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This photo provided by Sotheby's shows the piano used in the movie "Casablanca."

NEW YORK -- A piano used in the classic film "Casablanca" sold for just over $600,000 on Friday, falling far short of predictions that it could fetch $1 million or more.

The 58-key upright piano on which actor and singer Dooley Wilson performed "As Time Goes By," the signature song of the 1942 film's star-crossed lovers played by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, sold at Sotheby's for $602,500 including commission. 

The auction house had assigned the iconic prop a pre-sale estimate of $800,000 to $1.2 million, given some astonishing prices attained by movie memorabilia in recent years. 

In the film, the character Sam (Wilson) plays the signature song "As Time Goes By" during flashback scenes set in Paris, as well as in Bogart's club in Casablanca, where he and Bergman rekindle their romance. 

Bergman's memorable lines included the imploring: "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.' " 

Sotheby's had sold the piano, which was the one used during the Paris flashback scenes, to a Japanese collector in 1988, who paid $154,000, one of the highest prices ever paid for a movie prop at the time. 

The film, set in Morocco during World War II, won three Academy Awards including best picture, best writing and best director for Michael Curtiz. 

The auction house did not identify the buyer. 

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Michelle Obama may have gotten hold of the third season of "Downton Abbey" before pretty much anyone else in America -- but there's one thing she couldn't have seen until Thursday night: "Breaking Abbey."

Thanks to Stephen Colbert and "The Colbert Report," viewers were able to watch exclusive clips from a brand new (and totally fake) series that mashes up "Downton" and the AMC hit "Breaking Bad." 

(Warning: The clip contains some adult language.)

Basically, said Colbert, it's " 'Breaking Bad' as performed by the men of 'Downton Abbey.' "

In the clip, "Downton's" Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is shown breaking open a tea bag and cutting the contents into lines with a credit card when butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) walks in. They're quickly joined by Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), who sports a goatee and mustache combo reminiscent of Bryan Cranston's character in "Breaking Bad."

Apparently the Lord has gone into the "black chamomile crank" business in order to solve his money woes. 

"Soon Downton will be kicking it with mad b------ and benjamins," says Grantham. After which, the trio meet up with a gun-toting Mark Conseuelos (as "Spider") and things go ... well, surprisingly politely. At first. This is tea, after all.

Season three of "Downton Abbey" premieres Jan. 6 on PBS.

What did you think of "Downton" meets "Breaking Bad"? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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Carolco Pictures Inc. / Zuma Press file

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Terminator.

At 65, Arnold Schwarzenegger is older and wiser, and sharing some of the lessons he's learned throughout his life in the January "Meaning of Life" issue of Esquire magazine.

One lesson: stick to the job you know. He recalls criticizing the writing and one of the most iconic phrases in "The Terminator," saying: “I didn’t get it at first. 'I'll be back.' What the f-- is 'I'll'? 'I will be back' sounded much stronger in my mind. So I argued with (writer/director) Jim Cameron. And he said, 'Look, Arnold, I don’t tell you how to act. Please don’t tell me how to write.'"

The former governator concedes that Cameron knew what he was doing.

"After I saw it in the movie, I was so thankful to Cameron. That was a good lesson to learn. If someone is a good writer, stick to the script."

Schwarzenegger also talks about how sex has changed over the years. "When you get older, sex may change a bit," he told the magazine. "When you’re 65, it's not exactly the same as when you were 25. But that doesn’t mean it's over. It's never over."

Good to know. For the complete interview, click here.

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Hugh Jackman's "Gangnam Style" meeting with the song's singer PSY went viral in October -- the two were shooting "Wolverine" and "X-Factor" next door to one another -- and on Thursday's "Tonight Show," Jackman (now promoting "Les Miserables") attempted to share the love with host Jay Leno, offering up a tutorial in the viral dance moves. 

Spoiler: one of the men is much better at going "Gangnam" than the other.

But Jackman wasn't the only guy busting some moves on late night television Thursday. Jamie Foxx, appearing on the "Late Show with David Letterman," recalled Wednesday's "121212: The Concert for Sandy Relief," and his respect for "seasoned" -- not older -- rock legends The Rolling Stones.

Specifically, Foxx was very taken with some of Mick Jagger's dancing. Demonstrating them himself, Foxx said, "I love how he'll come to you and leave," Foxx said of one of Jagger's signature moves.

"Well sure, you don't want him to stay exactly -- I mean you kinda do, but you don't really," Letterman responded.

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REVIEW: The subtitle of this first of three "Hobbit" movies is "An Unexpected Journey." It's right there in the title! We know Bilbo Baggins is going on a journey! So why, then, does it take so long to get started?

After a brief explanation of how the film's dwarves lost their home to Smaug the dragon, we're reintroduced to the bucolic Shire and to Bilbo, kinsman of Frodo from "Lord of the Rings."

Bilbo (Martin Freeman) is content living his middle-aged hairy-footed Hobbity life, but adventure, in the form of Gandalf the wizard (Ian McKellen) and his band of rowdy dwarves, knocks and won't leave. It's here that the movie turns into a bizarrely drawn-out farce, where the dwarves run roughshod over Bilbo's tidy home, eating everything in sight, having burping contests, and playing Frisbee and hacky-sack with his mother's china. It's "Animal House Goes to Middle Earth!"

The first third of the nearly three-hour movie feels a bit like a children's TV special, thanks not just to the slapsticky dwarves, but to the way in which it's shot. It's the first major movie projected at 48 frames per second, rather than the usual 24. (Not all theaters can show the film that way, so you may not see this version.) It makes the images seem bright and unnervingly fake, a weirdly jarring result that is supposed to suck you into the film, but often just reminds you that you're watching one.

There's no real reason for Bilbo to abandon his safe Shire life to go adventuring, but it's in the script, so he does. And then the film settles into a groove, as the ragged little company meet up with mountain trolls, goblins, demonic wolves and more, with Gandalf and other members of the group, namely, leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), filling in little pieces of the story as we go.

