Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

RAMS

Each of the Rams remaining games is essentially an elimination game as they attempt to make a run to a third consecutive postseason berth.

The Rams stayed in the hunt by defeating the Seattle Seahawks, 28-12, before a crowd of 71,501.

Jared Goff passed for two touchdowns, Malcolm Brown and Todd Gurley rushed for touchdowns and the defense neutralized Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson as the Rams improved their record to 8-5.

The Rams survived interceptions on consecutive series, including one that was returned for a touchdown, and a blocked field-goal attempt thanks to a defense that has surrendered only a touchdown and two field goals in the last two games.

The Rams’ victory does not affect their standing much in the NFC West.

The San Francisco 49ers bounced back from a narrow defeat by the Baltimore Ravens and improved to 11-2 Sunday with a 48-46 last-second victory over the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Seahawks are 10-3.

But the Rams avoided falling off the pace for a possible NFC wild-card spot. They are chasing the Minnesota Vikings (9-4), a 20-7 winner Sunday over the Detroit Lions.

The Rams play the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday at Dallas, and then play the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium before concluding the season against the Arizona Cardinals at the Coliseum. The Rams probably need to win all of their games — and receive help from Vikings opponents — to secure the wild-card spot. The Vikings finish the season at the Chargers, at home against Green Bay and at home against Chicago.

LAKERS

Anthony Davis ran toward the basket, went left and then completed a superstar rite of passage for the Lakers.

He scored 50 points for the first time this season, joining LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only Lakers with 50-point games this decade.

Davis proved nearly unstoppable and led the Lakers to a 142-125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers are now 21-3 and have the best record in the NBA.

In the game, Davis made 20 of 29 shots, and all 10 of the free throws he attempted. He also added seven rebounds and six assists. James also had a stellar night, scoring 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting while making six of eight three-point attempts against Minnesota (10-12).

The Lakers return to the road next, and will play in Orlando on Wednesday.

CLIPPERS

After the Clippers had defeated the Washington Wizards 135-119 at Capital One Arena, some of the questions were about whether Kawhi Leonard or Paul George would play Monday night in Indiana against the Pacers.

Before they answered that question, the talk was about how Leonard went to work in producing 34 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. And from listening to Leonard and coach Doc Rivers, it sounded as if the 6-foot-7 forward would sit out against the Pacers.

The conversations were also about Montrezl Harrell’s 20 points and Derrick Walton Jr.’s seven points. And the discussions were about how the Clippers’ 16-point lead in the third quarter was trimmed to four points in the fourth before they built a 21-point lead and coasted to the victory.

“I thought we got stops early, which allowed us to play a little more freely offensively,” said George, who had 27 points and six rebounds and six assists. “And I thought that’s what kind of got everybody into a rhythm early and it just kind of carried us through the game. Even when they made pushes to come back, I thought the way we started really allowed us to play with a confidence and late game we found mismatches and just kind of put the game away.”

CHARGERS

A Chargers offense that has lacked consistent explosion and production this season finally exploded and produced Sunday.

And it wasn’t just consistent. It was constant, led by Austin Ekeler.

Taking advantage of a Jacksonville Jaguars team spiraling toward the end of the year, the Chargers enjoyed a rare laugher, winning 45-10.

The victory halted a three-game losing streak and improved the Chargers to 5-8. The Jaguars fell to 4-9.

Ekeler had the game of his life — to date. He finished with a career-high 101 rushing yards and 112 receiving yards. Those 213 total yards came on only 12 touches — eight carries and four catches.

He became just the second Charger ever to top 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game. The other was Lionel James in 1985.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

Top-ranked LSU (13-0) will return to Atlanta on Dec. 28 to face Jalen Hurts and No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) at the Peach Bowl semifinal in the College Football Playoff.

In the other semifinal, the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) will take on Clemson (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.

The CFP selection committee announced the pairings Sunday, with the only drama surrounding which team would be the top seed: LSU or Ohio State.

The Tigers got the nod after their impressive 37-10 victory over then-No. 4 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

With Utah and Georgia going down, Oklahoma moved up to take the final playoff spot after beating Baylor 30-23 in overtime for the Big 12 championship.

This will be the fourth playoff appearance for the Sooners, though they have never advanced past the semifinals. Last season, they lost to Alabama 45-34 in the Orange Bowl.

USC FOOTBALL

After spending the postseason at home a year ago, USC is headed just down the freeway to San Diego for its bowl game on Dec. 27, where it’ll finish out an up-and-down season against No. 16 Iowa in the Holiday Bowl.

The nearby bowl destination is all too familiar for the Trojans, who finished 22nd in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

USC played in the Holiday in 2014 and 2015, the latter of which was Clay Helton’s second game since he was elevated to head coach. Helton and the Trojans lost to Wisconsin in that matchup before going on a run to the Rose Bowl the following season.

