One week after the 63rd annual Grammy Awards were postponed from Jan. 31 to March 14, which would have put them in direct conflict with the 27th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, the latter show was postponed to April 4.
This is the second year in a row that the SAG Awards have moved to avoid going head-to-head with the Grammys. In the 2020 awards season, the 26th annual SAG Awards, originally scheduled for Jan. 26, was moved up a week to Jan. 19 when the Grammy Awards announced that they were taking Jan. 26.
The Grammys’ move last week to a date to which the SAG Awards had staked a claim six months earlier prompted an unusually curt public statement from SAG-AFTRA.
“We are extremely disappointed to hear of the conflicting date, March 14th, announced today for this year’s Grammy Awards telecast,” SAG-AFTRA said. “We announced the same date for the SAG Awards last July with the intent to give the greatest possible scheduling consideration for other awards shows. We expect the same consideration from sister organizations throughout the industry.
“…Our two organizations, SAG-AFTRA and the Recording Academy, share members and work together effectively to advocate for artists in many areas. In an environment that is increasingly challenging for televised awards programs, we also have a mutual interest in successfully showcasing the artistry and talent of our respective memberships. We are in contact with the Recording Academy and will continue to work with our sister organizations to find ways to make this year’s awards season as successful as possible.”
The Recording Academy and SAG-AFTRA do indeed celebrate some of the same artists. Renée Zellweger, who won the SAG Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role last year for Judy, is a Grammy nominee this year for best traditional pop vocal album for her work on the soundtrack. Two legendary stars — Frank Sinatra and Julie Andrews — have received the highest honors at both awards: a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy and the Screen Actors Guild life achievement award.
The SAG Awards extended this year’s eligibility period by two months, including works exhibited or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021. Nominations for the 27th Annual SAG Awards will be announced on Feb. 4.
The SAG Awards will be broadcast on TNT and TBS at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET. That’s just three weeks before the 93rd annual Academy Awards.
