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The Morning Fix: Globes love ‘The Artist.’ Howard Stern judging!

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After the coffee. Before what’s sure to be a fun conversation with my car insurance company.

The Skinny: I was going to say that I pity my co-workers who had to get up so early to write about the Golden Globe nominations but then I remembered that I get up that early every day to do this. D’oh! Besides the Globe news, other headlines today include the NFL’s new TV deals, Brad Grey’s new contract with Paramount and Howard Stern’s deal to be a judge on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent.’

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Not done yet. On Wednesday, the NFL signed new TV deals with ABC, CBS and Fox (see below), but there is still some unfinished business. The NFL needs to figure out its plans for another Thursday night game package. Currently, the league’s own NFL Network carries Thursday games during the second half of the season. Now the NFL wants to create a package for the first half. Besides the NFL Network, others interested include cable networks TNT and the new NBC Sports channel. My money’s on the NFL Network.

Here comes Harvey! ‘The Artist’ scored big at the Golden Globe nominations, including a nod for best picture. ‘The Artist’ is from Harvey and Bob Weinstein’s company so we know we’ll see a subtle and low-key Oscar and Golden Globe campaign. Other movies that did well include ‘The Descendants’ and ‘The Help.’ On the TV front, it was all cable for dramas, as HBO’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ along with FX’s ‘American Horror,’ Showtime’s ‘Homeland’ and Starz’s ‘Boss’ were nominated for best show. Broadcasters did better with comedies as Fox’s ‘Glee’ and ‘New Girl’ and ABC’s ‘Modern Family’ were nominated. Early analysis on the nominations, which were announced early Thursday, from the Los Angeles Times and Variety.

Gridiron gold. The NFL signed new TV rights deals with Fox, CBS and NBC worth almost $28 billion. The per-season price tag for the three networks averages out to a combined $3.1 billion, which is a 63% increase over the current deal. NBC seems to have gotten the most out of its new contract as it will get a Thanksgiving game, a second-round playoff game and more options to cherry pick matches from the other networks for its Sunday night prime time game. How will the broadcasters pay for all this? By getting the cable and satellite operators to pay more to carry their channels. And how will the cable and satellite guys cover those cost increases? You got it. They’ll stick us with the bill. Coverage and analysis of the deals from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Hope he brings Robin Quivers with him. It’s official. Howard Stern is going to become a judge on NBC’s singing competition ‘America’s Got Talent.’ It may seem weird to announce this on the same day the Golden Globe nominations are unveiled, but after today Stern is on vacation until the New Year. As I’ve said before, I’m a big Stern fan but I’m wondering if the audience for ‘America’s Got Talent’ will embrace him and whether his own audience will follow. But Stern, who is known for being crude, can also be a charmer and it could work out. He does love these shows. This being the 21st century, here’s the link to Stern’s Twitter announcement.

Taking their eye off the ball. Toy and game manufacturer Hasbro is so busy with trying to turn its products into television programs and movies, it is falling behind its competitors in its core business, according to the Wall Street Journal. ‘The problem, toy experts say, is that Hasbro has been slow to adapt to online gaming and has neglected its most profitable business -- board games -- as it pursues turning its toys into movie and television stars,’ wrote Ann Zimmerman.

Sticking around. This is not really a surprise, but Viacom has signed a new long-term deal to keep Brad Grey at the top of Paramount through 2017, said Deadline Hollywood. Guess that explains why Grey whipped out $15.5 million for a new New York pad a few weeks ago, as the Hollywood Reporter scooped.

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But will he happy? Depressing (but hilarious) comic Louis C.K.’s experiment of putting one of his stand-up shows online and charging $5 has paid off. The comedian said on his website that he has made a profit so far of $200,000 from the show.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: John Horn on what the Screen Actors Guild nominations mean for the Oscar race. Video game consoles are growing in popularity as streaming devices for movies and TV shows.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and watch me fight the man. Twitter.com/JBFlint

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