Five Ways The SAGs Predicted The Oscars

So much goes into predicting and ultimately deciding Oscar nominations that it can be difficult to decide which award shows to pay attention to and which to ignore. This week's Oscar nominations, however, proved that one award show in particular can be very useful in predicting some of the Academy's more surprising picks. The Screen Actors Guild Awards announced their nominations weeks before the Academy's and showed that their picks should not be overlooked during award season. SAG both honored and turned away many of the same performances that the Academy shocked and snubbed earlier this week. Here's our breakdown. Demián Bichir The "A Better Life" actor had stayed just outside the award conversation for most of the season, earning some recognition with critics' circles, but never snagging a big nod. That changed with the SAG awards, which gave Bichir recognition that the Academy echoed weeks later. Michael Fassbender One of the most daring roles in film this year didn't yield award returns to the man who bared it all, Michael Fassbender. He may have earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role as a sex addict in "Shame," but Fassbender didn't repeat for the Screen Actors Guild and was ultimately shut out at the Oscars. It just goes to show that nudity doesn't always mean awards. Jonah Hill If the Golden Globes nominate a big star, it's never a guarantee that an Academy Award nomination will follow. While Hill was a more likely nod than Bichir was before the Oscar nominations, he was far from a lock. The SAG nomination certainly helped bolster his chances, and when the Academy's nod came weeks later, it was much less of a surprise. Albert Brooks Throughout award season, Brooks made no secret of the campaign to get him a nomination for his villainous role in "Drive." He joked openly and often about his nominations and wins, but when he missed out on a SAG nomination, the laughing stopped, and the conversation changed. The Academy snub this week came as only a mildly surprising disappointment. Melissa McCarthy The "Bridesmaids" breakout went through a series of ups and downs during her campaign for a nomination. The buzz around the role and the film's popularity catapulted McCarthy into the conversation, but a snub at the Golden Globes made some doubt that the Academy would recognize a comedic role. Fortunately for McCarthy, she rode the wave of the SAG nomination and turned it into her ticket to Oscar night. Tell us what you think about the SAGs in the comments section and on Twitter!

Dick Tufeld dies at 85

Radio and tv stalwart Dick Tufeld, who was simply most broadly noted for his vocal work -- like the voice in the robot in "Lost in Space" -- died of natural causes on Sunday, Jan. 22, at his home in Studio City, Calif. He was 85. Tufeld spent 3 decades since the voice for ABC daytime programming and did stints while using Grammy Honours as well as the Emmy Honours. Tufeld launched his entertainment career in 1945 getting a summer season job at La radio station KLAC. There he developed a show business gossip program situated having a youthful literary agent, Irwin Allen, beginning a extended friendship and professional link with the television sci-fi pioneer. Tufeld, who transported an in-depth, resonant voice, found themselves as you're watching microphone inside a few years, announcing "The Astounding Mr. Malone," "Falstaff Fables" and "Space Patrol." He soon found work, including hosting "The Dick Tufeld Sports Page" and "Focus on LaInch for KABC La. He came out, uncredited, on 16 cases of the tv Western "Annie Oakley" in 1954, which he was the announcer for any couple of cases of "Wally Disney's Wonderful Arena of Color." He introduced 16 Grammy Honours shows as well as the Emmys. Tufeld also offered since the announcer for several variety shows starring Judy Garland, Milton Berle, Julie Andrews, Red-colored-colored Skelton, Rodney Dangerfield, Tom Manley while others, too for Warner Bros.' "Original Bugs Bunny" and Hanna-Barbera's "The Jetsons." His other credits incorporated "Peyton Place," "Zorro," "Bewitched," "I Imagine Jeannie," "Get Smart" and "It's Gary Shandling's Show." For Allen he done series "Voyage towards the feet from the Sea," "Time Tunnel," "The Truly Amazing Four." He voiced the B9 Robot in Allen's cheesy sixties sci-fi series "Lost in Space" -- uttering, in monotone, such now-famous phrases as "Warning, warning," "Danger, Will Robinson!" and "It does not compute." He reprised the role in the "Lost in Space" robot for just two cases of "The Simpsons" as well as the 1998 bigscreen adaptation in the series. Tufeld later came out in 1995 documentary "The Fantasy Cell phone industry's of Irwin Allen." More youthful crowd did the voice-over for hundreds of ads including Grain-A-Roni, Gallo, Ford, Goodyear and Great Western Savings. Richard Tufeld was produced in La to immigrants and was elevated in Pasadena. He attended the school of Speech at Northwestern U., where he met Adrienne Blumberg. Each of them graduated and married in 1948 their marriage made it until her dying in 2004. Tufeld is managed to get by two sons, two kids, six grandchildren together with a brother. Funeral services will probably be held at Mount Sinai, Hollywood Slopes, on Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Flush Latin customers use NATPE

