Golden Globe predictions to get fans guessing

Half the fun for film and television fans is second guessing the voters and seeing if it matches personal favorites. And pop culture commentators and experts, such as Jon Chattman, are boldly revealing their choices.

Taking into consideration the voting history of the Hollywood Foreign Press, pop culture writer Chattman proposes a fairly good prediction of Golden Globe winners for the January 17 show in his website The Cheap Pop (www.thecheappop.com/?s=golden+globes). The witty writer for TV Guide and the New York Post has covered the entertainment biz on "Pop" since 2005 with interviews and commentary. As Chattman states, "The Hollywood Foreign Press has always thrown the party of the year. Their show is always unpredictable and entertaining - something the Oscars can't attest. The Globes will likely continue the trend next Sunday, when razor sharp Ricky Gervais hosts the shindig." With the comedian presiding over the first-ever live Golden Globes, even more surprises may be in store.

Accuracy aside, here are his predictions (reprinted in the Huffington Post):

Best Drama: It's up in the air between Up in the Air and Avatar. But the critical darling from Jason Reitman's will score over Cameron's box office flash.

Best Comedy or Musical: The edge goes to breakthrough film (500) Days of Summer, considering Nine has gotten poor reviews and box office reception. The Hangover, currently the biggest rental movie, is a possibility.

Best Actor, Drama: A toss up between Clooney and Jeff Bridges (for Crazy Heart) with Clooney, as Hollywood royalty, coming up on top.

Best Actress, Drama: Neck-in-neck between two superior performances: Carey Mulligan ( An Education) and Precious newcomer Gabourney Sidibe, with Carey winning.

Best Actor, Comedy: Matt Damon for The Informant! but Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes is a runner-up.

Best Actress, Comedy: Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds.

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique ( Precious), "the most deserving winner of the night."

Best Director: Tough call, but Kathryn Bigelow for critically-acclaimed The Hurt Locker could beat her ex-husband James Cameron ( Avatar).

Best Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino ( Inglourious Basterds), though Up in the Air and District 9 are contenders.

Best Animated Film: Up

Best Score: Up

Best Foreign Language Film: The Maid

Best Song: "The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart

Best TV Series, Drama: Mad Men deserves it again, but True Blood could take it.

Best TV Series, Comedy: The Globes always love to shower new shows with gold.New season favorites: possibly Modern Family but probably musical Glee will take the prize.

Best Actor in a TV Series Drama: Jon Hamm ( Mad Men) or Hugh Laurie ( House)

Best Actress in a TV Series Drama: January Jones ( Mad Men) but Anna Paquin could pull an upset for HBO vampire drama True Blood.

Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy: Alec Baldwin ( 30 Rock) again or Matthew Morrison ( Glee) for his "funny, geeky, and sexy" performance.

Best Supporting Actor - TV: Michael Emerson ( Lost) or John Lithgow ( Dexter).

Best Supporting Actress - TV: No contest: voters will sing for Jane Lynch ( Glee).

Best TV Movie/Mini-Series: Grey Gardens

Best Actor in TV Movie/Mini-Series: Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance

Best Actress in TV Movie/Mini-Series: Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens

RC