Best Picture

• The Artist
• The Descendants
• The Help
• Hugo
• The Tree of Life
• Midnight in Paris
• Moneyball
• War Horse
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Best Actor

• George Clooney, The Descendants
• Demian Bichir, A Better Life
• Jean Dujardin, The Artist
• Brad Pitt, Moneyball
• Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Actress

• Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
• Viola Davis, The Help
• Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
• Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
• Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Supporting Actor

• Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
• Nick Nolte, Warrior
• Jonah Hill, Moneyball
• Christopher Plummer, Beginners
• Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Best Supporting Actress

• Berenice Bejo, The Artist
• Jessica Chastain, The Help
• Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
• Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
• Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Director

• Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
• Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
• Alexander Payne, The Descendants
• Martin Scorsese, Hugo
• Terrance Malick, The Tree of Life

Best Original Screenplay

• The Artists
• Bridesmaids
• Margin Call
• Midnight in Paris
• A Seperation

Best Adapted Screenplay

• The Descendants
• Hugo
• Moneyball
• The Ides of March
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Animated Film

• A Cat in Paris
• Chico and Ritat
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Puss in Boots
• Rango

Best Foreign Language Film

• Bullhead
• Footnote
• In Darkness
• Monsieur Lazhar
• A Separation

Best Art Direction

• The Artist
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Hugo
• Midnight in Paris
• War Horse

Cinematography

• The Artist
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• The Tree of Life
• War Horse

Costume Design

• Anonymous
• The Artist
• Hugo
• Jane Eyre
• W.E.

Editing

• The Artist
• The Descendants
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• Moneyball

Sound Editing

• Drive
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• War Horse

Sound Mixing

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• Moneyball
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• War Horse

Original Score

• The Adventures of Tintin
• The Artist
• Hugo
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
• War Horse

Original Song

• “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets
• “Real in Rio” from Rio

Documentary Feature

• Hell and Back Again
• If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
• Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
• Pina
• Undefeated

Documentary (short subject)

• The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
• God Is the Bigger Elvis
• Incident in New Baghdad
• Saving Face
• The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Makeup

• Albert Nobbs
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• The Iron Lady

Animated Short Film

• Dimanche/Sunday
• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
• La Luna
• A Morning Stroll
• Wild Life

Live Action Short Film

• Pentecost
• Raju
• The Shore
• Time Freak
• Tuba Atlantic

Visual Effects

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Hugo
• Real Steel
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford opened the festival by characterizing the slate of 117 feature films as products of “dark and grim” times and the “suffering from a government that’s in paralysis.”

“Even though the work reflects hard times, there’s not paralysis here,” the 75-year-old filmmaker said at an afternoon news conference. “They’re breathing life into fresh, new stories.”

The selection of films are “as diverse as they can be” and no overriding theme has emerged, said festival director John Cooper.

“Independent film is the theme,” he said.

For 11 days every January, Sundance becomes the focal point of the independent film world as established directors and stars mix with up-and-coming talent, while theatrical distributors prowl the festival looking for the next indie hit, and film lovers just have a good time being the first audiences to see new movies.

“You can’t make a film with a festival in mind, and it’s not something I would have expected or taken for granted. But it’s always kind of the dream in the back of your mind,” said Lauren Greenfield, who premiered her debut documentary “Thin” at Sundance in 2006 and returns this time with one of the opening-night films, “The Queen of Versailles,” chronicling the housing-bust story of a couple that tried to build a palatial 90,000-square-foot (27,000-meter) mansion.

“I think it’s this really magical environment, a place that’s such a nurturing, supportive influence for independent films. Even when you’re out there making your film, I think that you think about Sundance, and it just kind of gives you motivation.”

Also opening Thursday is “Hello I Must Be Going,” actor-turned-director Todd Louiso’s U.S. dramatic entry that centers on a love story between a 19-year-old man and a 35-year-old divorcee, and stars Melanie Lynskey; the world-cinema drama “Wish You Were Here,” a dark story of a vacation gone wrong from Australian filmmaker Kieran Darcy-Smith that stars Joel Edgerton and Teresa Palmer; and Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul’s world-cinema documentary “Searching for Sugar Man,” a portrait of promising 1970s singer-songwriter Rodriguez and his fade into obscurity.