The most compelling of the confrontations comes when Bilbo meets up with Gollum, the creepy big-eyed ring-loving creature fans will remember from "Lord of the Rings." They play an abbreviated version of the book's riddle game, which goes on slightly too long but should satisfy book purists. (The actors could have used some enunciation lessons here though -- one riddle's answer is so slurred that even when it's repeated, it's unintelligible.)

"The Hobbit" is no "Lord of the Rings." It is a simpler, much shorter book meant for children, and there's a sense throughout this first film that this was forgotten, and that director Peter Jackson wanted to stretch it out into a darker, longer tale. There's much too much, for example, of wizard Radagast the Brown, a nature-loving simpleton who's only mentioned once in the book.

But the Tolkien films are not unlike the "Twilight" movies. If this is your world, if these are the books you cherished, here is your long-awaited gift -- your beloved and familiar characters larger than life. If you're not a devotee but want a good adventure -- well, maybe the second and third films will bring more of that. This first offering is decidedly a mixed bag.

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Samuel Dietz / Getty Images

"Metropolis."

A film memorabilia collector paid $1.2 million for nine rare and early film posters, including the world's highest-valued poster of the 1927 film "Metropolis," in a bankruptcy auction in Los Angeles on Thursday, the trustee in the bankruptcy case said.

Ralph DeLuca, who owns New Jersey-based film memorabilia company Movie Archives Inc, won the bidding against three others in the court auction, said trustee John J. Menchaca. 

Bidding for the lot of posters started at $700,000. DeLuca beat out memorabilia powerhouse Heritage Auctions.

The "Metropolis" poster, the crown jewel of the collection, was purchased by California collector Kenneth Schachter for a record $690,000 in a 2005 private sale. But he was forced to sell the poster along with eight others after declaring bankruptcy. 

"I honestly feel that the 'Metropolis' poster is worth more than the whole lot," DeLuca told Reuters after the auction. Other notable items in the lot included an original "King Kong" poster and an "Invisible Man" poster, both from 1933. 

Directed by Austrian Fritz Lang, "Metropolis" was the most expensive silent film ever made at the time of its release. The German-produced film, with its special effects and futuristic plot, is considered a hallmark in early cinema.

The poster, one of only four known surviving copies, was illustrated by German Heinz Schulz-Neudamm, who depicted the film's dystopian future with towering, faceless skyscrapers and jagged script.

One copy is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which confers the poster's value as art, DeLuca said.

"It's 'The Scream,' the 'Guernica' of film posters," DeLuca said of the modernist masterpieces painted by Edvard Munch and Pablo Picasso, respectively. "It's literally the 'Mona Lisa.'" 

DeLuca, however, has no plans to flip the poster in another sale.

"I think I'll keep the poster unless I get overwhelmed with a 'Guinness Book of Records' offer," he said. "I believe it will be the first to go past $1 million and even hit $2 million." 

Schachter, a resident of Valencia about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles, filed for bankruptcy last year after he was unable to repay loans he received to buy film memorabilia. 

The sale will go to pay off Schachter's debts, which he listed at no more than $1 million when filing for bankruptcy. 

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Nino Munoz / FOX

"X Factor" judge L.A. Reid.

L.A. Reid is leaving “The X Factor,” Access Hollywood can reveal. “I have decided that I will not return to ‘The X Factor’ next year,” he told Access’ Shaun Robinson in an exclusive interview. “I have to go back and I have a company to run that I’ve kind of neglected and it saddens me a little bit, but only a little bit.” 

Photos from AH: X Factor Stars: Then & Now 

L.A. said he needs to get back to business as the chairman and CEO of Epic Records. 

“It was a nice break, it was a nice departure from what I’ve done for the past 20 years, but now I gotta go back to work,” he said. 

Photos from AH: The Verdict Is In! Judges Of Reality Television 

The exiting reality show judge said he needs to focus on his musical performers. 

“I have a huge responsibility to a roster of artists and it’s kind of time for me to stop doing the ‘me’ show,” he said. 

L.A. insisted he is not leaving the show on anything but good terms with boss (and fellow judge this season) Simon Cowell. 

Photos from AH: Anything But Dreadful! Hot Shots Of Simon Cowell! 

“I love Simon. We have a great relationship, we have fun together, we talk, we laugh, we do bad things, we’re friends. I owe so much to Simon,” L.A. said. “I really have a lot [of] respect for him and I always will. I support him, I support the show and I’ll always be in business with him.” 

Looking back on his two-season tenure, which is about to wrap up, L.A. said he has no regrets. 

Photos from AH: The X Factor: Season 2 

“It was fun! I had a great time,” he told Shaun. 

And as he leaves, L.A. said he has some knowledge he can apply to his business. 

“I probably have to say its understanding television a little bit better. I do everything sort of as a strategist, so really, the idea was go and learn television. I know a little bit about it, so now let’s go produce some shows,” he said. 

With a seat about to become vacant on the FOX reality show, L.A. offered his suggestion on who should fill the spot. 

“You know who I would love to see take it, and by the way I have nothing to do with it, but my choice would be like Jon Bon Jovi,” he said. “That’s who I would pick.” 

L.A. also told Shaun he could be back somewhere down the line. 

“I’m not ruling ever coming back, but I’m definitely not coming back next year,” he said. “I have a job to do and once I get some work done and get some momentum then maybe I’ll revisit the idea a little later.” 

Will the show be as good without L.A.? Share your thoughts about his departure on our Facebook page.

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Scott Garfield / TWD productions LLC

Zombie killing (and getting killed by zombies) is pretty violent business, as any regular viewer of AMC's undead drama "The Walking Dead" knows all too well. But for Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council (PTC), that's cause for concern.

Earlier this week, Winter wrote a letter to former Oregon senator Gordon Smith, who now serves as chairman on the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board -- otherwise known as the group that sets the standards for TV ratings.

