He’s back!
Gervais hosts Golden Globes, but are Mel Gibson and the rest of Hollywood ready?
British comedian Ricky Gervais has returned to host Sunday’s Golden Globes,
Mel Gibson’s tuxedo jacket may as well have a target on the back.
Ricky Gervais looked up from sharpening verbal darts ahead of his fourth time hosting the Golden Globes this Sunday and couldn’t believe his luck. Gibson will be onstage at the notoriously unstuffy Hollywood affair that traditionally benefits from a spontaneous vibe urged on by a generous open bar.
“Mel Gibson is presenting an award at The Golden Globes. Thank you Jesus,” Gervais tweeted last week. You could almost hear his trademark high-pitched cackling giggle.
While hosting for the first time in 2010, he took a swipe at the notorious Mad Max star a few years after his rant-filled drunk driving arrest with this: “I hope I haven’t offended anyone. It’s not my fault. I like a drink as much as the next man. Unless the next man is Mel Gibson.”
Theirs may be a short pairing onstage but, given Gervais’s track record, it won’t be sweet. He’s taken shots at Gibson before while hosting these awards, which honour film and TV. Ditto Charlie Sheen, Madonna, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Bruce Willis and even the folks who signed his paycheque, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Despite repeated pledges over the years that he wouldn’t host the show again, The Office creator takes over from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who went out on a high note.
They sent ratings skyrocketing in 2014, midway through their threeyear reign as hosts, as the funny women consistently hit the right note. Controversial to be sure — the gag about Sleeping Beauty going for coffee with Bill Cosby included — yet their barbs were tempered with a kind of adorable goofiness.
Where Fey and Poehler played a cheeky round of “Who would you rather?” Gervais made penis jokes. Lots of them.
But the British funnyman also knows a little pot stirring isn’t a bad thing. He must have considered the reaction of then-HFPA president Philip Berk to his 2011show — that he had “crossed the line” — akin to a standing ovation.
In fact, Gervais tweeted recently, “I’d like to apologise (sic) now for the things I said at next week’s Golden Globes. I was drunk & didn’t give a f---.”
Who will be Gervais’ targets at the 73rd Golden Globes? You can probably count on a Trainwreck joke, something naughty about The Big Short and Rob Lowe’s TV comedy nomination for The Grinder, whose title Gervais will likely find irresistible. And don’t expect Best Supporting actor nominee Sylvester Stallone ( Creed) to get a pass.
Gervais recently promised The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s all going to be topical. It’s all going to be justified. (But) I’m not going to go out there and do half an hour on Syria. I’m not a political comedian.”
Gervais is not one for playing politics at all, which makes for a very entertaining evening — for those not providing the punch lines.
Take these three presenters, who have been the butt of Gervais’ jokes in previous years. What can they expect? Probably more zingers like these. Jim Carrey and Scientology (2011) About the movie, I Love You Phillip Morris: “Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. So the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then. My lawyers helped with that joke.” Mel Gibson (2012) “And I’m not to libel anyone. And I must not mention Mel Gibson this year. Not his private life, his politics, his recent films and especially not Jodie Foster’s Beaver (the name of her 2011 film).” Helen Mirren (2012) “It’s been a big year for women in film. Bridesmaids, one of my favourite comedies of the year. The girls finally proved that they can be as raunchy as men. Farting, burping, cursing, performing wild sex acts, even pooping in the sink. I actually heard for research the cast spent the weekend with Dame Helen Mirren. She’s dreadful. Honestly, you don’t see a lot of it because she’s got good PR, but she’s off the rails.”
The Golden Globes air Sunday at 8 p.m. on CTV. E! has two preshows, Countdown to the Red Carpet at 4 p.m. and Live From the Red Carpet at 6 p.m.