»» Columnists

Ricky Gervais Is As Wicked As Ever In His Return Golden Globes Monologue

video

by Jon Bershad | 8:19 pm, January 15th, 2012

» 26 comments

Ah, the Golden Globes, perhaps the least essential thing to air on American television that doesn’t involve a Kardashian or competitive pawn shopping. It’s an awards show so meaningless that the first time in years that anyone cared about it was when some British guy got up on stage and ripped the whole thing to shreds. Fortunately for us, the Hollywood Foreign Press was smart (and masochistic) enough to bring that man back.

Even more fortunately, Ricky Gervais’ monologue this year was just as biting as last. (UPDATE: The original version of this post incorrectly labeled this as Gervais’ second time hosting the show. It is his third.)

Yes, despite the fact that last year’s rant led to endless hand wringing over whether or not he’d been too hard on poor, poor Angelina Jolie or Johnny Depp (seriously, I’d be surprised if those ridiculous “news” stories didn’t help inspire the Occupy Movement in some little way), Gervais showed no sign of holding back.

I won’t spoil all the punchlines, but suffice it to say that Gervais wasted no time taking on the HFPA and NBC comparing his employers to the cast of Boardwalk Empire and calling the network a “non-profit.” And he kept the Tourist jokes going from last year, giving Depp the greatest, longest, and most awkward introduction of the night. And, even more than last year, the cameras seemed like they were purposefully looking for ticked off audience members. However, arguably the best moment came when Jodie Foster enthusiastically played along with some fairly inevitable jokes about the title of her last directorial bid.

Seriously, it’s amazing no one’s come up with this kind of “hosting” earlier; literally saying into the mic what all of us at home (and probably most of the attending audience as well) are saying under our breath. All award shows are pretty much awful and the Globes, with its years of bribery scandals and Pia Zadoras, is particularly egregious. In 2012, I just don’t think audiences have the patience to sit for three hours while a shadowy organization claims that Glee is one of the best shows on TV and then asks us to treat it with respect.

So, whatever you think of Ricky Gervais – whether you think he’s too mean or that Life’s Too Short isn’t as good as Extras and The Office or whatever – I think we can all agree that the man deserves our thanks. God bless him for treating this whole affair with the amount of respect it deserves.

Seriously, can that SNL sketch just be true?

Watch the clip from NBC below:

Golden Globes, Ricky Gervais

http://www.facebook.com/people/Vivlian-Wozz/100003324676254 Vivlian Wozz

I am a 27 years old doctor,mature and beautiful. and now i am seeking a good man who can give me real love, so i got a sername Andromeda2002 on Agedate.СòM, a nice and free place for younger women and older men,or older women and younger men, to interact with each other.Maybe you wanna check out or tell your friends.
Anonymous

Rubbish. Pablum for the brain-dead.
Anonymous

Eddie Murphy and the Tourist bit were pretty good…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=749984209 Ché Boielle

Keep it coming RICKY! Love this guy,
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NPUP22FNTPVCXRUMWJEURGQGD4 JonasP

yes, your comments tend to be that
Anonymous

Ricky’s great. Elton John looked like he was taking it too seriously.
Smack80

I know I’m getting old and out of touch but… who is Ricky Gervais? And why does anyone, outside the industry, care when Hollywood pats itself on the back?
Anonymous

Brilliant, great job Ricky. Elton John looked like Donald Trump at the correspondents dinner when President Obama cleaned his clock in front of the world.
Anonymous

I was actually seriously disappointed in this years show. Last year was perhaps the first time I enjoyed watching an award show. This year was just boring. And Ricky Gervais was “as wicked as ever”? C’mon.
Anonymous

Pot meet kettle.
Anonymous

He was a total bore. He was so derivative of last year. He is already the Billy Crystal of the Golden Globes.
Anonymous

Elton made a complete ass of himself by attacking Madonna on the Red Carpet and then having to eat crow when she won Best Song.
Anonymous

I really like the valet uniform Ricky wore.
Anonymous

Ricky bombed with the critics:

