When the hilarious British comedian Ricky Gervais hosted the 67th annual Golden Globes ceremony this past January, it was one of the better hosting jobs we’ve seen lately (Doom Discussion: 67th Annual Golden Globe Winners & Losers).
His work was also incredibly sharp and may have pushed a few boundaries here and there (including a few jabs at broadcasting network, NBC), so it was thought that despite the popularity, he probably would not be back.
In a surprising turn-of-events, NBC has proven that success is far more important than personal feelings, and it has been announced that Gervais will return to host the Globes yet again next year. With 17 million viewers (up 12%) in his first hosting go-round, none can argue that the move doesn’t make all the sense in the world.
In a statement from Gervais, he explained how he was surprised that he was being invited back after all of the “awful” things he said. He then went on to promise bigger and better things next year, saying “Let’s see how far I can go this time.” The comedian is known for having a mature sense of humor, and many even thought he would push the limits a lot further than he did. This makes next year’s Globes a can’t-miss event already just to see what he’ll think up.
Paul Telegdy, President of Alternative at NBC, had this to say about the news:
As viewers discovered with our last awards telecast, Ricky’s surprising and unpredictable humor is a great fit for the Globes, which will continue as a live event across the nation. He’s a true force of nature with a wicked sense of humor who always keeps everyone on their toes waiting for the unexpected.
Now we just need the Academy Awards to grab a great host. The last two years have been a total bust (to me anyway) and greatness must be reacquired. Whether that means getting the last great host they had, John Stewart, or finding a way to bring back old faithful, Billy Crystal, I expect better.
I personally think this might be the year that you see Conan O’Brien finally host. It’s been baffling as to how it is that he hasn’t hosted already, and with all of the news and insane fan-support that’s been behind him, he’s the hands-down perfect choice for the Academy to bring in some solid ratings and appeal to the younger audiences.
The 68th annual Golden Globes will air on January 16, 2011.
[Source: Live Feed]
