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• Just days ago, the Academy Awards nominations set up a trio of front-runners, bestowing 10 nods on "American Hustle" and "Gravity," and nine on "12 Years a Slave." But though no actor was individually honored by the guild for "American Hustle," the Abscam tale now appears to have an edge over its Oscar rivals.
• Speaking for a cast that includes Amy Adams, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper credited Russell as the epitome of the actor's director.
• ___

• NEW YORK (AP) -- Sasheer Zamata made a low-key but notable debut on "Saturday Night Live" as the first black female cast member since 2007.
• As usual for a "SNL" newcomer, Zamata kept a low profile on Saturday's broadcast. She participated in sketches in roles including Rihanna and a teenager at a slumber party.
• The 27-year-old comedian and improv performer was signed earlier this month in the wake of criticism of "SNL" for its lack of ethnic diversity. Black male cast members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah were among those voicing complaints last fall.
• The NBC series has had only four black women cast members in its 39 seasons. The most recent was Maya Rudolph. The biracial actress left in 2007.
• The show has also recently hired two black female writers.
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• MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- The powerful serve that carried Serena Williams to 25 consecutive wins suddenly became the target of Ana Ivanovic's attack in a major fourth-round upset at the Australian Open.
• Williams had a back complaint she'd tried to keep secret before Sunday but Ivanovic noticed quickly that the best serve in women's tennis wasn't coming in as fast as expected, and started taking big swipes.
• The No. 14-seeded Ivanovic ended Williams' bid for a sixth Australian and 18th Grand Slam title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory that took the hottest of favorites out of contention at Melbourne Park and opened up one side of the women's draw.
• "It's not easy playing such a champion ... but she is also just a human," said

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