Cinemax is shopping drama 'Strike Back' at NATPE teen and tween shows are expected to become particularly desired.Miami, the gateway to South Usa, will once again host a wave of NATPE participants in the region that has emerged relatively untouched with the global economic crisis, posting dynamic economic growth together with a mainly youthful population that spells burgeoning programming needs from both general and pay TV areas inside the territory. "Latin American tv producers are searching for the eye more youthful audiences in addition to their families, so tween and teen distribution are extremely popular,Inch states Helen Jurado, V . p . of TV sales & distribution at BBC Worldwide South Usa, who recently offered an offer of youth-specific programs to Cinemax South Usa. "Everyone goes for your elusive 18-to-35 audience," she adds. The Cinemax package includes new BBC Worldwide tomboy skein "Sadie J," time-twisting adventure skein "Leonardo," drama skein "Strike Back" and music program "Later With Jools Holland." BBC Worldwide's extensive catalog of concerts is extremely popular. Systems may also be facing the fragmentation from the core middle- and upper-class audience, that's leaning toward the net and mobile items to obtain their entertainment fix. Viacom's youth-skewing Comedy Central is responding with this development by beginning across all multimedia platforms in Portuguese and also the the spanish language language in South Usa on Feb. 1. The network is positioned to attain an initial millions of audiences through distribution handles major cable service companies. Programming includes U.S. photos, skeins, standup comedy shows and native purchases for instance "XHDerbez" and "Virtual assistant p nuez en cuando" from Mexico's Televisa. Daily news shows "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" will probably be available only on Comedy Central Latin America's website, launched in November 2011, along with such Web skeins for instance "The Spooky Show," that's slated to debut round the funnel soon. More companies are actually adopting local production in the region where domestic content remains king. "We're searching at NATPE for completely new series to obtain, and you'll be exploring new formats and sitcoms to remake in Mexico and Argentina by 2013," states Fernando Gaston, senior V . p . of creative, content and music at MTV/VH1/Comedy Central South Usa. "We'll be seeking more telenovela co-production partners at NATPE," states Gaston, in line with MTV's goal to produce one or more youth-specific telenovela yearly. MTV started original content production last year with "Ninas mal," a co-production using the new the new sony Pictures Television. "Popland," its first 100% MTV production, broadcast in the region a year ago. Sister web Nickelodeon South Usa remains creating a slew of tween programs since 2003's "Skimo," its first foray to the area. The completely new slate includes season 2, set to debut Feb. 27, of hit telenovela "Grachi," which concentrates on a tween with magical forces. Nick may also be creating "Julie as well as the Phantoms," the initial skein it's making in South usa, getting a The the spanish language language version debuting in March within the the spanish language language-speaking South Usa. "The pre-tween demo old range 7-9 are relatively underserved," states Tatiana Rodriguez, Nick Latin America's V . p . of programming and artistic strategy. The network is allotting an ordinary 7 p.m. slot due to its in your town produced teen/tween programs, according to Rodriguez. Nick recently inked a noticable difference deal with Miami-based shingle Somos Prods., run by former Venevision Intl. professionals Luis Villanueva and Jose Antonio Espinal. Nick South Usa will unveil a clip of Somos' pilot "Once once, en mi cuadra nada cuadra" (Eleven, Eleven, Nothing Matches My Block) at NATPE. The 80-episode teen skein will debut late 2102 on Nick South Usa, Villanueva states. Alex Marin, senior V . p . of distribution, South Usa, for that new the new sony Pictures Television (SPT) notes a heightened appetite for edgy telenovelas or teleseries (also called short telenovelas) among terrestrial tv producers. "Rosario Tijeras," an SPT co-production with Colombian broadcaster RCN of a female hired assassin, will be a ratings success within the region. SPT is becoming in pre-production on teleseries "La Prepago," that involves a girl leading a double existence against a backdrop of politics, avarice and ambition. SPT headed the go to local production at the begining of 2000s if the remade its gameshows and sitcoms, for instance "The Nanny" and "Mad About Yourself,In . for local auds. Furthermore, it created U.S.-style skeins for instance "Los Simuladores" (The Pretenders), based on an Argentine skein, and "Los Caballeros las Prefieren Brutas" (Gentlemen Prefer Them Dumb) within the Colombian novel by Isabella Santo Domingo. "Demand is exceeding (supply) at this time around,Inch states Marin. Companies offering local content are thriving. But a factor of caution within the BBC's Jurado: "Local production 's time-consuming, pricey and will be offering no guarantees." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Glee, The Voice Snag GLAAD Media Award Nominations