David Hinkley, NY Daily News:
‘If somebody told Ricky Gervais not to offend anyone on the Golden
Globes telecast Sunday night, it worked. Now if only somebody also told
him to be funny’Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly:
‘Ricky Gervais made two jokes about NBC, two about the Kardashians, and
one about Jody Foster’s Beaver – not exactly the stuff of raging
controversy. And he downright sucked up to George Clooney. And a Like A
Virgin joke regarding Madonna? Sheesh.’Mary McNamara, LA Times:
‘Despite all his tough talk leading to Sunday night’s broadcast, it was
a markedly respectful and restrained Ricky Gervais who showed up to
host this year’s Golden Globes, leaving one to wonder why he bothered to
take the gig at all (except for the money, of course).’Alessandra Stanley, New York Times: ‘His
audience didn’t seem that amused, but they didn’t look scandalized
either. While Mr. Gervais delivered by not holding back, it wasn’t an
unpredictable or even a very seditious performance – a lot of the time
his jokes felt forced and heavy-handed.’Hank Stuever, Washington Post:
‘This time he was funny enough, but far too harmless. The best Gervais
could do this year was toss off a few jokes about the fact that he
might make some unacceptable remarks. Which he never really did.’Boston Herald: ‘Ricky Gervais’ tired jokes not worth staying up for. When even Madonna seems funnier, perhaps it’s time to go home.’Maureen Ryan, Huffington Post:
‘If Gervais doesn’t get invited back in 2013, it might be because he
was so boring Sunday night. After weeks of media speculation about what
Gervais would do, Gervais’ performance as host was decidedly
anti-climactic and underwhelming. Its general mediocrity gave the
ceremony as a whole a certain deflated quality.’
Anonymous

U MAD BRO?
Anonymous

The part about Murphy likes to dress up was awesome!
Anonymous

The thing about critics is THEY tend to be out of touch with the regular folks.
Anonymous

I thought the “zingers” which Madonna threw at Ricky were very funny! She sure knows how to throw a punch.
Anonymous

Well done Mr Gervais…

…very well roasted indeed!
Anonymous

I caught that too! I could not figure out if he was just teasing his competition (for best song) on the red carpet, or if he really dislikes Madonna? He certainly had a sour puss when she won. Will he invite her to his annual Oscar Party?
Anonymous

We needed Melissa Leo and Kirk Douglas to liven up the show!
Anonymous

“. . . .who is Ricky Gervais?” I do not know if you are old, but you are out of touch! Would you believe that Ricky Gervais is the member of Navy Seal Team 6 who shot Osama Bin Laden? Spread the word!
http://twitter.com/Kattyusa Katty

I spent 3 hours watching this extremely boring presentation…the only high-lights came with Ricky Gervais….he is the only reason I wasted my time – and many others I’d guess. He appeared on screen so seldom that if you blinked you’d of missed him.
Last year I accidentally flipped the channels and was mesmerized by his wit and silly comments on the snobby-stars so opted to watch again this year – never again. I only saw very self-absorbed people so boring never would I want to meet or know them nor do I plan to make an effort to see their movies.
Fool me once – etc. I will not watch again….stupid so called stars….do you really think you are that interesting?
Smack80

Maxwell Smart: I think it’s only fair to warn you, this facility is surrounded by a highly trained team of 130 Black Op Snipers.
Siegfried: I don’t believe you.
Maxwell Smart: Would you believe two dozen Delta Force Commandos?
Siegfried: No.
Maxwell Smart: How about Chuck Norris with a BB gun?

Sorry, just having a Maxwell Smart moment!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BTQMLQCXUY2NPN352PWOZ5HUFQ jerry

anytime I can hear someone make fun of the self important and the self important have to sit there and listen to it is okay by me. I’m so sick of actors and actresses pretending like what they do cures cancer. Doctors and scientists should be making what these people make. These are the same people who turn out the no talent, make millions off idiot fans, the K family. I can’t even bring myself to say the word. I’m torn between asking God to have Hollywood or Washington D.C. slide off into the ocean, not sure who does more damage to our nation..
Anonymous

Ricky Gervais is to wit and comedy what Joy Behar is to worthwhileness; and what Rosie O-Doughnut is to petite size 1.

NEVER HAPPEN

Even the unfunny pair of award show hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin were better than Gervais could ever hope to dream about being.

To sum it up in plain English that even Joe Biden and Al Gore could understand – Gervais sucks…