The surprises here aren't so much which performances are included as those that aren't, with many of the roles that have been emerging as favorites, such as the supporting turns of Shailene Woodley in The Descendants and Albert Brooks in Drive not managing to snag nominations.  Leonardo DiCaprio's inclusion for J. Edgar is a surprise to some, particularly those folks pulling for Michael Fassbender's searing work in Shame.  There are plenty of no-brainers, too, such as Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin or Christopher Plummer in Beginners, while Demian Bichir's wonderful work in A Better Life seemed like it would never be properly recognized. The Help is getting some love for Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, as well as the ensemble category, which is sort of the most interesting.  Where else will you see Midnight in Paris, The Artist, and Bridesmaids in one place?

Here's the full list of nominations, including television:

Theatrical Motion Picture Nominations

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

Primetime Television Nominations

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
Paul Giamatti, Too Big To Fail
Greg Kinnear, The Kennedys
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
James Woods, Too Big To Fail

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Betty White, Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick J. Adams, Suits
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Steve Carell, The Office
John Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

Stunt Ensemble Nominations

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
The Adjustment Bureau
Cowboys & Aliens
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
X-Men: First Class

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
Dexter
Game of Thrones
Southland
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
True Blood

Screen Actors Guild Awards 48th Annual Life Achievement Award
Mary Tyler Moore

Does anyone else appreciate immensely the inclusion of a stunt category?