The Nightly by Hatch Podcasts

Episode: 2026 Golden Globes: KPop Demon Hunters Vs. Wicked
Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Jacquees (A), Kristen (C)

Episode Overview

This cozy episode dives into all things Golden Globes 2026. Hosts Jacquees and Kristen gather in the "Hatch Pillow Fort" to gossip, predict, and debate the frontrunners across film, TV, and music categories. From passionate pleas for KPop Demon Hunters over Wicked, to a deep appreciation for Sinners and the Secret Agent, the episode offers a blend of thoughtful analysis, honest confessions about what they haven't watched, and signature late-night whimsy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Unique Vibe and History of The Golden Globes

[01:12–03:37]

• The Globes are the "fun, frothy" cousin to other major award shows.
• Star-studded debauchery, TV and film worlds mingling, and historical oddball picks due to the quirks of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
• The hosts discuss how the ceremony has changed with more convergence between film and television actors.
• Notable anecdote: "Just go to the Golden Globes and spill a drink on Harrison Ford and you’ll have someone..." — Kristen [01:53]

2. This Year’s Show: Hosts, Timing & How It Feels

[03:37–05:47]

• Nikki Glaser returns as host; Conan O’Brien is hosting the Oscars. Both are crowd favorites—for now.
• The early timing (first week of January) leaves less space to catch up on nominees compared to the Oscars, leading to some shared FOMO about un-watched contenders.
• Quote: "Put away your confetti from New Year’s Eve and now it’s time to go do this show." — Kristen [04:43]

3. Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) Predictions

[06:00–07:45]

• Nominees include: Blue Moon, Begonia, Marty Supreme, No Other Choice, Novel Vague, One Battle After Another.
• The frontrunner seems to be One Battle After Another, especially due to its star power and award-bait qualities.
  • "That's the type of movie that wins awards." — Jacquees [06:45]
• Kristen notes it "cleaned up at the Critics Choice Awards" but feels the first hour drags before becoming gripping:
  • "The table setting in this movie is taking a full hour... but once that was going on, I was on the edge of my seat." — Kristen [07:19]

4. Korean Cinema’s Rising Prominence

[07:48–08:31]

• No Other Choice, directed by the same director as Oldboy, could be a dark horse due to the continued global love for Korean film.

5. Best Motion Picture (Drama) Deep Dive

[08:39–12:39]

• Nominated: Frankenstein, Hamnet, It Was Just An Accident, Sentimental Value, Sinners and the Secret Agent.
• Both hosts strongly endorse Sinners and the Secret Agent:
  • "The connection that the movie gave to a lot of people does matter. That’s the purpose of art." — Jacquees [09:08]
  • "I wish more people would talk about how beautiful the movie was." — Kristen [09:36]
• Applaud its unexpected narrative twists and "artistic, beautiful" sequences—especially the music scene spanning different eras.
  • Jacquees praises director Ryan Coogler’s authenticity: "I love that Ryan Coogler doesn't code switch... Give it the world." [11:19]
• Hamnet, by previous awards darling Chloe Zhao, is cited as a possible upset ("very different kind of movie than Sinners" — Kristen [12:39]), but Sinners is the sentimental favorite.

6. The "KPop Demon Hunters vs. Wicked" Showdown

[13:07–18:19]

• Kristen is all in for KPop Demon Hunters, calling "Golden" a global hit:
  • "This is music that’s permeated a lot of the world... more fresh, more modern, more global than what Wicked does." [14:06]
• She’s open about her nonchalance if Wicked doesn't win more awards ("I would be totally fine with Wicked...being snubbed entirely" — [13:37]).
• Jacquees, a self-proclaimed theater kid, brings nuance. While loving mainstream musicals, he fears Hollywood musicals are rare events. He hopes a big Wicked win could pave the way for more original stage-to-screen hits, rather than more pop radio-friendly musicals:
  • "If what we are gonna start enjoying for the musical space is just what we hear on the radio every day, that's a little tougher for the theater kid in me to swallow." — Jacquees [17:19]
• Both agree there’s a lack of best picture nominees led by women.
  • "Very few of them have a cast that’s mostly female. Most of them are mostly male cast..." — Kristen [18:33]