This bowl will be Helton’s first time on the sideline since receiving an unexpected vote of confidence from USC’s new leadership. After that decision, the bowl will serve as a litmus test for how a frustrated USC fan base moves forward from here.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAME SCHEDULE

College football playoffs

Dec. 28, Peach Bowl, No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma, 1 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 28, Fiesta Bowl, No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson, 5 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 13, at New Orleans, Title game, 5 p.m., ESPN

Other bowl games

Dec. 20, Bahamas Bowl, Buffalo vs. Charlotte, 11 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 20, Frisco Bowl, Utah State vs. Kent State, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2

Dec. 21, Celebration Bowl, Alcorn St. vs. North Carolina A&T, 9 a.m., ABC

Dec. 21, New Mexico Bowl, Central Michigan vs. San Diego St., 11 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 21, Cure Bowl, Liberty vs. Georgia Southern, 11:30 a.m., CBS Sports Network

Dec. 21, Boca Raton Bowl, SMU vs. Florida Atlantic, 12:30 p.m., ABC

Dec. 21, Camellia Bowl, Florida International vs. Arkansas St., 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 21, Las Vegas Bowl, Boise St. vs. Washington, 4:30 p.m., ABC

Dec. 21, New Orleans Bowl, Appalachian St. vs. UAB, 6 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 23, Gasparilla Bowl, UCF vs. Marshall, 11:30 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 24, Hawaii Bowl, Hawaii vs. BYU, 5 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 26, Independence Bowl, Louisiana Tech vs. Miami, 1 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 26, Quick Lane Bowl, Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan, 5 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 27, Military Bowl, North Carolina vs. Temple, 9 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 27, Pinstripe Bowl, Michigan St. vs. Wake Forest, 12:15 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 27, Texas Bowl, Oklahoma St. vs. Texas A&M, 3:45 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 27, Holiday Bowl, USC vs. Iowa, 5 p.m., FS1

Dec. 27, Cheez-It Bowl, Air Force vs. Washington St., 7:15 p.m., ESPM

Dec. 28, Camping World Bowl, Notre Dame vs. Iowa State, 9 a.m., ABC

Dec. 28, Cotton Bowl, Penn State vs. Memphis, 9 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 30, First Responder Bowl, Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan, 9:30 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 30, Music City Bowl, Mississippi St. vs. Louisville, 1 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 30, Redbox Bowl, California vs. Illinois, 1 p.m., Fox

Dec. 30, Orange Bowl, Florida vs. Virginia, 5 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 31, Belk Bowl, Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky, 9 a.m., ESPN

Dec. 31, Sun Bowl, Florida St. vs. Arizona St., 11 a.m., CBS

Dec. 31, Liberty Bowl, Navy vs. Kansas St., 12:45 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 31, Arizona Bowl, Wyoming vs. Georgia St., 1:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network

Dec. 31, Alamo Bowl, Utah vs. Texas, 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 1, Citrus Bowl, Michigan vs. Alabama, 10 a.m., ABC

Jan. 1, Outback Bowl, Minnesota vs. Auburn, 10 a.m., ESPN

Jan. 1, Rose Bowl, Oregon vs. Wisconsin, 2 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 1, Sugar Bowl, Georgia vs. Baylor, 5:45 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 2, Birmingham Bowl, Boston College vs. Cincinnati, noon, ESPN

Jan. 2, Gator Bowl, Indiana vs. Tennessee, 4 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 3, Potato Bowl, Ohio vs. Nevada, 12:30 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 4, Armed Forces Bowl, Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane, 8:30 a.m., ESPN

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Jan. 6, LendingTree Bowl, Louisiana vs. Miami (Ohio), 4:30 p.m., ESPN

UCLA BASKETBALL

Cody Riley was among the biggest reasons for the Bruins’ runaway 81-62 victory over the Denver Pioneers at Pauley Pavilion that gave UCLA a second consecutive blowout of an overmatched opponent.

Riley scored eight of his career-high 21 points over the first 3½ minutes of the second half, using an array of moves that included a spinning layup, short turnaround jumper and two-handed putback dunk.

“He’ll score if you don’t go at him, if you give him space and time,” coach Mick Cronin said of the redshirt sophomore forward who made nine of 13 shots and added 11 rebounds before fouling out with four minutes left in the game. “He’s got to lose the jump shot at times and he’s got to learn to play smarter with his fouling.”

The Bruins (7-3) tied a season low with only nine turnovers while forcing 17. Freshman guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 16 points as part of his continued emergence for UCLA, which made 47.5% of its shots but only 22.7% of its three-pointers.

DUCKS

Nikolaj Ehlers took on Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf in Winnipeg’s 3-2 victory over the Ducks.

The 6-foot, 172-pound Ehlers, known for his quick feet, clashed with Getzlaf, who is 6-3 and 225 pounds. Both threw a couple punches in the brief, second-period bout.

“Out of character? This is my third fight now,” joked Ehlers, who’s in his fifth NHL season. “I’m a fighter. [Getzlaf] gave me a cross-check after I passed it and then, yeah, I think it was kind of a mutual thing. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Mark Scheifele scored twice, the second on a power play with 4:22 left for his 400th NHL point. He beat goalie John Gibson over the glove for his 13th of the season.

Jets captain Blake Wheeler called Ehlers a “sick man“ for taking on Getzlaf.

“What a hell of a job by a little guy,“ Wheeler said. “That dude has got some fire in his belly, for sure. That was pretty awesome.“

Jets coach Paul Maurice joked that he sent Ehlers over the boards to take on Getzlaf, then added the Danish player native better keep his gloves on to avoid injury.

“That was foolish, wasn’t it?“ Maurice said. “But God bless him, don’t do it again. Ever.”

