Listen to these three guys — Gold Derby‘s Tom O’Neil, Deadline‘s Pete Hammond, Hollywood Reporter‘s Tim Appelo — debate the relative Best Picture strengths of The Social Network vs. The King’s Speech vs. whatever. How much of this is animated debate and how much is about what’s really happening out there?

Hammond makes the point that the National Board of Review voting was influenced by a newly inducted group of younger voters, who naturally went with The Social Network because it’s youth-friendly. Okay, but how does Hammond explain The Social Network winning a major-category trifecta (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay) with the Washington, D.C.-area film critics? Did that org changes the rules to allow their kids to vote?

Sidenote to O’Neil: Please up the sound levels — I had to listen with earphones to hear clearly.