The Golden Globes might be less than golden this year. The ongoing writers' strike has threatened the upcoming awards show, set to air Jan. 13. The WGA plans to picket the event, meaning no writers for the show. The presence of a WGA picket line also might mean no presenters to hand out the lovely little globe shaped statues. Of course, the lack of presenters may be unimportant, as the nominees aren't all that likely to cross the picket lines either.

That's right, ladies. We may have to live without the stars at this year's event. No Golden Globe girl, no red carpet roundups, no fashion reports from Joan and Melissa Rivers ... OK, there is at least one upside to this strike business.

Despite my distaste for the Rivers' family commentary, I was planning to watch some of the pre-show prancing in the distant hope that Jodie Foster might actually walk hand-in-hand down the red carpet with Cydney. A girl can dream.

I was also really looking forward to listening to Holly Hunter's shiver-inducing drawl as she accepted her trophy for her brilliant performance in Saving Grace. Yes, I'm biased. I love this woman and I love this show. Can you blame me?

Add to these two hopes the simple pleasure of seeing Helena Bonham Carter, and my night would have been mostly complete. (Side note, those of you who have already seen Sweeney Todd need to fill me in. Yay or nay?)

I say "mostly" complete because I had two more wishes for my Golden Globe evening. One was to see what Diablo Cody, the stripper turned screenwriter from my neck of the woods, might have to say when Juno rakes in the little golden prizes.

My last Golden Globe wish? Hearing what Tina Fey might say about politics, gender issues, dogs, cats — oh, who am I kidding? I was looking forward to hearing what Tina Fey has to say about anything. She could tell me how to change a light bulb and I'd still be drooling.

While I want this strike to come to an end sometime this century, I also want to see writers get what they deserve. And so I will wait patiently until the resolution comes, despite the fun and excitement I may not get in the meantime. Plus, the impact of the strike on the Golden Globes may produce a second upside. We likely won't have to deal with the aftermath of an actor saying things he shouldn't.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Dick Clark Productions have attempted to negotiate with the WGA in an effort to prevent the picket lines and allow the show to go on as planned, stars included. But it seems the WGA has rejected the idea, at least for now. And frankly, I can see the benefit in that choice. NBC rakes in oodles of ad dollars on the awards show that leads so well into Oscar night. It's the perfect forum for the WGA to remind all of us out in TV-viewer land what it is they're fighting for. If the rest of Hollywood honors the picket lines, the studio heads may decide to come back to the bargaining table, if for no other reason than to try to prevent a similar problem on Oscar night. And as far as I'm concerned, that's a win. So, I'll still be tuning in to the show on Jan. 13 to check out the stars. I'll just be looking for them on the picket lines rather than the red carpet.