TODAY’S LOCAL MAJOR SPORTS SCHEDULE

All times Pacific

Clippers at Indiana, 4 p.m., Fox Sports Prime Ticket, AM 570

BORN ON THIS DATE

1853: Baseball player Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn (d. 1897)

1933: Golfer Orville Moody (d. 2008)

1938: Former Ram Deacon Jones (d. 2013)

1942: Football player Dick Butkus

1949: Golfer Tom Kite

1953: Basketball player World B Free

1960: Former Dodger Juan Samuel

1968: Wrestler Kurt Angle

1971: Hockey player Petr Nedved

DIED ON THIS DATE

1965: Baseball executive Branch Rickey, 83

1998: Boxer Archie Moore, 84

2003: Basketball coach Norm Sloan, 77

AND FINALLY

The 100 greatest players of all time, No. 15: Deacon Jones. Watch it here.

That concludes the newsletter for today. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, please email me at [email protected]. If you want to subscribe, click here

Ventura County authorities seized a cache of weapons, including a flamethrower and multiple assault rifles, from a Camarillo home as part of a drug investigation late last week, authorities said.

Camarillo police arrested Christopher Oleksik on multiple drug and weapons charges Thursday after a raid of his Glenbrook Road home turned up 20,000 rounds of ammunition, multiple handguns, four AR-15s, body armor and “what appeared to be a fully functional flamethrower,” according to a statement issued Saturday by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Oleksik was initially held in lieu of $105,000, but is out on bail, authorities said. He is due back in court later this month.

Several of the weapons found in the home either lacked serial numbers or were unregistered, according to authorities.

Investigators also recovered heroin and items consistent with the manufacture of firearms at the residence, authorities said. It was not clear whether Oleksik had an attorney.

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SACRAMENTO — 

The winner of the Democratic presidential primary in California will likely be decided in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Maybe throw in Nevada as a California decider too.

That’s how human nature behaves, and therefore so does American politics.

Those other states will vote first, starting with pampered pipsqueaks Iowa and New Hampshire. They always get all the fun choosing presidential front-runners.

It’s human to want to be on the side of a winner. That’s why we root for sports teams, our spirits soaring when the squad triumphs, but in the dumpster when it loses.

And in politics, we really don’t like to waste our vote on a sorry loser.

California will hold its primary election to award convention delegates to presidential candidates on March 3. That’s so-called Super Tuesday, the closest thing we have to a national primary. There’ll be 16 contests in far-flung states and territories, with the largest by far in California.

Californians can start mailing in their ballots a month ahead on Feb. 3, the same day Iowans caucus. New Hampshire votes eight days later, and then Nevada and South Carolina.

It’s a good bet that California Democrats won’t be rushing to fill out their mail ballots. They’ll be sizing up how the candidates are faring elsewhere and trying to get behind someone who has a good crack at winning the nomination and ousting President Trump.

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“California voters are going to sit back and see what happens in other states,” veteran Democratic consultant Garry South predicts. “They’re not going to throw their vote away on someone who’s going to come in seventh or eighth. The notion they’re going to mail in a ballot on Feb. 3 is idiotic.”

Still, California frequently does not side with the eventual nominee, voting instead as a maverick state.

“We’ve had some contrarian primaries here,” Democratic strategist Bill Carrick notes. “There definitely is a bandwagon effect, but it’s not a cut and dried thing.”

Examples: Hillary Clinton beat Barack Obama by 8 percentage points in the February 2008 California primary, but Obama was ultimately nominated. In 1980, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy embarrassed President Carter with a 7-point victory in the June primary, but Carter was re-nominated.

So any speculation — and there’s lots of it — about which candidate will benefit most from California Sen. Kamala Harris dropping out of the race last week isn’t worth much.

For starters, Harris didn’t have very many anticipated California votes for another candidate to reap.

Just before waving the white flag, she was down to 7% in late November polling by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. An early November survey by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Harris at 8%.

Leading the Berkeley IGS poll were Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with 24% and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 22%. Then came former Vice President Joe Biden, 14%, and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 12%.

Based on participants’ second choices, the poll indicated that Warren and Biden would capture the largest share of Harris’ meager support. But, again, it’s likely that many Californians won’t decide whom to vote for until they see how candidates run in earlier races.

Former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg won’t be tested in the four early contests, at least directly. He isn’t putting himself on ballots until Super Tuesday. Regardless, his fate also will largely be determined by those early states. If a candidate or two catches fire, Bloomberg might as well give up. But if top-tier candidates falter — especially Biden — an opportunity will open for the New Yorker.

Harris had been bestowed with endorsements from establishment Democrats in California, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Many who endorsed her felt an obligation to be a team player with the state political power structure. Now they’re free to endorse anyone they wish.

Newsom was swamped with phone calls from candidates and their surrogates immediately after Harris bowed out. The buzzards have been zeroing in on stranded Harris supporters.

The governor is not inclined to endorse anyone else, at least for now. But as the primary gets closer, pressure will mount on him to give some candidate a boost.

“There’s nothing worse than every day having to answer the same question about ‘are you going to get involved?’” says Carrick, longtime chief strategist for Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. “It doesn’t look like you’re exercising leadership. And the pressure is so much greater now because of Trump” and the Democrats’ passion to oust him.

But generally, endorsements aren’t worth much unless they result in significant grass-roots volunteer work or are written on the back of a check. Harris had a large cadre of California contributors and fundraisers who now are being recruited by other candidates.

“Those people are up for grabs,” says South, who was chief strategist for former Gov. Gray Davis, a fundraising glutton. “They can go where they want now without being viewed as traitors” to Harris.

But, South adds: “California’s big donors are pretty independent. They play the field. Many have multiple candidates they give to for the same office. They’re very discriminating. They don’t need recommendations from others.”

