The Golden Globes

So much for observations on Entertainment. The Golden Globes came and went, and I hardly noticed. For those who missed it and/or care, visit the official website here.

So here's a question? (Or six) What is the impact of awards shows like the Golden Globes, the Oscars, etc? And what purpose do they really serve? Who is served by them? Is their effect on motion pictures and television more positive than negative? Do they serve as any real barometer for quality in entertainment or are they simply part of the advertising machine and a way for us to feed into our obsession of celebrity, of unattainable ideas of beauty success and wealth etc? Can they be separated?