Ricky Gervais Golden Globes Host 2012

[candy_p]

Everyone seems to be rather accepting of his hosting this year, since he wasn't overly offensive. But he wasn't funny either. At least he was funny last year (some may not agree here, but I laughed at most jokes he told). This year was dull, it was just him going on about last time he did it.

Totally agree.

[ColmDawson]

I'm not saying he's a hypocrite, but just find it a bit weird why someone who bangs on about how all of religion if stupid and moronic and basically campaigns daily for its irradiation would keep dressing up as one of the main figures from Christianity.

Oh come on, the devil is a recognisable figure in popular mythology/culture. It doesn't have to have anything to do with Gervais' beliefs or lack thereof.

[CommitteeCamel]

I'm not saying he's a hypocrite, but just find it a bit weird why someone who bangs on about how all of religion if stupid and moronic and basically campaigns daily for its irradiation would keep dressing up as one of the main figures from Christianity.

Oh come on, the devil is a recognisable figure in popular mythology/culture. It doesn't have to have anything to do with Gervais' beliefs or lack thereof.

Well it's alright saying that when Ricky makes 90 percent of everything he does about his beliefs.

[Clive]

I think I posted the first unfiltered review last night (a few pages back) and at first glance I thought RG's opening monologue was rubbish.

Having viewed it again, I will say that it was okay.

Last year's GG Ricky clearly drew a fence between host and celebrities. This year it was much more familial and casual, and in doing so, Ricky suggested to the crowd at the Hilton and at Home that he was part of the "Hollywood crowd" himself. More Billy Crystal than Chris Rock. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just means that all the hoopla during the lead up was unnecessary.

Ricky clearly strives in small bit segments at awards doos, like his past appearances at the Emmys. It was enough to shake up a rather muted affair, while not being so overblown and pretentious, as some claimed RG was at the GGs, particularly last year. Ricky hit all his shades last night, but likely not enough of one layer to truly please any specific demographic, or get lambasted by a particular crowd either.

[Steven]

Golden Globes: Ricky Gervais 'subdued', say critics

[Reveal] Spoiler:

A "respectful and restrained" Ricky Gervais lacked the bite of last year as the host of a lacklustre Golden Globes ceremony, reviewers have concluded.

The Los Angeles Times said he was "surprisingly subdued". The Hollywood Reporter said it was "such a let down".

Variety said the show was "virtually lifeless" with acceptance speeches that "droned on without a hint of spontaneity or magic".

In 2011, Gervais shocked with quips about stars including Robert Downey Jr.

It lead the Hollywood A-lister to comment on the jokes being "mean-spirited and mildly sinister".

Black and white silent movie The Artist won three gongs at the Los Angeles awards while The Descendants was named best film drama and its star George Clooney won a best actor prize.

Best actress prizes went to Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn, and Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady.

The announcement in November that Gervais would present the Globes for a third year running was greeted with surprise after a series of caustic put-downs at the expense of gathered stars and organisers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) in 2011.


Meryl Streep swore during her acceptance speech
In the run-up to this year's event, the HFPA ran an advertising campaign suggesting the British comedian may go further this year.

Variety said that, "he reserved his harshest barbs for NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association".

He "danced up to the line with jokes about Justin Bieber and the Jodie Foster-directed The Beaver" but "there was little to make the room or censors blanch".

Gervais' most memorable moments included a reference to actor Colin Firth as "very racist", joking he had "seen him punch a little blind kitten".

He also said the Globes were to the more serious Oscars what US reality TV star Kim Kardashian was to Kate Middleton - "a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought, allegedly".

The Hollywood Reporter said that, because Gervais had "pulled no punches last year and ruffled a lot of egos", there was an expectation this year's ceremony would be "a bloodbath of scorching wit and meanness, with no sainted star deemed untouchable".

Because the predicted "apocalypse" did not appear, "it seemed like such a letdown," it added.


Kate Winslet won a best actress award for Mildred Pierce
"And yet, if the ceremony itself had any kind of sparkle or snap to it - which it did not - a tame Gervais wouldn't be such a big story."

