Sunday night, I’ll be liveblogging the Golden Globes — that long-running joke of a show where NBC-Universal throws millions in licensing fees at a band of dubiously credentialed freeloaders who try to predict the outcome of the Oscars at their annual party. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association actually did a pretty good job of prognosticating last year, so maybe they can sort out the fascinatingly hot three-way race for Best Picture.

With “Avatar” seemingly poised to pass “Titanic” as the top-grossing film of all time, plus an Oscar-friendly left-wing agenda to boot, I’m predicting the Globes will give their prize for best picture/drama to James Cameron’s baby. As for its two main competitors on Oscar night, I’m guessing the HPFA will honor “Up in the Air” for George Clooney’s performance (best actor/drama) and screenplay, with Cameron’s ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow taking home the directing trophy for “The Hurt Locker.” As for best actress in a drama, I’m predicting the HFPA will award Sandra Bullock for the wildly successful “The Blind Side,” since her main Oscar competition, Meryl Streep, is competing and will likely win as best actress/comedy or musical for “Julie & Julia” (Bullock is also nominated in this category, for “The Proposal.”) The comedy or musical categories are not only less important when it comes to the Oscars, they’re harder to guess. I’m predicting “J & J” for best picture, but it could just as easily be “The Hangover,” and the HFPA could conceivably hold its nose and try to help their old friend Harvey Weinstein by awarding “Nine” (though that misconceived flop is probably beyond even divine intervention at this point). Best actor in a comedy or musical: Matt Damon in “The Informant!” Best supporting actress: Mo’Nique (who reportedly will actually show up), “Precious.” Best supporting actor: Christophe Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds,” another likely Oscar winner. Animated picture: “Up.” Foreign language film: “The White Ribbon.” Score: James Horner, “Avatar.” I’m predicting “Nine” will get a consolation prize in the best song category, for the supremely cheesy “Cinema Italiano.” Sunday’s post will have a spread on the Golden Globes that will a list of who I actually think should win in each category.