The California race is wide open, but not because Harris got out. It’s because no other states have voted yet.

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Monday, Dec. 9, and here’s a quick look at the week ahead:

Monday will see the nominees for the 77th Golden Globe Awards revealed bright and early, with the annual predawn announcement ceremony beginning at 5 a.m. Pacific time. (If it’s after 5 a.m., the nominees and more coverage can be found here.)

On Tuesday, the California Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony. The 10 inductees for this year include writer Maya Angelou, Olympian Brandi Chastain, chef Wolfgang Puck and entertainer RuPaul, among others.

Time’s Person of the Year will be revealed on Wednesday.

Thursday is the deadline for 2020 Democrats to qualify for the December debate, which will be held in Los Angeles on Dec. 19.

And now, here’s what’s happening across California:

TOP STORIES

A year after the ouster of Les Moonves, CBS is confronting allegations of sexual harassment, misogyny and age discrimination at its TV stations, according to this Times investigation. More than two dozen current and former employees of KCBS and KCAL described a toxic environment where, they said, employees encountered age discrimination, misogyny and sexual harassment — and retaliation if they complained. CBS denied that it engaged in discrimination. Los Angeles Times

After an unprecedented string of wildfires across California, overtime costs for firefighters have surged by 65% in the last decade, pushing annual wages to nearly $5 billion, according to a Times analysis of state payroll records. The overtime spending is further evidence of a statewide toll: Wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes, killed scores of residents and disrupted power supplies across large swaths of the state — and, increasingly, they are chewing through government budgets. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

The Free Cafe wants to talk about gentrification. But some say it’s part of the problem. Never has the coffee shop (in this case, a pop-up one in a backyard) been a more charged symbol than in Leimert Park. Los Angeles Times

The Chevy Suburban just became the first inanimate object to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. According to Chevrolet, the car has made a television appearance at least once every year since 1956 and appeared in at least one movie each year since 1960. Car and Driver

Here’s where to find the best Mexican hot chocolate around Los Angeles, because it’s winter … somewhere. And hot drink season is upon us. L.A. Taco

Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times.

IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER

A record number of African migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border: The number of African migrants heading to the U.S. through Mexico has more than doubled this year — from roughly 2,700 in 2018 to 5,800 today, according to data from the federal government. Los Angeles Times

In Claremont, a nativity scene evokes images that have become synonymous with criticism of the Trump administration’s border policies: A Claremont Methodist church’s nativity scene depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees separated in cages, stoking debate. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Articles of impeachment against President Trump will probably come this week: The House Judiciary Committee, which is spearheading the Democratic-led impeachment drive, will move swiftly to draft articles of impeachment against Trump, possibly by the end of this week, the panel’s chairman said Sunday. Los Angeles Times

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Support continues to grow for San Jose’s mayor’s vision of a customer-owned PG&E. He now has the backing of 114 elected leaders in 58 cities and 10 counties. San Jose Inside

Mayor Pete’s husband came to Modesto as part of a listening tour in underrepresented areas. Per the Bee, Chasten Buttigieg is one of the few campaign spouses or surrogates to make a stop in Modesto. Modesto Bee

CRIME AND COURTS

Police seized 20,000 rounds of ammunition and a flamethrower from a Ventura County home. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Father Junípero Serra’s name was removed from a street sign on the Stanford campus. The move comes amid a larger reckoning around mission era treatment of Native Americans in California. San Luis Obispo Tribune

Why has San Francisco become one of the most expensive places in the world to build housing? The reasons include worker shortage, long waits for permits, restrictive zoning and high fees, among other things. San Francisco Chronicle

Marie Callender’s restaurants have been shutting down around the state, while new Cracker Barrels have been popping up. Why are some chains dying in California and what are the surviving ones doing to hang on? Orange County Register

A generous parent paid the outstanding school lunch debt for an entire Merced elementary school. His $1,525.25 donation cleared the lunch debt of 47 students. Merced Sun-Star

Here are six West Coast winemakers to watch, from a former musician making attention-worthy pinot noirs in a San Francisco warehouse to the woman defining a corner of the Central Coast as prime Syrah territory. San Francisco Chronicle

This East Bay city is clamping down on “out of control” real estate open house signs. “They’re the silent scourge of Fremont — open house signs that clutter street corners and sidewalks every weekend, sometimes before dawn and well into the evening hours.” East Bay Times

With the water crisis over, Poway businesses regroup. Restaurants there reopened Saturday morning after six days of darkness, with owners and employees happy to be back at work, but upset about the costly interruption to their businesses and lives. San Diego Union-Tribune

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles: sunny, 67. San Diego: sunny, 63. San Francisco: fog, 55. San Jose: sunny, 59. Sacramento: partly sunny, 58. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

This week’s birthdays for those who made a mark in California:

Former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (Dec. 10, 1966), Rep. Mark Takano (Dec. 10, 1960), the late activist Tom Hayden (Dec. 11, 1939), Rep. Anna Eshoo (Dec. 13, 1942) and Taylor Swift (Dec. 13, 1989).

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to Julia Wick. Follow her on Twitter @Sherlyholmes.

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Monday at 4:46 a.m. 12 miles from Soledad, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Central California earthquake occurred 13 miles from Hollister, 17 miles from Salinas, , 20 miles from Prunedale, and 21 miles from Greenfield.

In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.0 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.

Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.

This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.

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In the run-up to this morning’s Golden Globes nominations, it hasn’t been exactly clear which way the Oscar-season winds are blowing for “Joker.”