"Throughout its run, the AMC program 'The Walking Dead' has featured some of the most graphic and brutally intense violence and gore imaginable," Winter wrote. "In the current season alone the show has depicted hundreds of scenes of grisly murder both of living and 'undead,' but human, characters. The intensely violent content has included depictions of the cleaving of human skulls with a machete, extreme gun violence, including graphic depictions of blood and brains splattering after gunshot wounds, and the use of a sharpened human bone as a weapon to stab another character."

Of course, that's all just par for the zombie-filled course on the show. But the PTC, a group known for urging networks to reconsider content and advertisers to cease sponsoring programs they find particularly offensive, isn't asking for the slayings to stop -- at least not yet. Instead Winter is focused on changing the prime-time hit's rating of TV-14.

"Clearly, this is content appropriate to an adult-only audience, but AMC has rated every single episode of 'The Walking Dead' as suitable for a 14 year old child," Winter complained.

According to his message, members of the PTC have mailed "thousands of letters" to AMC about "The Walking Dead's" "inaccurate age-based rating." Since the network hasn't changed the rating, the PTC wants Smith's group to take action.

The only higher rating that exists is TV-MA, for mature audiences only.

"Therefore, on behalf of our better than 1.3 million members, we call on you and the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board to immediately take any necessary steps to insure that this program is rated accurately, appropriately and for the audience for which the show is designed," Winter wrote.

Then again, "Walking Dead" showrunner Glen Mazarra doesn't seem too worried about the PTC's request. "If little kids don't watch @WalkingDead_AMC, how will they learn what to do in a zombie apocalypse? #Educational#PublicService" he tweeted Thursday afternoon.

But even if the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board agrees with the PTC's take, there's a problem with the request. While the group is in charge of monitoring how the ratings are applied, and welcomes viewers to contact them with questions and concerns, ultimately ratings aren't actually set by them.

"Programs are voluntarily rated by broadcast and cable television networks, or program producers," the organization's website reveals.

Do you agree with the president of the Parents Television Council? Is the show too violent for a TV-14 rating? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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First things first: Not THE Hall, and THE Oates. 1980s pop wonders Daryl Hall and John Oates are still touring together and apparently still friends. And one biting the other? They can't go for that, noooo, no can do.

SanduskyRegister.com

Sandusky Register design desk chief Mike Schaffer gets credit for this music-themed headline, while things weren't so rocking for Roger B. Oates and Ronald Mantz, who face charges in Ohio for the case involving Scott Hall.

That's not the case, however, for a pair of men from Ohio. According to the Sandusky Register newspaper, Roger Oates, 48, bit the eyebrow off his neighbor, Scott Hall, 40, in a weird confrontation that might have never made news outside their neighborhood if not for the men's last names. (Although come to think of it, eyebrow-biting is not your normal attack move, "Private Eyes" and all.)

The case earned even more fame when the Sandusky Register design desk chief Mike Schaffer slapped a "Maneater: Hall bitten by Oates" headline on the story, leaving media critic Jim Romenesko to declare, "Contest over: We have the headline of the year."

"Maneater," which contains the prescient line, "Watch out, boy, she'll chew you up," reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts for Hall & Oates (the singers) in 1982.

But the reporter on the story was too young to get the reference, according to jimromenesko.com.

“I’d never heard of them,” reporter Emil Whitis told Romenesko. “The sheriff deputies were rolling with laughter and I didn’t get it. Then they played the song for me.”

No one, apparently, told Whitis he was out of touch, or out of time. (another 1980s Hall & Oates hit).

Slideshow: Bands of the ‘70s that just won’t quit

AP

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Fox

Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey.

“American Idol” returns to FOX in a few weeks, but judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj don’t appear to have become best buds just yet. When Access Hollywood asked Mariah on Wednesday afternoon if the two were getting along and had buried the hatchet, the singing superstar completely avoided addressing the question.

“Christmas time is in here again,” she said. “Have you heard ‘All I Want For Christmas’? My song… I heard something really good about it today.”

Nicki took a different approach when Access asked her a similar question.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'American Idol': Top 10 most shocking eliminations over the years

“We’re great. Thank you. We’re great,” she said.

As for her experience on the show as a judge of new talent, Nicki -- in a British accent -- told Access things were going well.

“The gig’s working out. I didn’t know if I’d like it, but it’s working out. (I) can’t complain,” she said, with an English inflection.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Mariah Carey: From ‘Someday’ to mom & ‘Idol’ judge

However, being a part of the FOX show has been tougher than the pint-sized pop star realized it would be.

“Just how much of an involved job it is,” Nicki said when Access asked what surprised her most about the job. “It’s your whole day… You wake up at 8 in the morning, you gotta get glammed up, you gotta head here. We leave, maybe 11 o’clock at night, get home at midnight, do it again in the morning. That’s probably the only thing that was that surprising. I didn’t expect it to be such long days, but I also didn’t expect to have so much fun on set either.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'American Idol' winner Phillip Phillips comes to Access Hollywood

Tough and emotional, Nicki hinted the season might have several tearful moments.

“I’m like completely invested (in) everything that’s going on and into the contestants. Some of these stories this year are going to touch so many people. (There are some) really, really inspiring stories this year,” she said.

As for Mariah, she said the toughest part has been getting used to judging.

“This is something that I’ve obviously never done before. I’ve been learning as I‘ve been going, but I think I bring something to the table as someone who really, really struggled as a kid, just even with, like, my identity with what I wanted -- my dream, which was so huge and I knew that I would never give up and that’s a quality that’s essential when you’re doing this,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s like you see these kids, or these contestants and it’s like they have a great voice or a good voice, but they don’t have ‘that,’ so it’s a fine line, it’s a delicate balance and it’s interesting. I’m enjoying it.”

“American Idol” returns for its twelfth season on FOX on January 16 at 8 p.m.

