• Dave Karger is reporting that Ralph Fiennes is dropping down to the supporting actor race for "The Reader" as he shares the role with newcomer David Kross. This means Oscars voters will have to choose between this upcoming performance by Fiennes as a man who discovers his former lover (Kate Winslet) was a Nazi and his recent acclaimed turn as the hard-hearted husband of Keira Knightley in the costume biopic "The Duchess." As Karger writes, "With his costar Kate Winslet currently set to be campaigned as Best Supporting Actress for the film, the movie now has no lead-acting contenders at all. The Academy usually lets that fly for an ensemble film like 'Babel' or 'Crash'; will they accept it for a three-hander like 'The Reader'?"Entertainment Weekly

• In the fourth of a weekly series of "Oscar Futures," those wags at New York mag's Vulture blog have the newly screened "Milk" up in the best picture race with "Gran Torino" down and out of the final five as "Wall-E" makes an appearance alongside perennial picks "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Revolutionary Road," and "Slumdog Millionaire. " While "Milk" star Sean Penn is up in the best actor race, supporting player Josh Brolin is bounced in favor of James Franco. And though Michael Sheen plays one of the two title characters in "Frost/Nixon, " he is urged to drop down to supporting. New York Vulture

• Anthony Breznican recaps the upcoming Oscar contenders with release dates, plot summaries, awards appeal and quotes from the filmmakers. Due out next is "Slumdog Millionaire" on Nov. 12 which he says, "could fill the perennial underdog slot in the best-picture race. Reviews have been great, and academy voters like scrappy movies with big heart. " And as per director Danny Boyle on the main character: "He's got nothing going for him really, other than his determination and his dream. People will be rooting for him. " USA Today

• Talk about scary! The ladies of "The View" dress up as five former presidents for the Halloween edition of the daytime dishfest. Their political bickering has turned this talker into must-see TV and today should be no different with Whoopi Goldberg as FDR, Joy Behar as Teddy Roosevelt, Sherri Shepherd as Abraham Lincoln, Elisabeth Hasselbeck as Ronald Reagan, and Barbara Walters as George Washington. Could this be the sample episode that finally wins them that Emmy for hosting after 11 consecutive losses? Remember, all contenders submit just one example of their best work from the past TV season to Emmy judges. E Online

• Emmy winner Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") talks about returning to series TV in "Life on Mars" with this change of pace role as a good guy (of sorts). As he explains his character in this time-shifting drama set in 1973, "P.C. has not even been a blip on the radar screen yet. To be a big-city detective is a very cool thing." New York Times

• Matt Mitovich proposes a plan to keep the suddenly red-hot "Saturday Night Live" on the front burner following next week's election. Among his suggestions, have Tina Fey as her "30 Rock" character botching an imitation of VP hopeful Governor Sarah Palin. Could that triple Emmy champ's continued appearances bring this late night staple its first win as best variety series since 1993? TV Guide

• The last time Oscar nominee Mary McDonnell guested on a medical drama, she picked up an Emmy nod for playing Noah Wyle's mean mama on "ER" in 2002. Now, as Michael Ausiello discovers in this revealing interview, she is checking into "Grey's Anatomy" on Nov. 13 for a three-episode arc as "a very dignified real human being with a disability that can be very problematic for everyone." Entertainment Weekly

• The list of performers and presenters at the upcoming ninth annual Latin Grammys, continues to grow as we near the Nov. 13 kudocast airing live on Univision. Among the new names announced appearing at Houston's Toyota Center are Bando el Recodo and Los Tigres del Norte. Houston Chronicle

• Tony-nominated set designer David Rockwell ("Hairspray") will be handling the stagecraft for the Oscars this coming February. While this is his first time working on the kudocast, his firm designed the awards new home at the Kodak Theatre. AMPAS

• Last week, the first rialto revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" opened to rave reviews. Tonight marks the first preview performance of the second revival of his breakthrough 1976 play "American Buffalo" with Tony nominee John Leguziamo joined by Broadway newcomers Cedric the Entertainer and Oscar nominee Haley Joel Osment ("The Sixth Sense") as three would-be thieves. Playbill

• Hong Kong helmer Peter Chan's historic epic "The Warlords" leads with 12 nominations " including film, director and actor Jet Li for Taiwan's Golden Horse Film awards. While the box office hit "Cape No. 7" nabbed nine noms, John Woo's $80 million "Red Cliff" managed only four nods. The 45th edition of this awardsfest will be held December 6 in Taichung with winners being decided by a jury. Variety has the full list of contenders.