7. TV: Musical/Comedy Category

[19:09–21:07]

• Nominees: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, The Studio.
• Studio is the favorite ("People in the industry love it when you cover stories about the industry." — Kristen [19:36]), though Jacquees wants more love for Abbott Elementary.
  • Both hosts critique The Bear’s persistent “comedy” categorization.
• Kristen advocates for Hacks as "hilarious" and subversive:
  • “A sentence can start one way...and by the time they get to the final word, they're saying something I did not expect.” — Kristen [20:25]

8. TV: Drama Category

[21:07–23:58]

• Nominees: The Diplomat, Pluribus, Severance, Slow Horses, The Pit, The White Lotus.
• The Pit is seen as most likely to win, with Severance and White Lotus as strong contenders.
• Pluribus receives both praise and frustration for cliffhanger endings and production hiatuses:
  • "You can't end a season like that and then talk about the next one ain’t coming out to 2028." — Jacquees [23:07]
• Kristen is similarly exasperated by Severance’s delays.

9. Hot Takes & Final Thoughts

[24:25–25:19]

• Jacquees’ bold prediction:
  • "Michael B. Jordan should be the favorite for Best Actor...Nobody did what MBJ did...If he doesn't win, it would be a travesty. And I’m prepared to be travestated. And I know that's not a word, but I’m prepared because I know he's not gonna win, but he should." [24:31]
• Both hosts plan to follow up post-Globes and recap actual winners.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Jacquees, just go to the Golden Globes and spill a drink on Harrison Ford and you’ll have someone.” — Kristen [01:53]
• "I haven't been able to see all 12 of the nominees for Best Picture in the last two weeks since they've come out. It's just too many movies to see in two weeks for me." — Kristen [05:47]
• "No other choice could do well. But...there are way more Hollywood celebrities in One Battle After Another...If you want to rub elbows with Leo DiCaprio...that's your movie." — Kristen [08:02]
• "The purpose of art is the connection that it elicits inside of you." — Jacquees [09:14]
• "As a black dude, I love that Ryan Coogler doesn't code switch...Give it the world." — Jacquees [11:19]
• "I think there's room for both [KPop Demon Hunters and Wicked]." — Kristen [18:05]
• "People in the industry love it when you cover stories about the industry." — Kristen [19:36]
• "You can't end a season like that and then talk about the next one ain’t coming out to 2028. I don't care anymore." — Jacquees [23:07]
• “If he doesn't win, it would be a travesty. And I’m prepared to be travestated.” — Jacquees [25:14]

Suggested Listening Timeline

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:12–03:37 | Globes history, fun, and the Foreign Press Association | | 03:37–05:47 | Hosts, timing, award show feel | | 06:00–07:45 | Best musical/comedy film nominations & predictions | | 08:39–12:39 | Best drama film: Sinners and the Secret Agent debate | | 13:07–18:19 | KPop Demon Hunters vs. Wicked (songs & significance) | | 19:09–21:07 | Best TV musical/comedy: favorites, critiques, hot takes | | 21:30–23:58 | Best TV drama: Pluribus, The Pit, cliffhanger pains | | 24:25–25:19 | Final hot takes: MBJ for Best Actor |

Conclusion & Takeaways

• The 2026 Golden Globes promise a fun, sometimes unpredictable, always celebrity-filled show highlighting both blockbuster and fresh international fare.
• Sinners and the Secret Agent is the passionate pick for best picture drama; The Studio and Hacks lead the TV comedy faves. Kristen champions KPop Demon Hunters, while Jacquees yearns for a mainstream musical like Wicked to reignite the genre’s popularity.
• Both agree: the Globe’s signature unpredictability and party-loving roots mean surprises are inevitable, and they’ll be back post-show to break them all down.

For pop culture insomniacs, The Nightly delivers both the hype and the comfort needed for award season sweet dreams.