Do you think the divas will put their problems behind them during the upcoming "American Idol" season? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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NBC

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

"Saturday Night Live" alumnae and current sitcom leading ladies Tina Fey and Amy Poehler both received Golden Globe nominations Thursday morning. But whether or not the actresses win for their respective work on "30 Rock" and "Parks and Recreation," the night promises to be a big one for both of them. After all, they're the hosts.

Shortly after the full list of nominees was revealed, the first promo featuring the pair debuted.

Watch the clip below to see the prime-time pals deliver some old-school Hollywood style.

The Golden Globes will air Jan. 13 on NBC.

What do you think of the promo? Are you looking forward to seeing what Fey and Poehler bring to the Golden Globes? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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There's acting, and there's Method Acting, and then there's disappearing so far into a role that you become almost unrecognizable. Matthew McConaughey seems to be on the verge of that last one.

PacificCoastNews.com

Matthew McConaughey on the set of "The Dallas Buyers Club."

Earlier, we noted that McConaughey was on his way to losing 30 pounds to play Texan Ron Woodroof in the upcoming movie "The Dallas Buyers' Club." Woodroof, who died of AIDS in 1992, became famous for smuggling homeopathic HIV medications into the U.S.

But recent photos snapped on the set show that McConaughey has really slipped into his role. His face is beyond gaunt, his eyes sunken and red (granted, probably makeup), his arms toothpick-thin (we don't know why his jeans are undone). 

According to the Daily Mail, one of Woodroof's sisters has trouble seeing the photos emerging from the film.

"It’s hard to look back whenever you’ve lived through it; it’s really hard to look back at something like that. So I don’t look at the pictures that much," Sharon Woodroof Braden told the British paper. "The pictures of Matthew are breathtaking though. They look so like what Ronnie looked like when he was sick and how the disease progressed."

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You were expecting the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to invite Bane to its party? Probably not. So, no, the fact that "The Dark Knight Rises" didn't figure into Thursday's top nominations for the 70th annual Golden Globes wasn't surprising. But, considering the Batman movie's overall acclaim, it was a snub. 

Slideshow: 2013 Golden Globe nominations

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Other quick takes on surprising nods -- and exclusions:

'Les Mis' and 'Lincoln' come up big at Globe noms

1. "Les Miserables"
Wait, didn't it get nominated for Best Comedy/Musical? And didn't Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway get their expecting acting nods? Yes, but if you want to cut a movie off at the knees, then you don't nominate its director, which is what happened to Tom Hooper. A bad Oscar omen? Or just proof that the HFPA really, really, really loves Quentin Tarantino, who was nominated for "Django Unchained"?

2. Richard Gere in, Anthony Hopkins out
With Jackman being nominated on the Comedy/Musical side, there was an opening in the Drama Actor category, an opening you might've guessed would go to "Hitchcock" favorite Hopkins. But it didn't. Gere, who got good buzz for the indie "Arbitrage" and who's been the beneficiary of a diligent awards-season campaign, took the slot instead.

3. "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
You know how some movies are just not Oscar movies? This movie would be an example of the kind of film that's just not a Golden Globes movie. The no-budget wonder, which many expect will still figure into the Academy Awards, got nothing from the HFPA.

'Zero Dark Thirty' hit a roadblock at the SAG Awards

4. Tommy Lee Jones
Yes, he got nominated for "Lincoln," but he was also very good in  "Hope Springs," which the Globes saw fit to honor with a Comedy/Musical nod for Meryl Streep.

5. "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
Who knew? It got three big nods, for Best Comedy/Musical, Emily Blunt and, in the spot that wasn't taken by  "Hope Springs" Jones, Ewan McGregor.

20 years of Golden Globe winners 

6. Matthew McConaughey
Jack Black, not McConaughey, got the "Bernie" love; "Magic Mike" got zip. File this one under "Wait 'til next year."

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Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," which tells the story of the famed president's final days in office, earned seven Golden Globe nominations Thursday, including best movie in the drama category, best director for Spielberg, best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis and best supporting actress for Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln.

Slideshow: 2013 Golden Globe nominations

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The movies nominated for best drama were pretty much as critics predicted. In addition to "Lincoln," "Argo," "Django Unchained," "Life of Pi" and "Zero Dark Thirty" earned nominations.

Lesser-seen films dominated the film comedy and musical category. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "Les Miserables," "Moonrise Kingdom," "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" and "Silver Linings Playbook." Of those, "Les Miserables" is the only one to be opening in thousands of mainstream theaters, and that not until Christmas Day.

Major names filled the best director category. Ben Affleck was nominated for "Argo," Kathryn Bigelow for "Zero Dark Thirty," Ang Lee for "Life of Pi," Steven Spielberg for "Lincoln" and Quentin Tarantino for "Django Unchained."

On the television side, "Breaking Bad," "Boardwalk Empire," "Downton Abbey," "Homeland" and "The Newsroom" were drama nominees.  "The Big Bang Theory," "Episodes," "Girls," "Modern Family" and "Smash" were nominated for best TV musical or comedy.

After the nominations were announced, Christoph Waltz, nominated for best supporting actor for his role as a dentist-turned-bounty hunter in Tarantino's "Django Unchained," talked to TODAY's Savannah Guthrie about his reaction.

Waltz noted that his name was the last of the five to be read, saying that by that point, he'd thought to himself, "I kinda know what I need to do in January anyway," only to be surprised by his inclusion. 

"Django Unchained" opens Dec. 25, which Waltz noted is very late in the awards season. "I see it picking up steam," he told Guthrie.

Waltz also said he felt lucky to be able to help develop his character along with Tarantino.

"I was allowed to kind of follow the genesis," he told Guthrie. "I saw this character come to existence ... become a personage."

Naomi Watts was nominated in the best actress category for her movie "The Impossible," which focuses on a family's experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She told the TODAY anchors she was celebrating her son's birthday with pancakes when she received word she was nominated.