On the one hand, director Todd Phillips’ grim, gritty take on the origin story of the iconic supervillain won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival in September and has proved a box office smash, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide — bona fides that would seem to tee it up perfectly for a robust awards run. On the other hand, “Joker” was dogged by pre-release controversy and sharply divided reviews, and while Joaquin Phoenix’s mesmerizing performance as Arthur Fleck is considered a virtual lock for a lead actor Oscar nod, the film’s other awards prospects seem less certain.

In the end, “Joker” came out with four Golden Globe nominations, including best motion picture in the drama category, best director for Todd Phillips, best lead actor in a drama for Phoenix and best score — a surprisingly strong showing that Warner Bros. and Phillips hope will send the film laughing all the way to the Oscars.

While the Golden Globes are famously — or, sometimes, infamously — friendlier to mainstream popcorn fare than many other major awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has never before showered this much love on a comic-book movie. Only two films in the genre have previously scored Globe nods for best motion picture: “Deadpool” and “Black Panther,” which were nominated in the comedy or musical and drama categories, respectively. In the end, neither took home any trophies.

More Golden Globes coverage

At the same time, “Joker” is a very different kind of comic-book movie, one with a decidedly dark vision of America that may have resonated with the HFPA. And the HFPA does seem to have a soft spot for actors playing the Joker. Jack Nicholson earned a Globe nomination for his broad, somewhat cartoonish turn as the Clown Prince of Crime in Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman,” and Heath Ledger was awarded a posthumous Globe (and later an Oscar) for his more frightening and grounded take on the character in the 2008 smash hit “The Dark Knight.”

The Globe nod for Phoenix clearly helps cement his place among the front-runners in this year’s fiercely competitive lead actor race. Still, in the weeks ahead, don’t expect to see the generally press-shy actor out pressing the flesh with great gusto on the Oscar campaign trail.

“I wouldn’t want to feel in any way like I influenced somebody’s thinking beyond just what the work presented,” Phoenix told The Times in October. “It just seems wrong to me. Either your work should leave a lasting memory and be of value and interest or not.” As he sees it, everything else is a bit of, well, a joke.

The nominations for the 2020 Golden Globes have been unveiled today in Los Angeles, with Netflix’s “Marriage Story” leading the movie categories with six nominations, and TV projects “Chernobyl,” “The Crown” and “Unbelievable” tying with four nominations each. Tim Allen, Dakota Fanning and Susan Kelechi Watson announced the nominees.

The 77th Golden Globe Awards will air live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 5. Ricky Gervais is hosting for the third time. Tom Hanks is set to receive the honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Here is the list of nominees:

TV

Drama series
“Big Little Lies”
“The Crown”
“Killing Eve”

“The Morning Show”
“Succession”

Comedy series
“Barry”
“Fleabag”
“The Kominsky Method”
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
“The Politician”

Miniseries or television film
“Catch-22”
“Chernobyl”
“Fosse/Verdon”
“The Loudest Voice”
“Unbelievable”

Lead actress in a drama
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Olivia Colman, “The Crown”
Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”
Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”

Lead actor in a drama
Brian Cox, “Succession”

Kit Harington, “Game of Thrones”
Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot”
Tobias Menzies, “The Crown”
Billy Porter, “Pose”

More Golden Globes coverage

Lead actor in a comedy
Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
Bill Hader, “Barry”
Ben Platt, “The Politician”
Paul Rudd, “Living With Yourself”
Rami Yousef, “Rami”

Lead actress in a comedy
Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me”
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Kirsten Dunst, “On Becoming a God in Central Florida”

Natasha Lyonne, “Russian Doll”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, “Fleabag”

Lead actor in a miniseries or television film
Chris Abbott, “Catch-22”
Sacha Baron Cohen, “The Spy”
Russell Crowe, “The Loudest Voice”
Jared Harris, “Chernobyl”
Sam Rockwell, “Fosse/Verdon”

Lead actress in a miniseries or television film
Kaitlyn Dever, “Unbelievable”
Joey King, “The Act”
Helen Mirren, “Catherine the Great”
Merritt Wever, “Unbelievable”
Michelle Williams, “Fosse/Verdon”

Supporting actor in a series, limited series or a television film
Alan Arkin, “Kominsky Method”
Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
Andrew Scott, “Fleabag”
Stellan Skarsgård, “Chernobyl”
Henry Winkler, “Barry”

Supporting actress in a series, limited series or a television film
Patricia Arquette, “The Act”
Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown”
Toni Collette, “Unbelievable”
Meryl Streep, “Big Little Lies”
Emily Watson, “Chernobyl”

Movies

Comedy
“Dolemite Is My Name”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Knives Out”
“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”
“Rocketman”

Drama
“1917″
“The Irishman”
“Joker”
“Marriage Story”
“The Two Popes”

Lead actress in a drama
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
Renée Zellweger, “Judy”

Lead actor in a drama
Christian Bale, “Ford v Ferrari”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

Lead actress in a musical/comedy
Ana De Armas, “Knives Out”
Awkwafina, “The Farewell”
Cate Blanchett, “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”
Beanie Feldstein, “Booksmart”
Emma Thompson, “Late Night”

Lead actor in a comedy/musical
Daniel Craig, “Knives Out”
Roman Griffin Davis, “Jojo Rabbit”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”
Taron Egerton, “Rocketman”
Eddie Murphy, “Dolemite Is My Name”

