Oscars 2013: Here’s what to look for on Oscar night [video chat]

With the 85th Academy Awards set for Sunday night, the question on many’s minds is whether “Argo,” Ben Affleck’s drama set amid the Iranian hostage crisis, will cap off its awards season run with a best picture win.

But there are many other things to look for at this year’s Oscars, and Times staff writers Steve Zeitchik and Nicole Sperling will discuss them in a video chat right here at 3 p.m. Friday.

“Argo” is in good company in the best picture category: “Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Django Unchained,” “Les Misérables,” “Life of Pi,” “Amour” and “Zero Dark Thirty” are also nominated.

FULL COVERAGE: Oscars 2013 | Top nominees

Some of last year’s big winners -- Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer -- will return to present the acting awards.

The show’s producers are promising a music-centered show, with Grammy Award winners Adele, Norah Jones, Barbra Streisand and singer Shirley Bassey among the scheduled performers.

“Family Guy” and “Ted” star Seth MacFarlane, a nominee in the original song category, will host the show, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Pacific on Sunday and will be televised live in more than 225 countries.

Oscars 2013: Nominee list | Ballot | Trivia | Timeline

Meanwhile, check back on The Envelope for complete coverage, including Oscar night predictions from The Times’ Glenn Whipp. And on Sunday, Times film critic Kenneth Turan and staff writer Robin Abcarian will weigh in on the awards show right before the show starts and during commercial breaks.

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