"I did a little yelp and my son got worried," she said.

There was little dialogue in "The Impossible," much of which was shot in water, not exactly a favorite substance for Watts.

"I had a bad experience with riptides, like, when I was a teenager," she said, telling of a time in Bali when her family was trapped in waters rougher than expected. Her mother, she said, "miraculously" found solid footing and pulled her daughter to safety.

"I've had a fear of water ever since," she said.

Bradley Cooper, a nominee for best actor for "Silver Linings Playbook," also spoke with the TODAY anchors about the awards. "Silver Linings Playbook" is also nominated in the best movie, comedy or musical category, and Cooper's co-star Jennifer Lawrence also received an acting nomination.

"It's a small film, and it's a word-of-mouth movie," Cooper said. "And hopefully the fact that it's getting this kind of attention, more people will go see it."

Cooper heard his nomination announced by his friend and "Hangover" co-star Ed Helms. "On a personal level, it's just surreal," he said of being nominated. "I grew up the nerd who would like, wait to hear the announcements."

He also said his date for the awards would almost certainly be his mother.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, both nominees in the TV best actress category, will host the Golden Globes, which air on NBC Jan. 13.

List of nominees:

Best movie, drama
"Argo"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Zero Dark Thirty" 

Best movie, comedy or musical
"Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
"Les Miserables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
"Silver Linings Playbook" 

Best director
Ben Affleck, "Argo"
Kathryn Bigelow, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"
Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"
Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained" 

Best actor, movie drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"
Richard Gere, "Arbitrage"
John Hawkes, "The Sessions"
Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"
Denzel Washington, "Flight"

Best actress, movie drama
Marion Cotillard, "Rust and Bone"
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"
Rachel Weisz, "The Deep Blue Sea"
Helen Mirren, "Hitchcock" 

Best actor, movie comedy or musical
Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Jack Black, "Bernie"
Ewan McGregor, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
Bill Murray, "Hyde Park On Hudson"

Best actress, comedy or musical
Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Meryl Streep, "Hope Springs"
Judi Dench, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
Maggie Smith, "Quartet"
Emily Blunt, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"

Best TV drama
"Breaking Bad"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Downton Abbey"
"Homeland"
"The Newsroom" 

Best actor, TV drama
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland" 

Best actress, TV drama
Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Michelle Dockery," "Downton Abbey"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Best TV comedy or musical
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Episodes"
"Girls"
"Modern Family"
"Smash" 

Best actress, TV comedy or musical
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep" 

Best actor, TV comedy or musical
Alec  Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" 

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Don't you hate it when a clicky jingle gets stuck in your head? How about getting it stuck there in a dozen musical styles? New York singer Mia Gentile turned one of those addictive little commercial tunes into magic with her twist on the ubiquitous Stanley Steemer carpet-cleaning ad.

You know the jingle: "Call 1-800 STEEMER, Stanley Steemer gets carpet cleaner!" That's it. That's the whole shebang. But in Gentile's professionally trained voice, it comes out as a twangy country tune, a smoldering jazz song, a poodle-skirted 1950s romp and more.

"This all started as a voiceover demo," Gentile told TODAY. "I had the idea to take one jingle and do it in a number of different musical genres to show my vocal versatility. I picked Stanley Steemer because it is one that I've heard SO many times over the course of my life, and I knew that others have, too. Recognizable, simple, fun to play with musically. My musician friend Roger Klug played all the instruments, recorded and edited the music tracks, and composed the jingle variations."

Mia Gentile / YouTube

Mia Gentile gives the Stanley Steemer jingle a new twist, or ten.

Gentile changes from formal gowns to a punkish mini-dress to a flamenco look. She sings the jingle in operatic fashion one minute, Joan Jett-style the next. For her flamenco number, she even sings in Spanish. ("Uno Ochocientos Stanley Steemer!") She dances, kicks, slinks and even goes goth.

"I loved doing every single character," Gentile told TODAY, saying she "cha cha'd (her) booty off" for the Latin music-accented tune, and "had a romping good time doing the Avril (Lavigne) video," in which she throws pillows, stomps around, and acts like "a Brat on Wheels."

"Roger and I imagined this kooky nobody girl who plays dress-up in her bedroom in front of a camera," she said. "After a day of filming and a bunch of editing, we came to realize that the girl wasn't a persona, it was me."

Gentile and Klug hoped the video would help her find an agent and some new career opportunities, but were overwhelmed with the positive response.

"When we first unleashed the video, one of the universal responses was, 'You've got to get this on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show,'" Gentile told TODAY. "But so far, Ellen hasn't called."

Stanley Steemer hasn't either, though they did post the video on the company's Facebook page with a positive comment. And Gentile admits she doesn't have an actual use for their product. "I don't even have any carpets to clean," she told TODAY. "I am a poor NYC artist trying to make it on Broadway."

What do you think of the video? Tell us on Facebook.

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A murder plot aimed at Justin Bieber has been uncovered in New Mexico, according to authorities. An inmate incarcerated there reportedly set his sights on the Canadian pop star from behind bars.

A police affidavit indicated that inmate Dana Martin "had become infatuated" with Bieber, and wore a tattoo of the young man on his leg. Martin had been convicted of the 2000 murder of 15-year-old Deandra Fluorucci, but sent two individuals, Mark Staake and his nephew Tanner Ruane, to Vermont in the hopes of killing off witnesses to that murder.

Additionally, the affidavit pointed out, Martin's "ultimate target was J.B." or, Justin Bieber. 

The alleged plot would have involved Staake and Ruane reaching Bieber while he was recently in New York City for his Madison Square Garden shows, then killing and castrating Bieber and his bodyguard. The plot came undone when Martin confessed to police about his plans.

The suspects now face two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. 

On TODAY Thursday, NBC News's Andrea Canning reported that while they were unable to reach Bieber's representatives, his camp has been quoted in the press saying that they take every precaution to protect Justin's safety and the safety of his fans.

