devon of “Extra” and Mary Hart of “Entertainment Tonight” will join Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. President Jorge Camara in announcing the winners this evening.

The WGA’s decision to scrap the picket line could pave the way for celebrities to join in on the event – adding some much-needed glamour to an awards season that has been overshadowed by the work stoppage.

susan.king@latimes.com