Golden Globe Winners Arent a Surprise

This year's Golden Globe winners were announced on Sunday, and there weren't too many surprises in the film categories. Probably the biggest one was that "My Week with Marilyn" qualifies as a comedy/musical. As expected, supporting honors went to Christopher Plummer for "Beginners" and Octavia Spencer for "The Help," both of whom looked wonderful and gave great speeches. In the Comedy/Musical category, "The Artist" took best film, with its star Jean Dujardin winning lead actor. Michelle Williams took lead actress honors for "Marilyn." In the Drama category, "The Descendants" won top honors with its star George Clooney winning Best Actor over fellow hunks Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Fassbender. Best Actress, a neck in neck race between Viola Davis of "The Help" and Meryl Streep of "The Iron Lady," saw Streep emerge victorious. In what might have been the only real surprises, "Midnight In Paris" took screenwriting honors and Martin Scorsese won Best Director for "Hugo." This irritated me at first, but I figure Scorsese lost for years when he should have son, so I'm okay with him winning a few now.So what does all this mean for the Oscars? Not much, really. I suspect that the Globes, in an attempt to look like they can predict the Oscars, go for who they think will win the Academy Awards. That's why early front runners in the past like "Babel" and "The Social Network" have taken the top prize, only to watch it slip away on Oscar night. In other words, Clooney shouldn't rest easy just yet--Pitt's right on his heels.Other thoughts from the night:Was everyone else as disturbed by that clip of Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Morgan Freeman singing "I Love To Take a Bath In A Casket" (above) as I was?I have trouble looking at TV Drama winner Kelsey Grammer since his appearances on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." The following people did not look amused by host Ricky Gervais: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and especially Elton John. And finally, for me, the best part of the evening: Melissa McCarthy's tears of joy for Octavia Spencer winning Best Supporting Actress. READ MORE ON BEHIND THE SCENES

HBO springs into political action

HBO has set launch dates for political projects "Game Change" and "Veep." The telepic "Game Change," in which Ed Harris plays Sen. John McCain and Julianne Moore takes on the role of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the two campaign for the Republican ticket in the 2008 presidential race, will premiere March 10. "Veep," a half-hour comedy series in which Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays the vice president, is set to debut April 22. HBO will present both as part of its three-hour session Friday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena. Also to be showcased in front of scribes will be the pay cabler's new David Milch-Michael Mann horse racing series "Luck," which is the next new HBO series to premiere. Skein gets out of the gate Jan. 29. Net already ran a sneak preview of the pilot in December immediately following the season finale of "Boardwalk Empire." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Deneuve scores Chaplin award

Film Society of Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center has attracted on Catherine Deneuve to find the org's 39th annual Chaplin Award. The kudo, which fits to notable creatives inside the film industry, will recognition french actress' fifty years of film be employed in photos including "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," "Repulsion," "The Hunger," "Indochine" and "Potiche." Gala award ceremony features a roster of stars arranged for your tribute additionally to feature and interview clips. Charlie Chaplin was the inaugural people receiving the award in 1972. Laurel has more recently attended Martin Scorcese, Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Tom Hanks and Michael Douglas, with Sidney Poitier taking home the award a year ago. The April gala is probably the Film Society's finest profile annual occasions, with the NY Film Festival inside the fall. Org is presently inside a condition of transition, with longtime program director Richard Pena walking reduced the conclusion in the festival's 50th edition later this year. No new program director has yet been named. Chaplin gala is positioned for April 2 at Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center's Alicy Tully Hall. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Taylor Quick, Amanda Seyfried Offered 'Les Miserables' Roles?

Sorry, Jum Michele, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood: it appears like Tom Hooper fell under Taylor Swift's spell. The Oscar-winning director has apparently offered the role of Eponine in 'Les Miserables' towards the pop songstress. Possibly he was enchanted to satisfy her. It's only a deal -- reported through the film site Twitch -- so take this having a touch of suspicion, but: Quick would take part in the star-entered French ingenue who falls deeply in love with Marius (Eddie Redmayne) within the musical adaptation, really should presumed discussions exercise. It is a small-ant part, but Eponine does reach belt the immortal song "By Myself.Inch Picture this below, Taytay-fied. But, wait: there's more 'Les Miserables' casting almost-news! Twitch also reviews that Amanda Seyfried continues to be offered the role of Cosette, the daughter of Fantine (Hathaway As Catwoman), who plays most within the musical's time-leaped second act. According to previous rumor, it appears that Hooper wants his stars and stars to sing onset, without vocal doubles, meaning a great voice is really a plus for cast people. Quick is clearly a singer, but Seyfried practical knowledge too ('Mamma Mia,' y'all!), just like fellow cast people Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. 'Les Miserables' -- possibly with one of these two lithe stars -- will hit theaters on 12 ,. 7. [via Twitch] [Photo: DAVID KRIEGER/bauergriffinonline] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Devil Inside' Exclusive Motion Image Is Eye Opening