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Updated at 1:25 a.m. ET: Rock legends ranging from Roger Waters to The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney with Nirvana joined together Wednesday night for a massive six-hour concert to raise money for the Robin Hood Relief Fund benefiting victims of superstorm Sandy.

The musicians set a serious tone, wearing mostly black and gray onstage as they encouraged people to call and donate money to help those affected by the devastating storm that killed at least 140 people and destroyed or damaged homes and properties in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other areas.

Alicia Keys, who grew up in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen, closed the show with her New York anthem "Empire State of Mind," as doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers and others joined the piano-playing singer onstage. They ended the night chanting "U.S.A."

Keys was one of two women who performed at "The Concert for Sandy Relief." Diana Krall backed McCartney, who sang his solo songs, Beatles songs and played the role of Kurt Cobain with Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear. 

Slideshow: 12.12.12 Concert

Larry Busacca / Getty Images

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band kicked off the concert with "Land of Hope and Dreams," and followed it up with "Wrecking Ball." 

"Tonight, this is a prayer for all of our struggling brothers and sisters," Springsteen said. After performing a third song, the rocker brought out Jon Bon Jovi, and the pair sang "Born to Run" together.

"I can't believe that Bruce Springsteen is my opening act," Billy Crystal joked after the set. "You can feel the electricity in the building, which means Long Island Power isn't involved." He also reminded viewers about the devastation the storm left behind. "More than 100 people died ... entire neighborhoods wiped out. ... Tonight with your help, we are going to emerge stronger than before."

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, who recently toured with his show "Roger Waters The Wall Live," performed "In the Flesh" and "Another Brick in the Wall" from the band's classic album. He then launched into "Money" and "Us and Them" from "Dark Side of the Moon." 

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder then joined the group for "Comfortably Numb," taking turns on the lyrics with Waters. 

Don Emmert / AFP - Getty Images

Roger Waters performed songs from "The Wall" and "Dark Side of the Moon."

Adam Sandler then took the stage with Paul Shaffer on piano for a little fun, with the comedian tweaking the lyrics to "Hallelujah" to suit the evening. "Hallelujah, Sandy screw ya! We'll get through you, 'cause we're New Yorkers!" the duo sang.

During the show, celebrities -- including Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller and Jake Gyllenhaal -- manned the phone bank to handle call-in donations. There were so many stars there to help, "You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a celebrity," Brian Williams joked during the concert.

"Twilight" star Kristen Stewart also made an appearance to urge viewers to donate. She reminded the audience of the massive amount of damage that the storm left behind. "Now is your chance to be Jersey Strong with us," she said before introducing Bon Jovi's performance. The Jersey native kicked off his set with "It's My Life." 

"When this storm hit, we all knew that the healing process would be beginning, but that it was going to take a long time," the rocker said. "(The performers) knew the people we were doing it for wouldn't be able to hear us, to see us. ... This recovery is not going to be quick. ... But we are strong. We are New York. We are New Jersey."

Larry Busacca / Getty Images

Jon Bon Jovi performed "Livin' on a Prayer" and other hits during his set.

Eric Clapton also delivered an energetic set of his own that included "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" and "Crossroad Blues."

He was followed by The Rolling Stones, who were introduced by Jimmy Fallon. Frontman Mick Jagger encouraged the crowd to dance and cheer as the band launched into "You Got Me Rocking" and the singer showed off his own slinky moves.

"This has got to be the largest collection of old English musicians ever assembled in Madison Square Garden," Jagger later joked of the night's lineup.

Don Emmert / AFP - Getty Images

Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones perform.

Comedian Stephen Colbert also added to the humor. He said that when Sir Paul McCartney asked him for advice on being cool, he told the musician to lose the hair cut and the accent. Colbert then pointed out that helping is also cool. So cool, in fact, that it's like "doing a line of uncut goodwill" and that donating "is the new skinny jeans."

New Yorker Alicia Keys later delivered an emotion-packed performance, first with new tune "Brand New Me" then "No One." After the two-song set, she said, "My city, New York City, is the most resilient city."

After the slower set, The Who kicked things back into high gear with an energetic performance of "Who Are You?" during which singer Roger Daltrey seemingly dropped an F-bomb. While performing "Bell Boy," the band showed video of drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978. Images and videos switched to those of the storm's destruction during "See Me, Feel Me." They ended their long set with "Tea and Theater" and a loud expletive for beer instead. 

Like Colbert earlier, comedian Chris Rock used his humor to urge viewers to donate what they could. "We have raised so much money tonight, the shift's over! We fixed everything! Jersey's fixed, Staten Island, it's all like Beverly Hills right now!" he joked. "Now please go online and donate! One hundred percent of the money raised tonight will go to me! No, to the Robin Hood Relief Fund."

He then introduced the "always humble" Kanye West, who performed "Mercy," "Jesus Walks," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Gold Digger" (a seemingly odd song choice, considering the purpose of the concert) and more.

Kanye was followed by Billy Joel, who started his set with "Miami 2017." The Piano Man had also performed the tune at a benefit concert for the Sept. 11 attacks and an earlier Hurricane Sandy show. His performance also included "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "New York State of Mind," "River of Dreams," "You May Be Right" and closed with "Only the Good Die Young."

Chris Martin of Coldplay was then introduced by actress Blake Lively. The rocker appeared on stage alone with just a guitar in his hands to perform the hit song "When I Ruled the World." 

"I'm so grateful to be here. ... I know you really wanted One Direction, but it's way past their bedtime, so you get one quarter of Coldplay," Martin joked. "I tried to get the guy from 'Gangnam Style,' he wasn't available." Instead, R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe appeared and the pair did a duet of the hit "Losing My Religion." According to Brian Williams, Stipe was a surprise performer, even to those who planned the show.

Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz introduced Sir Paul McCartney.