Sundance also is a launch place for films that already have distributors, who show off their films hoping to build buzz among audiences and the legions of cinema journalists and bloggers who attend the festival.

“All the film press in North America is at Sundance to discover films,” said Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, which is showing director Nadine Labaki’s Lebanese drama “Where Do We Go Now?” and Gareth Huw Evans’ Indonesian action tale “The Raid” at the festival. “Sundance is like the best place to set up a film for release. You have instant press junkets at Sundance.”

Among the more established filmmakers showcasing their work at the festival are Spike Lee with his urban drama “Red Hook Summer,” in which he reprises the character he played in “Do the Right Thing”; Stephen Frears with his sports-wagering caper “Lay the Favorite,” starring Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rebecca Hall; documentary veteran Joe Berlinger with his Paul Simon portrait “Under African Skies”; and Julie Delpy with her relationship comedy “2 Days in New York,” in which she stars with Chris Rock.

The Sundance Film Festival has grown tremendously over its 28 years, but Redford said the institute’s mission remains the same: to support and encourage independent filmmakers and provide a platform for their work to be seen.

“There are those people who say, ‘Why give money to art? It means nothing,’” Redford said. “I think it means a lot. And we’re here to try and prove how much it does mean. So we can only do what we can do, but we’re going to keep doing it.

The Sundance Film Festival continues through Jan. 29. (AP)

___

Online:

http://www.sundance.org/festival

The American Theatre Wing announced Tuesday both the award-show date and the cutoff for eligibility to receive one of the awards. Productions must open before April 25 to be in the running.

The awards, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will be handed out June 10 starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. The telecast will broadcast live on CBS from New York’s Beacon Theatre.

Last year’s show was its first at the Beacon, a much smaller venue than the Tony Awards’ previous home at Radio City Music Hall. There was no announcement on who will be the show’s host. Last year, it was Neil Patrick Harris. (AP)

——

Online: http://www.TonyAwards.com

The Academy Awards is the best awards show on TV — at least according to Billy Crystal.

The veteran Oscar host calls it “the granddaddy of all the shows” and says in a new video that he appreciates being “trusted with this show again.”

Crystal says he and Oscar producers are approaching the show “as fans of the movies and movie theaters and our first experiences in them.”

Wearing a tuxedo and dancing among oversized Oscar statues, the 63-year-old comedian acknowledges that “there’s so much expected” of his return and hints that he’ll take his traditional approach to opening the show by inserting himself into the year’s films.

The video is among special content the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is offering through its official show website, Oscar.com (AP)

According to time zone-adjusted Nielsen “fast national” figures released Monday, the Globes finished within 1 percent of the 17 million viewers who tuned in to the 2011 broadcast.

Carried by NBC from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, the program aired live in every time zone. Some western markets also carried an encore telecast immediately following the live coverage.

British comedian-actor Ricky Gervais returned for his third go as host, lampooning many of the nominees, presenters and even the sponsoring Hollywood Foreign Press Association. (AP)

And by the way my record still stands – as one of the worst guessers of this show ever! I got nine correct.

The full winners and nominee list is below.

MOTION PICTURE

Motion Picture, Drama The Descendants The Help Hugo The Ides of March Moneyball War Horse

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama George Clooney, The Descendants Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar Michael Fassbender, Shame Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical The Artist 50/50 Bridesmaids Midnight in Paris My Week With Marilyn

Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture  – Drama Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs Viola Davis, The Help Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical Jean Dujardin, The Artist Brendan Gleeson, The Guard Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50 Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love. Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Best Director – Motion Picture Martin Scorsese, Hugo Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris George Clooney, The Ides of March Michel Hazanvicius, The Artist Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture Octavia Spencer, The Help Berenice Bejo, The Artist Jessica Chastain, The Help Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Foreign Language Film A Separation (Iran) The Flowers of War (China) In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA) The Kid With A Bike (Belgium) The Skin I Live In (Spain)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Moneyball

Best Animated Feature Film The Adventures of Tintin Arthur Christmas Cars 2 Puss in Boots Rango