Supporting actress
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Annette Bening, “The Report”
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Jennifer Lopez, “Hustlers”
Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”

Supporting actor
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

Director
Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite”
Sam Mendes, “1917″
Todd Phillips, “Joker”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

Screenplay
Noah Baumbach, “Marriage Story”
Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin Won, “Parasite”
Anthony McCarten, “The Two Popes”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Steven Zaillian, “The Irishman”

Original score
Thomas Newman, “1917”
Hildur Guðnadóttir, “Joker”
Alexandre Desplat, “Little Women”
Randy Newman, “Marriage Story”
Daniel Pemberton, “Motherless Brooklyn”

Original song
“Beautiful Ghosts,” “Cats”
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”
“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2″
“Spirit,” “The Lion King”
“Stand Up,” “Harriet”

Animated feature
“Frozen 2”
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
“The Lion King”
“Missing Link”
“Toy Story 4”

Foreign language film
“The Farewell”
“Les Misérables”
“Pain and Glory”
“Parasite”
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”

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This year’s Golden Globes director nominations prove the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. still has trouble recognizing the talents of women behind the camera.

Throughout its 75-year history, women have been nominated for best director at the Globes only seven times.

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In 2017, presenter Natalie Portman called attention to the ceremony’s historical omission of female filmmakers before announcing the “all-male nominees.” For the second consecutive year after that, the same thing happened again.

The all-male lineup of filmmakers selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. included Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”), Sam Mendes (“1917″), Todd Phillips (“Joker”), Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”) and Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”).

Among the women who were snubbed by the HFPA despite having directed acclaimed movies this year are Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”), Marielle Heller (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”), Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”) and Lorene Scafaria (“Hustlers”). This marks Heller’s second consecutive snub after her Melissa McCarthy-led drama “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” was overlooked by the HFPA last year. Gerwig, similarly, was not nominated for her breakout film “Lady Bird” and went on to earn an Oscar nomination.

More Golden Globes coverage

By contrast, this year’s Spirit Awards nominees included two women in the director category: “Honey Boy” director Alma Har’el and Scafaria were both nominated alongside Robert Eggers (“The Lighthouse”), Julius Onah (“Luce”) and the Safdie brothers (“Uncut Gems”). At this year’s Gotham Independent Film Awards, Olivia Wilde was nominated for the ceremony’s Bingham Ray breakthrough director award for her debut “Booksmart.”

Likewise, the two best picture categories (drama and musical or comedy) are all from male directors. The only female-helmed films recognized in the nominations were Jennifer Lee’s “Frozen 2″ (co-directed with Chris Buck) in the animation category and “The Farewell” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” in the foreign-language category.

Now in its 77th year, the HFPA has nominated only five women for the directing prize: Barbra Streisand (“Yentl” and “The Prince of Tides”), Jane Campion (“The Piano”), Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”), Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) and Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty”). Streisand remains the sole winner of the award, which she won for “Yentl” in 1984.

But the inclusion problem isn’t unique to the Globes. In its 91-year history, only five women have been nominated for the director honor at the Academy Awards as well: Gerwig, Coppola, Bigelow, Lina Wertmüller and Campion. That means of the 355 total directing nominations awarded over the years, women were included just 1.41% of the time.

The dearth of female nominees in the directing category is almost certainly related to the fact that female filmmakers remain underrepresented by far among the top grossing films. The latest “Celluloid Ceiling” study, conducted annually by San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, found that women accounted for just 8% of directors working on the top 250 films in 2018, down from 11% the previous year. In 1998, women comprised 9% of all directors so it’s not just that the numbers aren’t moving, they’re now actually regressing.

Beyond the awards, 2019 has been a strong year for movies directed by women. The year’s releases also included Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen & Slim,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” Elizabeth Banks’ “Charlie’s Angels,” Sophia Takal’s “Black Christmas,” Gurinder Chada’s “Blinded By the Light,” Andrea Berloff’s “The Kitchen,” Kasi Lemmons’ “Harriet,” Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir” and Jennifer Kent’s “The Nightingale.”

Next year, Chloe Zhao will helm Marvel’s hotly anticipated “The Eternals,” Cate Shortland will reveal the studio’s standalone Black Widow feature, and Cathy Yan will unveil DC’s Harley Quinn spinoff “Birds of Prey.” Nia DaCosta will release a reboot of the classic horror “Candyman,” plans for an adaptation of DC’s “The New Gods” is in the works with Ava DuVernay attached and Domee Shi is set to develop a feature film at Pixar.

Whether the HFPA will become more inclusive of female filmmakers remains to be seen.

There were some constants in gaming in 2019. “Fortnite” remained a massive force, both in the digital sphere and physical space. “Pokémon” returned, which meant plenty of mystical creatures needed to be caught once more. There were, of course, a number of games with firearms, and once again more Nazis that needed to be offed.

But how and where we play continues to evolve.

If games were once confined to home consoles and PCs, increasingly the interactive medium is one that is shaping everything from our television shows to our theme parks. Here, we reflect on 10 ways games impacted entertainment in 2019, be it via the stories they told, where they told them or how they told them.

1. More diversity gave us more thoughtful stories

It will take a while for games to earn a reputation as a place for diverse, considerate storytelling after decades focused on competition and gunplay. But following the horror that was 2014’s Gamergate, in which those who frequented toxic corners of internet message boards waged harassment campaigns against mostly female-identifying developers and critics, the industry is starting to show that some lessons have been learned.

