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And the Golden Globe Attention Goes to . . .

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The Glenn Close vehicle "Damages," with an audience of just 2.5 million for its initial telecasts, sat "on the bubble" at FX for an eternity before being renewed. HBO's "Entourage" averaged just 3.4 million viewers in its initial plays in '07; AMC's "Mad Men" averaged 1 million. Showtime's "Californication" drew a mere 680,000 viewers, and its "The Tudors" just 640,000 viewers.

The only TV series nominated that have anything approximating a mass audience are ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," Fox's "House" and ABC's "Pushing Daisies." "Grey's," which snagged two nominations (Heigl's and one for best drama), averaged 19.73 million viewers this season. "House," with two nominations (Laurie's and best drama), averaged 18.44 million. "Daisies," with 3 noms, logs about 10.44 million viewers each week.

On the bright side, five freshman series were recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which tends to be more forward-looking than the TV Academy and its Emmy Awards -- the ne plus ultra of sentimentality. So "Damages" snagged a list-leading four Globe TV nods, but "The Sopranos" just one sad little nomination -- to Edie Falco. And other series TV critics continue to cling to, such as "Lost" and "24," were entirely snubbed. Look for outraged reports of said snubbing in other news accounts of the Globes nominations.

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This year's Globes list of nominated drama-series actresses looks like an Oscar field:

¿ Patricia Arquette, "Medium"

¿ Glenn Close, "Damages"

¿ Minnie Driver, "The Riches"

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