Best Performance By An Actress in A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn Jodie Foster, Carnage Charlize Theron, Young Adult Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Original Song – Motion Picture “Masterpiece” — W.E. Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry “Hello Hello” — Gnomeo & Juliet Music by: Elton John Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin “The Keeper” — Machine Gun Preacher Music & Lyrics by: Chris Cornell “Lay Your Head Down” — Albert Nobbs Music by: Brian Byrne Lyrics by: Glenn Close “The Living Proof” — The Help Music by: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason Jr. Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr., Damon Thomas

Best Original Score – Motion Picture Ludovic Bource, The Artist Abel Korzeniowski, W.E. Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Howard Shore, Hugo John Williams, War Horse

Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture Christopher Plummer, Beginners Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn Albert Brooks, Drive Jonah Hill, Moneyball Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

TELEVISION

Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical Modern Family, ABC Enlightened, HBO Episodes, Showtime Glee, FOX New Girl, FOX

Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical Matt LeBlanc, Episodes Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock David Duchovny, Californication Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory Thomas Jane, Hung

Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series – Drama Claire Danes, Homeland Mireille Enos, The Killing Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife Madeleine Stowe, Revenge Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series, Or Motion Picture Made for Television Jessica Lange, American Horror Story Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey Sofia Vergara, Modern Family Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

Best Performance By An Actor in A Supporting Role in A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Performance By An Actor In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television Idris Elba, Luther Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey William Hurt, To Big to Fail Bill Nighy, Page Eight Dominic West, The Hour

Best Television Series – Drama Homeland, Showtime American Horror Story, FX Boardwalk Empire, HBO Boss, STARZ Game of Thrones, HBO

Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Drama Kelsey Grammer, Boss Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad Jeremy Irons, The Borgias Damian Lewis, Homeland

Best Performance By An Actress In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce Romola Garai, The Hour Diane Lane, Cinema Verite Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television Downton Abbey,  PBS (Masterpiece) Cinema Verite, HBO The Hour, BBC America Mildred Pierce, HBO Too Big to Fail,  HBO

Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical Laura Dern, Enlightened Zooey Deschanel, New Girl Tina Fey, 30 Rock Laura Linney, The Big C Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

So below are my guesses. Starting this year, the Academy doesn’t have to have the now standard 10 films for Best Picture, so it may be five or eight. Who knows?

The Golden Globes are a great insight into possible Oscar nominations, but they also like contemporary concepts – while I feel the Academy still likes and prefers old Hollywood, although voters are slowly acknowledging newer movies and concepts. Think it started around when Eminem won for 8 Mile – think that’s when the tide started to turn.

Nominations will be announced January 24th.

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descedants

The Help

War Horse

The Tree of Life

Moneyball

Hugo

Best Actor

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

George Clooney, The Descendants

Leonardo Dicaprio, J Edgar

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Michael Fassbender, Shame

Best Actress

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Viola Davis, The Help

Glenn Close, Albert Hobbs

Best Supporting Actor

Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Brad Pitt, Tree of Life

Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn

Best Supporting Actress

Jessica Chastain, The Help

Octavia Spencer, The Help

Berenice Bejo, The Artist

Janet McTeer, Albert Hobbs

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Director

Terrence Malick, Tree of Life

Steven Spielberg, War Horse

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

George Clooney, Ides of March

Best Adapted Screenplay

Christopher Hampton, A Dangerous Method

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants

Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Moneyball

Steven Zaillian, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, Ides of March

Best Original Screenplay

Dustin Lance Black, J Edgar

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids

Asghar Farhadi, A Separation

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Visual Effects

Hugo

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

X-Men: First Class

Tree of Life

Best Costume Design

War Horse

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

The Help

Hugo

The Artist

Best Animated Feature

Rango

Puss in Boots

Cars 2

There are no precursors to this show – so these guesses are really just that. And now that Academy Award nominations were moved there really are no helpful clues.

Which is good – keeps my brain active, which is the whole point of this exercise anyway. See how close I come. And let me tell you – the TV category – I’ve never been good at that one.

And now that I’ve shared my predictions with you, they’re probably all wrong!

