STARS AND A SHUN

Globes snub scandal-scarred Spacey, Tambor

T HE Golden Globes, usually so eager to create buzz by rewarding obscure shows that quickly fizzle — “Mozart

in the Jungle,” “Jane the Virgin” — skirted controversy completely vis a vis Monday’s nominations for the awards show.

The long list completely snubbed not only previous Golden Globe winners Kevin Spacey (“House of

Cards”) and Jeffrey Tambor (“Transpar

ent”) — both accused of sexual harrassment (Spacey was fired; Tambor’s future is murky) — but also their co-stars, including previous winner Robin Wright and nominee Judith Light. In doing so, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is trying to avoid the inevitable public relations disaster that would’ve been ignited by recognizing Spacey and/or Tambor. (It did, however, give a token nod to “Genius” star Geoffrey Rush, also accused of sexual harassment.) The PR move probably won’t completely succeed; celebrities walking the Golden Globes red carpet are bound to be asked questions about sexual harassment. But this was a first strike by the HFPA to sweep away the stench of scandal enveloping its Jan. 7 telecast on NBC.

Elsewhere, there weren’t too many surprises in Monday’s nominations, but there were a few welcome additions.

The Best Drama Series category repeated nearly all of lastst year’s nominees with one new entry: Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s d’s

Tale,” which swept the Emmyss in September with eight statuettes.es. The Best Comedy Series contendenders repeated only one nomineee from last year, ABC’s “Black-ish sh,” adding the hit revival of NBC’s “Will & Grace,” “SMILF” (Showtime), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon) and “Master of None” (Netflix).

It was a very good day for “7th Heaven” alum Jessica Biel, who returned to TV in the unusual murder mystery “The Sinner” on USA. She scored a nomination alongside “Feud’s” battling battle axes (Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon) and Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon from “Big Little Lies” (Kidman won an Emmy in September). The other new nominees earned their place on the ballot in well-reviewed series. “The Good Doctor” star Freddie Highmore could take the Best Actor in a Drama Series prize for his turn as brilliant surgeon who has autism. He’s a Brit (the HFPA are serious anglophiles) showing his range. Australian actress Katherine Langford is the surprise nominee as Best Actress in a Drama series for her role as a suicidal teen in the controversial Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” which was ignored by the Emmys (they rewarded Elisabeth Moss for “The Handmaid’s Tale”). Langford may give the HFPA a reason to do what they love to do best: create a new star with a shiny trophy. The Best Actress, Comedy Series, category is truly refreshing, as nearly all the nominees are first-timers. Rachel Brosnahan scored for her star turn as a New York housewife who unexpectedly becomes a stand-up comic in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Her competition includes Frankie Shaw and Pamela Adlon, both pplayingyg beleaguered moms on “SMILSMILF”and “Better Things,” T Things, respectively, and AAlison Brie on “Glow” Gl (Netflix). OnOnly Issa Rae frfrom HBO’s “Insecure” is a repeat from last year (and sshe didn’t win). “Will & Grace” star Debra Messing was also noticeablyy absenabsent from MondMonday’s nominees (Eric McCoMcCormack was the only actor recognized from “W&G”). His competitiontion includes previous nomnominees Anthony AAnderson (“Blackiish”), Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”), William H. Macy (his fifth nomination overall) and Kevin Bacon (for AAmazon’s “I Love Dick”). D