Prizes up for grabs at SAG Awards

Most categories for Sunday's ceremony have several strong contenders

Published On: Jan 25 2013 08:50:38 PM EST Updated On: Jan 26 2013 10:01:35 AM EST

A look at what to expect -- and why you should watch -- when the Screen Actors Guild Awards are handed out Sunday night.

Show Transcript Hide Transcript

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS PREVIEW (DONUT 1:48)A look at what to expect -- and why you should watch -- when the Screen Actors Guild Awards are handed out Sunday night (1/27) NOTE: We send our packages with discrete, separate audio. Our reporter's track can be removed by deleting the audio on channel one. Stations Please Note: This package contains third party material. Unless otherwise noted, this material may only be used within this package and within ten days of its initial delivery or such shorter time as designated by CNN. SUPERS- (NOTE: all third-party material pre-fonted, including Universal Pictures, Weinstein Co., Paramount/DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Fox Searchlight, HBO, Showtime, ABC, AMC) :12-:15Jon WeismanAwards Editor, Daily Variety --ANCHOR LEAD-- THEY AREN'T THE OSCARS, OR EVEN THE GOLDEN GLOBES... SO WHY DO THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS MATTER? NISCHELLE TURNER EXPLAINS WHY -- AND GIVES US A SNEAK PEEK AT THE STARS WITH THE BEST CHANCES OF GOLD. --REPORTER PKG AS FOLLOWS-- (nat-red carpet cheering) IN THE PANTHEON OF HOLLYWOOD HONORS WHERE OSCAR IS GRANDDADDY, YOU MIGHT CALL THE SAG AWARDS A SASSY TEENAGER. "The 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards." "It's a big deal. It's film and TV mixing together, and it's the recognition of your peers, unlike any other awards ceremony in Hollywood." AND LIKE OTHER TEENS, THIS ONE HAS STRONG OPINIONS AND IS OFTEN A TREND-SETTER. "The actors are the biggest branch of the academy. So, what happens at the Screen Actors Guild Awards can be a pre-cursor to what happens at the Oscars." DAILY VARIETY'S JON WEISMAN SAYS EARLIER AWARDS THIS SEASON HAVE GIVEN SOME SAG NOMINEES MOMENTUM... (singing) "I had a dream my life would be..." "Anne Hathaway in 'Les Mis.' Jennifer Lawrence in 'Silver Linings Playbook.' Of course, Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Lincoln.'" "Now, now, now!" ...BUT THE NIGHT'S BIGGEST PRIZE OF ALL, CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE, IS STILL A HORSE RACE. "This is what I do, and I've never left anyone behind." "We have terrific movies nominated including 'Argo,' 'Lincoln,' 'Les Miserables,' 'Silver Linings Playbook,' plus we have 'Exotic Marigold Hotel.' Any one of those are deserving of victory. It is what everyone is talking about right now." ...WHEN THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT T-V DRAMAS. "I'm working!" "The flavor of the month or year right now is 'Homeland.' 'Homeland's' been winning everything in sight." "Ahhh!" "...but not maybe an ensemble in the way that 'Boardwalk Empire' is. Then, of course, you've got 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad' and 'Downton Abbey' just sort of lurking there going, 'what about us?'" AS FOR THE COMEDY DU JOUR... "'Girls' -- that's sort of the hot new show as of late, but that's not nominated at the SAGS. So, that takes away one potential rival from "Modern Family.'" "Oh, good!" ...SEEN AS THE FRONTRUNNER FOR ITS THIRD STRAIGHT WIN.