"I love New York!" the former Beatle declared before kicking off the band's rocking tune "Helter Skelter," followed by "Let Me Roll It," "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five," "My Valentine" and "Blackbird."

"So recently some guys asked me to go jam with them," McCartney said. "So I showed up, ready to jam, and in the middle of it, these guys said, 'Well, we haven't played together in years, you know?' ... I finally understood I was in the middle of the Nirvana reunion!"

The Beatle then jammed with Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear to a new rock tune. Afterward, he took on the Fab Four's "I've Got a Feeling" and followed up with a firework-infused performance of Wings' "Live and Let Die."

McCartney ended his set by asking "the heroes of Hurricane Sandy" on stage and shaking their hands. He then brought Keys back to wrap up the show with her anthem to the city, "Empire State of Mind."

"Dedicated to all the heroes in New York and beyond," the songstress said in closing. 

The show, which started at 7:30 p.m. ET at New York's Madison Square Garden, was broadcast live on 37 television stations in the United States and more than 200 others worldwide. It was to be streamed on 30 websites.

To make a donation, call 1-855-465-4357, or donate online at 121212concert.org. 

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Secret identities can be problematic. Like, say you could save an entire school bus full of kids when the bus sinks into a body of water, but it might mean that they discover you're Superman.

What're you gonna do? Let them drown? That's the dilemma for young Clark Kent in the new "Man of Steel" trailer, which gives you the idea that being plunked down into Smallville isn't the easiest possible transition for a superpowered kid.

Those of us who still mourn Christopher Reeve, long for the iconic version of this hunky, clean-cut hero, can feel the legacy's in good hands after watching this trailer. British actor Henry Cavill, best-known from "The Tudors," is majestic and powerful in the few glimpses we get of him in full Supe costume.

"Man of Steel" opens June 14.

Will you see "Man of Steel"? Tell us on Facebook.

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Richard Shotwell / AP file

Ariel Winter.

Updated at 3:30 p.m. PT: Ariel Winter's family drama is over -- for the moment, at least. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 12, the "Modern Family" star's mom and sister reached an agreement in their bitter custody battle over the 14-year-old actress.

PHOTOS: Stars in court

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas outlined the terms in court, noting that Winter will remain under the guardianship of her 34-year-old sister, Shanelle Gray, until March, when the situation is to be reviewed again. In the meantime, the teen's father, Glenn Workman, will have temporary control of his daughter's estate. Additionally, both parents will undergo counseling with Winter and Gray to attempt to find a longer-term solution for the problem.

"It looks like the court is going to order therapy and counseling to get my family back together, where [we] should be," the actress' brother, Jimmy Workman, said in a press conference, noting that both of his parents were at peace with the decision. "[My father] is...thrilled. My mother is very happy [that] everyone is going to work together."

PHOTOS: Secrets from the Modern Family set

Winter, who wore a simple black dress and flats, appeared similarly pleased with the terms. After Judge Levanas' announcement, she cried, relieved, and hugged her sister, with whom she has been staying throughout the whole ordeal. The two then left the courtroom hand-in-hand.

The settlement ends a contentious family feud that began when allegations of physical and emotional abuse surfaced against the star's mother, Chrisoula Workman, in early November. Speaking about the saga after the custody agreement, Jimmy Workman called those allegations "lies and untruths" and said his family had been through "pure hell" because of them.

PHOTOS: Stars who survived abuse

"People need to know that my mother is a loving, caring, sweet individual that has done everything for her children. We are very shocked as to why this happened," he said, noting that he missed his sister and wanted to see her again. (Neither he nor his mother is on speaking terms with Winter and Gray at the moment.)

He added: "[I hope] all the lies go away and my younger sister will come back home where she belongs, with my parents."

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LOS ANGELES -- Lindsay Lohan faced the prospect of being sent back to jail after a judge in Los Angeles revoked her probation on Wednesday in the light of new charges over a June traffic accident.

Lohan, 26, who was not present at the hearing, is on probation for a 2011 jewelry theft. The "Mean Girls" actress has been in and out of rehab and jail since a 2007 arrest for drunk driving and cocaine possession.

Slideshow: Lindsay Lohan

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Lohan will be arraigned on Jan. 15 on charges of reckless driving and lying to police when she claimed she was not behind the wheel of a car that smashed into a truck in June in the California beach city of Santa Monica.

On the same day, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Jane Godfrey said she would set a date for another hearing to determine whether or not Lohan violated her probation, and should be sent back to jail.

Lohan's attorney, Shawn Holley, did not enter a plea on the actress's behalf on Wednesday, but she argued in court that Lohan had not violated the terms of her probation.

The former "Parent Trap" child star, who was once considered a promising Hollywood leading actress, was arrested in New York on a misdemeanor assault charge on the same day the Santa Monica car crash charges were filed last month.

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CBS

Mick Jagger.

The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger is no stranger to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The Stones first hit the stage there in 1964. But on Tuesday night, Jagger returned to the landmark for a first-time appearance on "Late Show With David Letterman."

To mark the occasion, Jagger delivered the night's Top 10 rundown, featuring everything he's learned after 50 years in the biz -- from drugs to ... Doris Goldblatt?!

Here's the full list:

10. Nobody wants to hear anything from your new album.
9. Never take relationship advice from Phil Spector.
8. Before shouting, "Hi, Seattle," make sure you're in Seattle.
7. You don't earn a cent when someone does a song about having "Moves Like Jagger."
6. Everybody you meet after you become famous is only interested in you as a person.
5.  Song royalties are great, but even they can’t match the guaranteed cash flow from a reverse mortgage.
4. A good way to keep yourself entertained is to sign every tenth autograph "Doris Goldblatt."
3. Be considerate of other hotel guests -- trash your room by 10 p.m.
2. You can't always get what you want, like a good joke on the Top 10 list.

and …

1. You start out playing rock 'n' roll so you can have sex and do drugs, but you end up doing drugs so you can still play rock 'n' roll and have sex.

