‘Argo’ Globe win mixes up Oscar race. Rupert on buying L.A. Times.

After the coffee. Before getting Oprah Winfrey to take my confessional.

The Skinny: I think I’m the only one enjoying this cold weather. It must be the East Coaster in me. Tuesday’s headlines include what the Golden Globe results could mean for the Oscars, how China plays movie editor and Rupert Murdoch’s thoughts on possibly buying the very media property you are reading right now.

Daily Dose: Former Fox and Yahoo executive Ross Levinsohn has landed a new job. Levinsohn, who is also a board member of Los Angeles Times parent Tribune Co., has been named CEO of Guggenheim Digital Media, a new unit created by Guggenheim Partners. Guggenheim Digital Media assets include trade papers Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter. Levinsohn will also work on digital strategy with other Guggenheim assets including Dick Clark Productions.

Guessing game. The big night “Argo” had at the Golden Globes has thrown a curve to Oscar prognosticators. Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” had been seen as an odds-on-favorite and many had picked “Silver Linings Playbook” as the only potential underdog threat. But now “Argo” is looking more like it could come away with the top prize at next month’s Oscar awards. While I enjoyed “Silver Linings Playbook” and thought Jennifer Lawrence gave a great performance, I don’t see it as best-picture material. (Sorry, Harvey.) Analysis of what the Globe results could mean for the Oscars from the Los Angeles Times and Variety.

Swimming away. Walt Disney Co. has dropped plans to re-release “The Little Mermaid” in 3D after “Monsters, Inc.” and “Beauty and the Beast” failed to light up the box office. Does this mean that the 3D format has a limited future. Maybe. Or perhaps it means consumers can recognize cynical attempts to squeeze some extra bucks out of old movies by reformatting them. More on the move from Reuters.

The C-Word. For Hollywood, shooting a movie in China or even just trying to release one there is no small task. The government reviews footage and offending material gets left on the floor. (Can you say censorship?) In the case of “Life of Pi,” according to the New York Times, that meant altering the line “religion is darkness” from the script. Some movies don’t make the cut at all.

It’s a legal matter, baby. Last week, satellite broadcaster Dish was set to receive the top award from the tech website CNET for its new box that combines its commercial skipping AutoHop DVR and the Sling, a technology that lets users watch live TV from multiple devices. Sounds cool. There’s only one problem. CNET is owned by CBS, which is one of the media companies suing Dish over the AutoHop. Once CBS got word of the award, a few phone calls were made and Dish was disqualified because of the legal battle. A CNET reporter quit in protest and Dish is no doubt figuring out how this can help their case. Coverage from the Wall Street Journal.

Rehab time. Cyclist Lance Armstrong comes clean to Oprah Winfrey about doping in an interview to be shown this week. But will that make him viable to Madison Avenue again or will he still have a lot of work to do win back the trust of marketers and the love of the public? The New York Post on Armstrong’s confession and what it means for his marketing viability.

What will Dave do this time? For all the attention Budweiser gets for its Super Bowl spots, some of the most clever in recent years have come from late night host David Letterman. CBS airs the game only once every three years, so he has a lot of time to prepare. Advertising Age looks at the best of Dave and whether he can top previous efforts.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Often mentioned as a potential suitor for the Los Angeles Times, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch pours some cold water on the idea, citing government regulations. Bento Box is innovating the animation game.

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