Simply put, more diverse characters have resulted in more complex and challenging stories.

See “Gears 5,” which switched to a female protagonist in Kait Diaz, a character who dropped the machismo and helped bring a sense of mystery to a series filled with monstrous villains and chainsaw guns. Even the latest in the “Call of Duty” franchise, a brand plagued too long with blunt patriotism and an often unapologetic pro-military stance, aimed for nuance with “Modern Warfare,” which, at times, had players maneuver through the game as a Middle Eastern woman. “Life is Strange 2″ intermixed supernatural elements with a setting that directly referenced today’s immigration politics while “Neo Cab” addressed the potentially emotionally demoralizing aspects of the gig economy.

That says nothing of the mix of viewpoints one could encounter in mainstream games as varied as “The Outer Worlds” and “Fire Emblem: Three Houses,” where players could interact with a broad range of personalities and genders — or even just some hermits who preferred not to leave their bedroom.

2. Games can’t replace therapy, but they can help

A wave of games that encourage us to be nicer to each other emerged this year. And while it’s temping to view them as a reaction to decades of male-driven titles filled with interactive violence, developers say they’re reflective of our contentious cultural and political climate. In other words, maybe some more compassion and understanding would do us all good.

“Kind Words” is just that, a game that allows players to communicate anonymously, fostering an environment in which concerns and worries are met with affirmation. “Sea of Solitude” took a more metaphorical route, revealing the potential monster that lives inside us and and asking why we fear it, while “Eliza” showed us the limitations of modern tech and the power of therapy. All have a common thread: The human mind is likely a puzzle we’ll never crack.

3. Augmented reality matures into a platform

“Pokémon Go” in 2016 became a cultural phenomenon, showing millions the joy of “Pokémon” and the magic-like abilities of augmented reality, which can merge digital universes with our own. It’s been fits and starts since then for AR gaming, but that started to change in 2019.

“Wizards Unite” may not have a “Pokémon Go”-sized audience, but it showed that AR could adept to the complexities of the “Harry Potter” franchise with a game that boasts an ongoing narrative and some appealing spell-casting mechanics. “Minecraft Earth,” meanwhile, is just getting started, giving us an AR game that allows us to re-re-imagine our realities.

4. A dazzling, interactive visual album

There have long been dance games or rhythm games, and even “Zelda” got a beat-driven makeover this year with “Cadence of Hyrule.” What made “Sayonara Wild Hearts” so imaginative is that it used music-focused mechanics — move in time to the groove, for instance — to create something that was unlike anything we had seen.

A purely interactive visual album, the game unfolds as a dreamlike metaphorical take on romance and heartbreak with an emphasis on personal growth. It’s mystical, abstract and fast. We hear classical music remixed as heart-thumping synth pop and shape-shift our way around two-wheelers and fairy tale creatures. Ultimately, this is a gorgeous game that argues heartbreak is about the adventure rather than the moment.

5. The future of mass entertainment is participatory — maybe?

When the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland on May 31 it was an unfinished, a work-in-progress with some hyped elements yet to be added, including its primary attraction, Rise of the Resistance, which will open at Disneyland on Jan. 17 after an early December launch in Florida.

But its underlying thesis is clear: Guests today increasingly want something more active. The passive theme park rides of yore don’t exist in Galaxy’s Edge — here the flight simulator can be fully interactive. There’s even a game for mobile phones that has guests fighting for control of the land itself. Theme parks are an ever-evolving medium that need to adjust on the fly to the behavior of tourists. How guests and the Walt Disney Co. opt to utilize Galaxy’s Edge as a platform — and play with all it has to offer — will provide clues about how much games can and will shape pop-culture.

6. An angry goose became a video game star

“Untitled Goose Game” charmed before its release, introducing itself with a playfully bright abstract art style and an adoringly unconventional video game star — an angry goose. No wonder it became the creature meme of choice — at least until the arrival of “Baby Yoda” — as pop-culture observers embraced the goose’s somewhat obnoxious “HONK” while it humorously annoyed shopkeepers, gardeners and children in an idyllic European town.

With a name — and a plot — that was just vague enough, “Untitled Goose Game” allowed us to see the world from an animal’s point of view and to strike back at overcrowding humans by stealing one sock at a time.

7. A video game legend returns to frustrate, offer hope

“Death Stranding” can be difficult to love. You might be tempted to shut it off if you find its first 10 to 12 hours off-putting. And chances are good that you will. A slog at the start, the game’s environments and threats punish players to the point that they can feel small and helpless.

But then it truly reveals its ambitions: To succeed, we must learn to better communicate with others. Those who give into the game’s urges to work with strangers will ultimately find “Death Stranding” to be rather heartwarming. Despite the presence of some ghost-like creatures, “Death Stranding” is really about rebuilding and reconnecting the world.

8. The subscription and streaming era is reshaping gaming

The gaming world had already begun to shift to a digitally focused landscape, one centered on a download-driven consumer model. Then 2019 brought us Apple Arcade, a $4.99 per month subscription that is home to some of the best of what mobile gaming has to offer. With new games added regularly, the case could be made that Apple Arcade is now the most essential and accessible platform.

Google’s Stadia, which has a more ambitious, cloud-focused streaming model, got off to a pricey, convoluted launch that may currently make it more difficult than its worth for the average consumer. But it’s hard not to believe Stadia’s issues are the ones the industry is most focused on solving. The promise is too alluring: bringing games to everyone.