See Jagger's appearance in the clip below.

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LONDON -- A collection of love letters written by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger to American singer Marsha Hunt, believed to be the inspiration for the band's hit single "Brown Sugar", sold at Sotheby's on Wednesday for 187,250 pounds ($301,000).

Getty Images

Mick Jagger in 1969, left, and Marsha Hunt in 1968.

The 10 letters, dating from the summer of 1969, had been expected to fetch 70-100,000 pounds, according to the auctioneer.

"The passage of time has given these letters a place in our cultural history," Hunt said after the London sale.

"1969 saw the ebbing of a crucial, revolutionary era, highly influenced by such artists as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown and Bob Dylan.

Jagger talks sex, drugs and other Top 10 fodder on Letterman

"Their inner thoughts should not be the property of only their families, but the public at large, to reveal who these influential artists were -- not as commercial images, but their private selves."

Hunt, with whom Jagger had his first child, Karis, told Britain's Guardian newspaper last month that she was selling the letters, written in July and August 1969, because she had been unable to pay her bills.

"I'm broke," Hunt, who lives in France, told the newspaper.

Jagger wrote them to Hunt while filming the Tony Richardson movie "Ned Kelly" in Australia.

They showed a sensitive side of the then-young singer, who wrote about the poetry of Emily Dickinson, meeting author Christopher Isherwood and an unrealized multimedia project.

Jagger's relationship with Hunt, who is African-American, was kept under wraps until 1972.

Hunt has said she was the inspiration for Brown Sugar, which Jagger wrote while in Australia.

The rock star also cites in the letters the disintegration of his relationship with singer Marianne Faithfull, whom he was also dating at the time, and the death of Rolling Stones' guitarist Brian Jones.

There has been a surge in interest in the rock band this year, as Jagger and his three surviving bandmates celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stones with a series of concerts, a photo book and a greatest hits album.

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Trevin Hunte saw his hopes of a "Voice" victory dashed on Tuesday night, as the 18-year-old was eliminated from the competition just one week before the finals. But there's no need for fans to feel sorry for him. Hunte is happy despite his defeat.

"It's the best feeling in the world, to be honest with you," Hunte told TODAY's Al Roker Wednesday morning. "I get an opportunity to actually start my career, so I'm kind of happy and excited with whatever happens."

Besides, Hunte hopes to reap the rewards of his "Voice" experience even without a win.

"A year from now, you know, I just want to be a successful artist, working on my dream, just creating feel-good music for America and myself," he said.

As for the remaining contestants, Nicholas David, Cassadee Pope and Terry McDermott, there's no surprise when it comes to the one Hunte hopes to see win it all in the end.

"To be honest, I want my boy Nicolas David to take it," he said of his former teammate. "You know, I actually want to see Cee Lo (Green) happy. I want Cee Lo to win this season, and I feel like Nicolas is deserving of winning this season."

The live two-hour finale of "The Voice" airs Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.

Do you think it was really Trevin's time to go on "The Voice"? Who are you rooting for in the finals now that he's gone? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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If your appreciation for Drew Barrymore dates back to when she was practically a baby herself in 1982's "E.T.," it's fun to see her on the cover of People magazine holding her own child.

People.com

Drew Barrymore and daughter Olive.

"It's the coolest moment of my life!" reads a quote from the actress beneath a picture of 9-week-old Olive, face to face with her new mom. The baby girl was born on Sept. 26.

Barrymore, 37, who married art consultant Will Kopelman in June, tells People no one prepared her for the responsibility she'd feel after her daughter was born. "You have the highest highs and yet you're facing the biggest fear of, 'How do I keep someone alive?'"

Barrymore admitted to Jay Leno in February that she hopes to have more children. "We'll start with one," she said. "See how it goes and if we could be so blessed ... that would be wonderful."

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The U.S. season three premiere of "Downton Abbey" is just weeks away, and thanks to the some new tidbits from the cast, fans have several fascinating twists and turns to focus on until the upstairs-downstairs drama is back.

Stars Hugh Bonneville (Robert, Earl of Grantham), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora, Countess of Grantham), Joanne Froggatt (Anna), Sophie McShera (Daisy), Jim Carter (Mr. Carson), and Rob James-Collier (Thomas) visited TODAY Wednesday morning and delivered the "Downton" details.

"It kicks off with the discovery that Robert has made a catastrophic financial investment, so we might have to move house," Bonneville explained to TODAY's own "Downton" superfan Savannah Guthrie.  

"The for-sale sign is going up, and there's an open house on alternate Saturdays," he joked before adding, on a serious note, that "there's a roller coaster to come."

The addition of veteran stage and screen actress Shirley MacLaine in the role of Cora's mother is sure to account for some of those ups and downs.

"She brings a lot of the pizzazz that you would expect from Shirley," McGovern assured. "She doesn't have to do much. It's just there in her. And she also really presents a different culture -- which is America -- coming in to 'Downton Abbey.' We see her knock against Maggie (Smith's Dowager Countess) as the sort of English culture, and interesting things spark from that."

Another spark viewers can look forward to is the continuing romance between Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley, which is headed precisely in the direction it appeared to be last season.

"Well, at the end of season two, we saw that wonderful proposal, and I think we can reveal that a wedding is on the horizon," Bonneville teased.

Slideshow: 'Downton Abbey' season 3

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But beyond that, the cast was determined to remain tight-lipped.

"I can't give anything away really," Carter insisted. "It's terrible. I don't want to be a spoilsport here on the program, but it would ruin it for people if they knew the story. It's more of the same, but bigger and better -- let's put it like that."

See what else the cast had to say, including talk of their adventures in America, in the clip above.

"Downton Abbey" returns to Masterpiece Classic on PBS Jan. 6.

What are you most looking forward to seeing when "Downton Abbey" returns? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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