Consider this a fair warning. When you see the image below move, that isn't you losing your mind or the devil taking over your computer screen. This is an exclusive motion image from the upcoming horror film "The Devil Inside," the latest entry into the found footage subgenre. This footage takes a look at the wacky world of exorcism and follows a young woman's journey to Rome to find her mother, who has been kept in a Catholic psychiatric hospital ever since she killed three people during an exorcism. "The Devil Inside" tries to find a balance between religion and science in the way exorcisms battle possession. In the motion image, we see that balance front and center with Evan Helmuth, who plays a priest in the film that uses the strengths of both to expel the devil from his unlucky victims. "The Devil Inside" hits theaters on January 6, 2012. What did you think of the motion image from "The Devil Inside"? Tell us in the comments below and on Twitter!

Fuse Lights Up Funny or Die's Comedic Game Show Billy on the Street

Billy on the Street Billy Eichner has a camera, a microphone and an astounding passion for pop culture. Let him loose on the streets of NY, and you have the basis for Fuse's new game show Funny or Die's Billy on the Street.Produced by the folks behind Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy's Funny or Die website, Billy on the Street features a hyper Eichner as he prowls Manhattan, barking questions at unsuspecting pedestrians. It's a surreal version of Cash Cab - without the cab - as these strangers are suddenly given a chance to win some money.But there's a catch: Eichner will sometimes make up the rules as he goes along. If he doesn't like your answer, he might just walk away (as he does in the first episode, when a contestant belittles rocker Pink, a favorite of Eichner's). And in the final round of questions, the answer is subjective -as contestants must somehow agree with Eichner's opinions."This is a larger than life version of myself," Eichner says. "I'm pop culture obsessed, but it's definitely exaggerated for the show. I thought it would be funny if I treated celebrity and my opinion about it as if it were war journalism and the most important thing in the world."Eichner first incorporated the idea into a live comedic stage show he did in NY. "People had a great reaction to it, and began to wait for it," he says. "We knew people liked it, but we held off putting it online for a while."The videos became instant viral hits once they were finally posted last year, and they soon caught the attention of Funny or Die. That then turned into a pitch for a TV show, which landed at Fuse (where it debuts tonight, at 11/10c) "The savvier audience members realize that I'm commenting on pop culture and how opinionated the media-drenched personalities have become," he says. "But there are also people who just like the fact that I'm messing around with people."Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Animator Dan Mills dies at 80

Animator and layout artist Dan Mills, whose credits included TV series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and "Family Guy," died Dec. 5. He was 80. Over the course of a career that lasted from 1956 until his retirement in 2002, Mills worked for Disney, Snowball, Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, Hyperion, Universal and Fox Animation.Mills was a layout supervisor for "He-Man" and "She-Ra: Princess of Power" in 1985, the 1989 series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and the 1990 feature toon "Happily Ever After."As a layout artist he earned credits on films including "The Secret of the Sword," "Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night," "Freddie as F.R.O.7.," "Asterix Conquers America," "The Page Master" and "Cats Don't Dance" and TV series "Pandamonium" and "Family Guys."Animator credits include "Linus! The Lion Hearted" in 1964, the "ABC Afterschool Special" episode "Cyrano" and TV series "These Are the Days," "Partridge Family 2200 AD," "Jabberjaw" and "Godzilla."Mills was story director on three series in 1973, "Goober and the Ghost Chasers," "Inch High, Private Eye" and "Speed Buggy," art director for the 1965 series "Captain Fathom" and a model artist on "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids."In his final credit, he was a storyboard artist for the 2002 made-for-video pic "The Hunchback of Notre Dame II." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com