http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4910322978001

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has a long history of dubious categorizations when it comes to their “comedy or musical” categories. There are really two examples: dramedies that straddle the line enough that placing them in the comedy category makes sense to enough people and dramas about musicians that happen to narratively feature live performances, so they become “musicals.”

Well, actually there's a rare third category, which are the handful of designations that objectively seem outrageous. Thankfully they're few and far between.

It's a double edged sword, though. On one hand, these placements can sometimes make room for deserving contenders that can't otherwise break through in the drama fields. On the other, often there are films that have no business in the race but end up slurping up slots that ought to go to fantastic comedies on the fringe.

It's a time-honored tradition to complain about these choices. However, the good news is the HFPA seems to be making an internal concerted effort to clean up its image where stuff like this and being shills, etc., is concerned. We'll see.

For now, click through the gallery below for 12 examples of dubious comedy/musical categorizations. I'm sure you have your own ideas, too, so offer them up in the comments section.

And be sure to watch the drunken speeches at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.