FILM

Best Motion Picture – Drama
“Rampart”
“The Descendants”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“The Ides of March”
“Moneyball”
“War Horse”

Start off with the worst category. Well, I don’t think War Horse will win or Hugo. The Descendants has a good chance, along with The Help, Moneyball and Ides of March. From those four, Ides of March may have a good shot since it is an election year. The Help has great buzz and great acting. Moneyball involved great screenwriters and The Descendants is great Oscar bait. I think it may come down to Moneyball and The Descendants with Moneyball winning. Or The Help. Why is this so hard this year!! Final answer – The Descendants.

Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
“50/50″
“The Artist”
“Bridesmaids”
“Midnight in Paris”
“My Week With Marilyn”

I think ‘The Artist’ will win just because of the momentum it’s slowly gaining. And it has yet to even officially enter the Oscar race. No one wants to stop the train now – and look bad you know? Would you want to be one of the major organizations that denies this movie its due?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Glenn Close – “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis – “The Help”
Rooney Mara – “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep – “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”

Meryl Streep will win because the HFPA loves her despite not winning an Oscar in some time. She just looks good with awards in her hands. I think Swinton could be a major roadblock for her.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
George Clooney – “The Descendants”
Leonardo DiCaprio -”J. Edgar”
Michael Fassbender – “Shame”
Ryan Gosling – “The Ides of March”
Brad Pitt – “Moneyball”

This could finally be Brad Pitt’s year. And it helps he’s in a slew of really good critically acclaimed movies. The Tree of Life is also helping his standing. But I think it will be Moneyball that finally gives him an actual award.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Jodi Foster – “Carnage”
Charlize Theron – “Young Adult”
Kristen Wiig – “Bridesmaids”
Michelle Williams – “My Week With Marilyn”
Kate Winslet – “Carnage”

I just have a hunch about this one. Carnage won several Tonys when it first appeared, but I think since it has two actors nominated in it, they may cancel each other out leaving Michelle Williams – as the woman who always wanted respect – to finally get it.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Jean Dujardin – “The Artist”
Brendan Gleeson – “The Guard”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “50/50″
Ryan Gosling – “Crazy, Stupid, Love”
Owen Wilson – “Midnight in Paris”

I don’t even really know why Owen Wilson is nominated – sorry to say. And I love the guy! But I think Dujardin will get it. Maybe not an Oscar, but definitely a Golden Globe. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a good dark horse – due to character uniqueness – and you got to love a guy who shaves his head on film. At least I have more respect.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Berenice Bejo – “The Artist”
Janet McTeer – “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer – “The Help”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

This category is weird to me in that any of the three actresses nominated for The Help could win. Complete opposite of what I said above with Michelle Williams. Funny huh?

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh – “My Week With Marilyn”
Albert Brooks – “Drive”
Jonah Hill – “Moneyball”
Viggo Mortensen – “A Dangerous Method “
Christopher Plummer – “Beginners”

This has to be the worst category on this list besides Best Drama. They’re both wide open. And no one really sticks out, like they’re all good, but I haven’t heard much buzz about anyone in particular. I do like Viggo Mortensen – and think he should be rewarded at some point for his acting choices. There’s just something dark and mysterious about him – which also could drive off voters. Kenneth Branagh should get it. Sir Laurence Olivier? Come on – who can deny him?!

Best Director – Motion Picture
Woody Allen – “Midnight in Paris”
George Clooney – “The Ides of March”
Michel Hazanavicius – “The Artist”
Alexander Payne – “The Descendants”
Martin Scorsese – “Hugo”

I think The Artist will get a few awards this year as a symbolic thank you and memory to old cinema. Alexander Payne could be a dark horse. But I think Hazanavicius will emerge as winner.

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
“Midnight In Paris” – Woody Allen
“The Ides of March” – George Clooney , Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
“Moneyball” – Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian

I really want to go with Moneyball – once you’re hot, you’re hot. Sorkin won an Oscar this year and he’s been mentioned to write about Steve Jobs. Who else would you want? And Zaillian – the guy wrote Schlinder’s List, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and American Gangster. As a side note, if you can write a script about the dead art of silent movies and turn it into one the most talked about movies of the year – that says something too.