Glee Glee, Assault Gets worse 360, Rhianna as well as the Voice were among nominees introduced Thursday for your Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation."As media still tell new tales about LGBT people and families, most Us citizens now support full equality of LGBT Us citizens,Inch mentioned Mike Thompson, GLAAD's acting leader. "This Year's nominees enlighten and entertain, while spotlighting the diversity within our community. Audiences anticipate seeing their particular cell phone industry's reflected on tv, now more than ever before before, people are the lives of LGBT people. Audiences understand that LGBT figures and tales are basically natural extensions of, and glimpses into, their particular encounters from across America."Will Rachel say yes? Glee's Cory Monteith sishes on Finchel's futureThe groups for your 23rd annual GLAAD Media honours are typical - from reality television and talk shows, to theater and comics.The honours will probably be kept in NY on March 24, La on April 21 too as with San Francisco Bay Area on June 2. See the full report on 116 nominees here.

Exclusive Video: Harry Connick Junior. Discloses Particulars About Law & Order: SVU Arc

Mariska Hargitay and Harry Connick Junior. It has been a tough year for Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) on Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit. First, her team's squad room was bathed with bullets with a troubled victim within the Season 12 finale. After which her longtime partner, Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) suddenly left the pressure at the outset of this year. Fortunately, situations are searching for for Benson - specially when it involves her sex life. In Wednesday's episode, airing at 10/9c on NBC, Benson might find sparks when she's designated to utilize Executive Assistant Da David Haden (guest star Harry Connick Junior. in the to begin four episodes). Law & Order: SVU scoop: Harry Connick Junior. to experience Benson's new love interest "Things I do like about him is he appears to become a guy who's thinking about the reality,Inch Connick Junior. states of Haden. "He appears to become a good guy who's truly thinking about maintaining what the law states ... along with a guy who's searching to complete the best factor." Obtain a start looking at Connick Junior.'s first episode here: Are you currently excited to determine Connick Junior. on Law & Order: SVU?

Syfy's 'Face Off' rankings up

The launch from the second season of Syfy make-up skein "Face Off" enhanced considerably from the debut last year. Wednesday's 10 p.m. episode came two million total audiences (up 37%) and 1.two million (up 35%) within the 18-49 demo. Other demos also saw improvement. An hour or so earlier the cabler received two million overall audiences for that season-eight premiere of "Ghost Predators," a 16% increase from season seven. "Face Off" is created by Mission Control Media, while Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Films and tv produce "Ghost Predators." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman Announced as Golden Globe Presenters

Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman are among the first presenters announced Monday by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. The organization additionally revealed that Antonio Banderas, Clive Owen, Melissa McCarthy, Salma Hayek and Frieda Pinto will join the trio as presenters on Sunday. Ricky Gervais on hosting the Globes: "I do it my way" "This is a prestigious group of charismatic stars that fits perfectly with our reputation as Hollywood's party of the year," Barry Adelman, executive producer of the Globes, said in a statement. Hosted by Ricky Gervais, the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards will be broadcast live Sunday at 8/7c on NBC.

Goold to co-direct 'Lion'

Goold Broadway and London legit vet Rupert Goold ("Macbeth") will co-direct a brand new stage manufacture of "The Lion, the Witch and also the Wardrobe" starting working in london this summer time.Show may be the latest multimedia production from Threesixty, the organization whose 2009 version of "Peter Pan" demonstrated popular in Blighty and continued to some U.S. tour, which most lately stopped in Boston. Goold, the a.d. from the U.K.'s Headlong Theater as well as an connect director in the Royal Shakespeare Company, pens the variation and co-directs with Michael Fentiman.Like "Peter Pan," the brand new production is going to be staged inside a 1200-chair tent encircled with a circular screen which 360-degree CGI images are forecasted. Live thesps and puppets will also be integrated into the brand new version from the C.S. Lewis tale.Show will start perfs May 8 in Kensington Gardens, part of among the Royal Parks based in london. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com