By Rejoice… or sigh in disbelief… depending on your appreciation of The Office creator Ricky Gervais’ return to hosting duties at the 2020 Golden Globes.
Ricky Gervais will return to the Golden Globes for a fifth time in 2020. The controversial comedian who created and starred in The Office and recently made the terrific six-part drama After Life for Netflix, will present the 77th show.
Turning heads – hilariously – during stints between 2010 and 2012 and another in 2016, Gervais has used his hosting duties to poke fun at the Hollywood elite, celebrity and even the culture of awards season. Instead of paying lip-service to his employers (and potential employers and colleagues), The Office and Extras writer, director and actor has played upon the industry’s hubris.
In 2020, despite saying he wasn’t interested in returning, he’ll step up to the podium once again for what promises to be a wildly funny evening of polemical celebrity put-downs and off-the-cuff gags.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has “made me an offer I can’t refuse”, said Gervais in a statement. He added that this is “the very last time I’m doing this, which could make for a fun evening”.
Some great soundbites from previous shows include his introduction of award presenters Eva Longoria and America Ferrera when he said the pair “aren’t just two beautiful, talented actresses” but “two people your next president, Donald Trump, can’t wait to deport.”
Yet, while his targets have included the Golden Globes and the head of the HFPA, Lorenzo Soria, the show’s producers seemingly can’t get enough of him. The fact Time described the 2016 ceremony as “dire”, and Deadline said the host got “lamer as the evening wore on”, hasn’t stopped the Golden Globes offering him a substantial amount of money to return, and Soria gushing “when Ricky Gervais is at the helm of the Golden Globes awards, we can always expect the unexpected”.
Adds NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy: “There is always a palpable electricity in the room when Ricky takes the Globes stage. His return as master of ceremonies at the Golden Globes is much anticipated … we can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve.”
It is perhaps not surprising to see the show’s heads turn their attentions to the controversial attention Gervais attracts. 2019’s hosts – Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh – earned poor ratings, while 2015’s pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler earned the lowest ratings over the course of the years Gervais has been involved.
Expect fireworks. Can’t wait.
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