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Gnomeo & Juliet “- “Hello Hello” (Elton John)
“Machine Gun Preacher” – “The Keeper” (Chris Cornell)
“Albert Nobbs” – “Lay Your Head Down” (Glenn Close)
“The Help” – “The Living Proof” (Mary J. Blige)
“W.E.” – “Masterpiece” (Madonna)

Ugh, toss up between Chris Cornell and Mary J Blige. Alternative singers winning big awards seems to be a thing right now, but I just think Blige could pull this one out. Her voice, her soul poured out in melodies. Yet my youth lies with grunge and Soundgarden.

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
“The Artist” – Ludovic Bource
“W.E.” – Abel Korzeniowski
“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
“Hugo” – Howard Shore
“War Horse” – John Williams

See above. Gotta go with Reznor – also current Oscar winner. All these years he rebelled against the establishment and now he’s a part of it – and changing it. For the good. Plus, I think the movie’s edginess will help him.

Best Animated Feature Film
“The Adventures of Tintin”
“Arthur Christmas”
“Cars 2″
“Puss in Boots”
“Rango”

A part of me says Cars 2, because it’s a Pixar movie. But not all Pixar movies are made the same – starting with this one. Didn’t turn out to be such a Godsend as we thought it would be. Critics hated it and therefore audiences didn’t flock to it. None of the others stand it too – but I have to choose one. I like Puss in Boots or Tintin for sentimental values. I like Puss in Boots. The HFPA likes contemporary – so I’m going with the Shrek spinoff.

Best Foreign Language Film
“The Flowers of War” (China)
“In The Land of Blood and Honey” (USA – directed by Angelina Jolie)
“The Kid With The Bike” (Belgium)
“A Separation” (Iran)
“The Skin I Live In” (Spain)

I have heard nothing but good things from A Separation. It may be hard to watch, but the story is rich – and for something like that to come from Iran – that’s just amazing to me. Just shows there’s talent and surprises everywhere. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

TELEVISION

Best Television Series – Drama
“American Horror Story” (FX)
“Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)
“Boss” (Starz)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Homeland” (Showtime)

Wow, just noticed – if you don’t have basic cable, you couldn’t have seen any of these nominated shows! By buzz alone, I might have to guess American Horror Story – there seems to be quiet yet continuing talk about it. Game of Thrones’s excitement has kind of passed on, and Boss didn’t seem to get a lot of any buzz. But Boardwalk Empire has to win – it’s the story of America – really.

Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
“Enlightened” (HBO)
“Episodes” (Showtime)
“Glee” (FOX)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“New Girl” (FOX)

Do we even need to guess? I think Modern Family is on a train that can’t be stopped. Glee won a few years back, but I think it’s past its prime to win major awards. And while New Girl is cute, I just don’ t think it deserves to win just yet – maybe a few years from now.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Claire Danes – “Homeland”
Mireille Enos – “The Killing”
Julianna Margulies – “The Good Wife”
Madeleine Stowe – “Revenge”
Callie Thorne – “Necessary Roughness”

Julianna Margulies seems to be a strong candidate for me. Claire Danes won last year and feels like a safe bet, but I am going to go out on a limb with the ER veteran. The Good Wife is a spectacular show, juicy and cerebral. The writing is amazing.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Steve Buscemi – “Boardwalk Empire”
Bryan Cranston – “Breaking Bad”
Kelsey Grammer – “Boss”
Jeremy Irons – “The Borgias”
Damian Lewis – “Homeland”

I always seem to guess this category wrong. Bryan Cranston was not nominated for an Emmy this year – first time in three years, yet at least he gets a nomination unlike Jim Parsons.I really want Steve Buscemi, but I’m also not an official voter! I’m going to go out on a limb for this one – why not Steve Buscemi!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Laura Dern – “Enlightened”
Zooey Deschanel – “New Girl”
Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Laura Linney – “The Big C”
Amy Poehler – “Parks and Recreation”

Tina Fey has become too mainstream to win this category – along with Alec Baldwin. They both deserve it, but I think their acting in this particular show has jumped the shark. Amy Poehler is a great choice, but I think she may have a chance since she shares a SNL background. Zooey Deschanel – too new too win, but Glee won in its infancy as did Desperate Housewives, so she does have a chance – for novelty’s sake. But I think I’ll give it to Linney.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”
David Duchovny – “Californication”
Johnny Galecki – “The Big Bang Theory”
Thomas Jane – “Hung”
Matt LeBlanc – “Episodes”

My favorite in this is always Alec Baldwin, but his recent troubles could play a part in voting. It shouldn’t since it has nothing to do with acting, but that doesn’t mean it won’t play a small role in a subliminal way. When I first saw this category I was surprised to see a no-show from double Emmy winner Jim Parsons. Which leaves Johnny Galecki to pick up the slack. Sometimes life imitates art, so why not David Duchovny? Got a good shot at winning!

