What do you mean they're not legitimate?
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is only 80 members, and it's well known that you can basically buy a nomination, since they're not too hesitant on accepting gifts and favours.
The only reason people started caring about the Globes is because alcohol is served so it's unpredictable, and you had that ceremony where Ving Rhames gave his Golden Globe to Jack Lemmon, and Christine Lahti was in the bathroom.
Plus, they nominate both TV and film, so it's the one time you get them both in the same room. And they have a seperate category for comedy, to get more people to show up