9. TV starts to look like games. Games start to look like TV

Netflix made a big splash at the start of the year with its choice-driven episode of“Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,” and then promising to experiment more with the format in the future. But we felt like a director of the action rather than a participant.

Game developers too went the full-motion video route, a genre once thought left for dead in the 1990s. The PlayStation 4 game “Erica” sought to give players more control over the on-screen filmed environments. It was a capable thriller, albeit one that sometimes felt like a fascinating tech demo. Better still was “Telling Lies,” Sam Barlow’s engrossing topical narrative about how the internet encourages the creation of deceitful personas. All of its scenes were available to us via searching for keywords, making the very creation of the story part of the puzzle.

10. Nintendo may not revolutionize fitness, but bless it for trying

We’re a long way removed from Nintendo’s Wii Fit, an instant hit when it was unveiled in Japan in 2007 but also the victim of stock shortages in the U.S. upon its 2008 release. Those who still have that device are likely letting it collect dust, but the company’s latest bid for health-focused game is no mere novelty.

“Ring Fit Adventure,” in which players don leg straps and utilize a Pilates-like ring to measure strength and complete workout challenges, resulted in many of my most exhaustive workouts of the year. “Ring Fit” is politely encouraging and a bit silly — you have battle a dragon with many an unhealthy body issue — but is far from unforgiving in its approach to physical activity.

This year’s fairly wide-open awards season came into sharper focus with Monday’s Golden Globe nominations, which boosted several early Oscar front-runners, including “Marriage Story,” “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” and also gave a leg up to other potential contenders like “Joker,” “The Two Popes” and “1917.”

In the run-up to the early morning announcement, there were a number of questions on the minds of awards prognosticators. To what degree would Netflix, which is fielding arguably its strongest slate of Oscar contenders to date, flex its muscle? How would the critically divisive comic-book smash “Joker” fare? Would the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. recognize any female directors? And would there be any love for the as-yet-unseen but already meme-worthy big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Cats”?

Representing a significant showing for Netflix, director Noah Baumbach’s divorce drama “Marriage Story” led the field overall with six nominations, including best motion picture in the drama category and best screenplay, along with nods in the lead drama category for stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.

Martin Scorsese’s mob epic “The Irishman” (also Netflix) and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” followed closely behind with five nominations apiece, and earned nominations in the best picture drama and comedy categories, respectively. “Joker” also had a surprisingly strong showing, with four nominations, including best picture in the drama category.

The other best picture nominees in the drama category were the World War I drama “1917″ and Netflix’s “The Two Popes.” Rounding out the comedy or musical category were “Rocketman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Knives Out” and Netflix’s “Dolemite Is My Name.”

Nominated for lead actor in a drama are Driver, Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”), Christian Bale (“Ford v Ferrari”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”) and Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”). Nominees for lead actress in a drama are Johansson, Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”), Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”), Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”) and Reneé Zellweger (“Judy”).

Among the nominees for lead actor in a comedy or musical are Daniel Craig (“Knives Out”), Roman Griffin Davis (“Jojo Rabbit”), Leonardo DiCaprio (“Once Upon a Time”), Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”) and Eddie Murphy (“Dolemite Is My Name”). In the lead actress category, the nominees are Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”), Awkwafina (“The Farewell”), Cate Blanchett (“Where’d You Go, Bernadette?”), Beanie Feldstein (“Booksmart”) and Emma Thompson (“Late Night”).

Boosted by “The Irishman,” “Marriage Story” and “The Two Popes,” Netflix racked up a total of 17 nominations in film only, leading the pack for distributors by a wide margin.

More Golden Globes coverage

In recent years, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has worked to invest the Globes — which have long been regarded as the Oscars’ fluffier, boozier cousin — with greater credibility. (It’s been nearly a decade since the organization gave three nominations, including best picture, to the critically reviled flop “The Tourist.”) Still, Globes nominations can often be counted on to deliver some curveballs, if not outright head-scratchers, and Monday’s announcement contained a few, including a surprise snub of Robert De Niro for “The Irishman” and the unexpected nod for Blanchett, who hadn’t been on the awards radar this year.

Greta Gerwig, who failed to score a directing nomination two years ago for her acclaimed debut “Lady Bird,” was again passed over for her period adaptation, “Little Women.” Other potential contenders Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), Lorene Scafaria (“Hustlers”) and Marielle Heller (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”) were also overlooked, marking a notable shutout for female filmmakers at a time when issues of power and gender continue to generate headlines in Hollywood and beyond.

Though it is expected to be the holiday season’s biggest juggernaut, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was ineligible for Globes consideration because it was not screened in time for the foreign press association to consider. Meanwhile, the most sizable box office hit of the year to date, “Avengers: Endgame,” scored no nominations.

As a purported Oscar bellwether, one generally should take the Globes nominations, which are made by around 90 voting members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. rather than film industry professionals, with a heaping spoonful of salt. Last year, for example, the Dick Cheney biopic “Vice” led the Globes field with six nominations, only to end up winning just one Oscar, for makeup and hairstyling.

Still, as awards season ramps up, the Globes nominations can help set the narratives around which films may be gaining traction and which may be grinding their gears — a particularly important factor in a year such as this one with an accelerated timeline. (Oscar voting will open Jan. 2 and the ceremony will be held on Feb. 9.). And while the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. often tends to favor commercial studio fare, the spotlight that comes with a Globes nomination can sometimes provide a much-needed box office pick-me-up to smaller-scale films.

This story will be updated.