Scott Caan is in Beverly Hills for one of the biggest nights of his career: the 68th annual Golden Globe Awards.

The 34-year-old actor was nominated for his role as Detective Danny "Danno" Williams, the wisecracking sidekick on the CBS reboot of "Hawaii Five-0." Caan is up for best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, miniseries or motion picture made for television. Also nominated are Chris Colfer of Fox’s "Glee," Chris Noth of CBS’ "The Good Wife," Eric Stonestreet of ABC’s "Modern Family" and David Strathairn of HBO’s "Temple Grandin."

A win would be a breakout moment despite previous projects that underscored his tough-guy persona (and the fact that he apparently never shaves for a role).

When it came to accolades, Caan’s work until now had been noted by MTV, the Phoenix Film Critics Society and the Teen Choice Awards — all of which nominated him as part of the ensemble cast of either "Ocean’s Eleven" or "Ocean’s Thirteen."

His only prize came in 2003 when "Dallas 362" — a gritty film he wrote, directed and appeared in — received the critics award at the CineVegas Film Festival.

Caan’s father, celebrated actor James Caan, was nominated four times for a Golden Globe but never went home with the trophy.

The event will be broadcast on KHNL, with red carpet arrivals at 2 p.m. followed by a live broadcast of the ceremony at 3 p.m. and a repeat at 7 p.m.

ACTOR Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has offered a glimpse into the mind of his new character, yakuza crime boss Hiro Noshimuri. Regular viewers of "Hawaii Five-0" can tell you that Noshimuri was the sneering villain in the Jan. 3 episode who was arrested in connection with the murder of Steve McGarrett’s mother.

In an interview last week, Tagawa offered Noshimuri’s take on the case.

"I am not the killer and I am not a killer," he said with a wicked smile. "They can accuse me all they want. All I know is one thing: If it wasn’t for McGarrett and his family, my brother wouldn’t be dead. So to McGarrett I have one thing to say: I am coming for you."

THE NEW VERSION of "Conan the Barbarian," the Lionsgate Films production starring Honolulu-born actor Jason Momoa, is expected in theaters Aug. 19.

Momoa, one-time Hawaii’s Model of the Year, makes an intimidating barbarian, and at 6-foot-4, he’s taller than the previous Conan, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The 1982 version starring the future governator of California also had a Hawaii connection: surfer Gerry Lopez, who had a role in the film.

FILMMAKER Craig Mushberger, a graduate student in zoology at the University of Hawaii and a certified divemaster, recently received a $25,000 grant to produce an educational documentary about the effects of climate change on Micronesia.

Funded by the Micronesia Challenge, Mushberger and his production company HD Under H2O plan to explore what local island communities are doing to minimize the destructive impacts of climate change.

HD Under H2O specializes in underwater film and video production, and Mushberger’s coverage of the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championships on the Big Island was nominated for an Emmy.

AND that’s a wrap.

Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. His "Outtakes" column appears Sundays. E-mail him at mgordon@staradvertiser.com.