Hollywood heavyweights eye 'Golden' night

Hollywood heavyweights eye 'Golden' night

Sunday night's 70th annual Golden Globes caps a week that has seen the Oscar nominations and New York Film Critics Circle honors.

Now, let’s get funky!

That’s what the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s giddy event is for, while giving likely Oscar winners a chance to hone their humility and boosting front-runners. Here are the best bets for tonight’s show, at 8 p.m. on NBC.

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Outside of the Emmys, the Golden Globe Awards is the year’s biggest night for TV stars.
Winners can snag far more than just trophies â€" they get major leverage when it comes time to renegotiate their multimillion-dollar salaries with television networks. Here’s where we’re putting our money tonight:

BEST PICTURE (DRAMA)

“Argo,” “Django Unchained,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Zero Dark Thirty”

“Lincoln” is cloaked in immense power. But “Pi” embraces world spirituality; that may click with the international HFPA.

BEST PICTURE (MUSICAL/COMEDY)

“Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” “Les Miserables,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” “Silver Linings Playbook”

Though a lot of weird love went to “Salmon,” “Les Miz’s” dream of an Oscar boost will come true.

Bebeto Matthews/Associated Press

ABC's "Modern Family," which stars sexy Sofia Vergara, is favorite in Best TV Series-comedy category.

DIRECTOR

Ben Affleck, “Argo”; Kathryn Bigelow, “Zero Dark Thirty”; Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”; Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”; Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained”

Spielberg is no alien to the Globes, with 12 nominations (and 2 wins). Yet Lee has won two of three. If Spielberg loses, it’s because the HFPA can’t quit Lee.

ACTOR (DRAMA)

Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln;” Richard Gere, “Arbitrage;” John Hawkes, “The Sessions;” Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master;” Denzel Washington, “Flight”

Day-Lewis should just carry a bag around to put his awards in.

ACTRESS (DRAMA)

Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty;” Marion Cotillard, “Rust and Bone;” Helen Mirren, “Hitchcock;” Naomi Watts, “The Impossible;” Rachel Weisz, “The Deep Blue Sea”

“Zero Dark Thirty’s” tough politics may not jell with the HFPA; bad news for Chastain. Look for Watts’ turn in a tsunami drama to rise instead.

Emiley Schweich/Everett Collection

"Silver Linings Playbook," starring Jennifer Lawrence, is up for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy).

ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL)

Jack Black, “Bernie;” Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook;” Hugh Jackman, “Les Miz;” Ewan McGregor, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen;” Bill Murray, “Hyde Park on Hudson”

They love Murray, but look for the crowd to sing the praises of Jackman, the man from “Miz.”

ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL)

Emily Blunt, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen;” Judi Dench, “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel;” Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook;” Maggie Smith, “Quartet;” Meryl Streep, “Hope Springs”

A win for the sexy and serious “Hunger Games” star gives her an Oscar head-start.

BEST TV SERIES (DRAMA)

“Boardwalk Empire,” “Breaking Bad,” “Downton Abbey,” “Homeland,” “The Newsroom”

“Homeland” swept the Emmys, and we’re betting on a similar outcome tonight.

AP Photo/FX

Louis C.K. (pictured) is up against Alec Baldwin and Jim Parsons for Best Actor in a TV comedy series.

BEST TV SERIES (COMEDY)

“The Big Bang Theory,” “Episodes,” “Girls,” “Modern Family,” “Smash”

“Modern Family” will win because it always does. Globes, Emmys ... the ABC comedy has been unstoppable for years.

BEST TV MOVIE OR MINISERIES

“Game Change,” “The Girl,” “Hatfields & McCoys,” “The Hour, ” “Political Animals”

HBO’s “Game Change” will win. It’s already on a streak: five Emmys this season.

BEST ACTOR IN A TV SERIES (DRAMA)

Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire;” Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad;” Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom;” Jon Hamm, “Mad Men;” Damian Lewis, “Homeland”

Damian Lewis ... although we think Bryan Cranston deserves it more.

Claire Folger

John Goodman, Alan Arkin and Ben Affleck star in Affleck's hit drama "Argo," nominated for Best Picture.

BEST ACTOR, TV SERIES (COMEDY)

Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock;” Don Cheadle, “House of Lies;” Louis C.K., “Louie;” Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes;” Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Louis C.K., because he’s awesome.

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES (DRAMA)

Connie Britton, “Nashville;” Glenn Close, “Damages;” Claire Danes, “Homeland;” Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey;” Julianna Marguiles, “The Good Wife”

For the win: Claire Danes. Period.

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES (COMEDY)

Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl;” Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep;” Lena Dunham, “Girls;” Tina Fey, “30 Rock;” Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”

Why not Amy Poehler? She is hosting the show! But so is Fey. Can they share?

BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

Kevin Costner, “Hatfields & McCoys;” Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock;” Woody Harrelson, “Game Change;” Toby Jones, “The Girl;” Clive Owen, “Hemingway & Gellhorn.”

Harrelson, ’cause he’s more popular â€" but Benedict Cumberbatch could snatch it away.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

Julianne Moore, “Game Change;” Nicole Kidman, “Hemingway & Gellhorn;”Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Asylum;” Sienna Miller, “The Girl;” Sigourney Weaver, “Political Animals”

Julianne Moore. No one except Sarah Palin can argue that she did an amazing job channeling, er, Sarah Palin.