That was partly because the list of winners, "did not give us the drama we've seen in previous years," blogger Perez Hilton said.

In the UK press, The Guardian noted "it was left to the winners to provide some of the night's more risque moments", including Meryl Streep, who swore in her acceptance speech.

Empire Online, meanwhile, said "at least Ricky seems like he's trying once in a while".

"The rest of the show was largely a rote run-through of awkward banter, long thank you lists, expected wins and one or two ridiculous snubs/surprise victories - much like any other year."

As the Los Angeles Times noted, Britons fared best in the night's television awards.

The paper reported on success for Downton Abbey as best TV mini-series and Kate Winslet for lead actress in a TV mini-series or movie, for Mildred Pierce.

It then added: "When Idris Elba took to the stage to accept the award for lead actor in a miniseries for Luther, one did begin to wonder how many Brits it takes to screw in a Golden Globe."

The same was not true in film categories when compared with last year when Colin Firth won best actor in a drama for The King's Speech - a precursor to his Oscar success.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16578905

[Paute]

After this shiny light, I hope get back to see Ricky to be the old (ex) chubby bastard.

[CantSayBien]

After this shiny light, I hope get back to see Ricky to be the old (ex) chubby bastard.

Well he has stopped being such a moron on twitter recently

[Mr. Buttersbee]

While I didn't love it, and it was nowhere near as good as last years, I thought there was a glimmer of hope there. The 2011 Globes were a turning point while I loved them everyone got so twisted at him and when he's criticized he can't handle it so he kinda acted like an apathetic cunt the entire year. Then there was the whole Life's Too Short thing which was incredibly shit, not just by Ricky's standards by ANYONE'S standards. So he acted more of a cunt. However he seemed calmer at the Globes, and with the Derrick show on the horizon I see a real hope for a return to form from the Gervais that we all know and love.

[CantSayBien]

Here's hoping.

I can't see anything he's involved in coming anywhere near the brilliance of The Office or Extras though

[RandyChimp]

Whilst I didn't find it funny, he was obviously being careful, so why are the majority of the same papers who said he went too far last year, saying he didn't go far enough this year? Fucking twats, he just can't win with these people.

Edit: Just watched a "best bits" video, and the bit where Madonna makes her "move" on him, I love how you just see him legging it across the stage, like "I'm getting the fuck out of here!" Made me laugh more than any gags he told. Good bit of impromptu physical comedy there.

[Hamlet]

This bit from the Hollywood Reporter is an interesting take on Ricky's performance. A bit generous, but interesting.

Ah, but there's something clever afoot when you think about Gervais' underwhelming performance. Think about it. Think still more. And now consider this: Ricky Gervais just Punk’d the Globes. He exacted revenge for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association making such a stink last year and taking the moral high ground, lambasting him for being cruel and petty, a bitter outcast comic among real actors and stars. It could be that Gervais' skin really is that thick and he didn't suffer their angry arrows. Or it could be that when the Globes realized it really did need Gervais because controversy breeds ratings and ratings keep you viable, that Gervais plotted his revenge.
And Sunday night he took it. He wasn't merciless. He wasn't outraged. Hell, he didn't even seem very involved or even committed. It’s as if he said, "You hired me last year knowing what you'd get, then you fired me when you got it. Well, this year you get what you truly wanted. And you definitely get what you deserve."
Cheeky, that. Oh, you clever, clever bastard. Well played, Ricky Gervais. You got the Globes but good.

[wetknee]

Hmm..I think that might be bollocks.

A different spin on it I suppose, but I really doubt thats what he had in mind.

[vincentvega]

Yeah that is most definitely bullshit.

[stjimmy]

I think He's been a bit hurt from a lot of criticism over the last 6 months or so. I think he watered down this years ceremony, partly subconsciously because of this. I thought it was ok, but I was expecting carnage.

[nicholls]

I expected a lot of unforgivable insults. Barely anything really. People are complaining but that's fine with me. I don't wanna hate him anymore. Go back to being old Ricky now. Sick of it.