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
“Cinema Verite” (HBO)
“Downton Abbey Masterpiece” (PBS)
“The Hour” (BBC America)
“Mildred Pierce” (HBO)
“Too Big To Fail” (HBO)

Comes down to Mildred Pierce or Downton Abbey Masterpiece for me. And I think Mildred Pierce wll emerge as winner. It has momentum while Downton has another chance to win when the new season comes out!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Romola Garai – “The Hour”
Diane Lane – “Cinema Verite”
Elizabeth McGovern – “Downton Abbey Masterpiece”
Emma Watson – “Appropriate Adult”
Kate Winslet – “Mildred Pierce”

Winslet hands down. Not only is she  one of my generation’s greatest actresses, but she’s not afraid to take dark, meaty roles. McGovern could be the dark horse.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Hugh Bonneville – “Downton Abbey Masterpiece”
Idris Elba – “Luther”
William Hurt – “Too Big To Fail”
Bill Nighy – “Page Eight Masterpiece”
Dominic West – “The Hour”

Bill Nighy. Don’t know why. But I know anything with the word ‘masterpiece’ in it – it’s got to be good right? Seriously, I like that he has range. Or Hugh Bonneville. Really a toss up here.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jessica Lang – “American Horror Story”
Kelly MacDonald – “Boardwalk Empire”
Maggie Smith – “Downton Abbey Masterpiece”
Sofia Vergara – “Modern Family”
Evan Rachel Wood – “Mildred Pierce”

My heart tells me Maggie Smith. No one else really stands out for me. But she – she’s always amazing.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Peter Dinklage – “Game of Thrones”
Paul Giamatti – “Too Big To Fail”
Guy Pearce – “Mildred Pierce”
Tim Robbins – “Cinema Verite”
Eric Stonestreet – “Modern Family”

I always want Stonestreet to win, but then Paul Giamatti is just so awesome. Have huge amounts of respect for him and his acting choices. Peter Dinklage won the Emmy this year. But then Guy Pearce also makes daring choices. I hate this category. I love Giamatti, but I think I’ll go with Dinklage.

Ricky Gervais will return to host the ceremony, which airs on Sunday, January 15 on NBC. Winners are chosen by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Also at the event, actor Morgan Freeman will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

– Picture: “The Artist.”

– Actor: George Clooney, “The Descendants.”

– Actress: Viola Davis, “The Help.”

– Supporting actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

– Supporting actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help.”

– Acting ensemble: “The Help.”

– Director: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist.”

– Original screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”

– Adapted screenplay: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, “Moneyball.”

– Cinematography: “The Tree of Life” and “War Horse” (tie)

– Art direction: “Hugo.”

– Editing: “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”

– Costume design: “The Artist.”

– Makeup: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”

– Visual effects: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”

– Sound: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”

– Animated feature: “Rango.”

– Action movie: “Drive.”

– Comedy movie: “Bridesmaids.”

– Foreign language film: “A Separation.”

– Documentary feature: “George Harrison: Living in the Material World.”

– Song: “Life’s a Happy Song,” Bret McKenzie and the Muppets, “The Muppets.”

– Score: “The Artist.”

– Joel Siegel award: Sean Penn.

(AP)

Organizers of the Indio, Calif., music festival on Monday announced a dizzying list of top musicians who are slated to perform over two long weekends, April 13-15 and April 20-22.

The six-day concert schedule marks the first time Coachella is to extend over two consecutive weekends.

In addition to the headliners, more than 100 bands are expected to perform at the shows, including Arctic Monkeys, The Shins, Bon Iver, Pulp, Florence and the Machine, Beirut, At The Drive In, Cat Power and ska legends Madness.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. PST and start at $285 for a festival pass.

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Online: The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, www.coachella.com