The first half of the Golden Globes were really funny this year.
Ricky Gervais, Golden Globes’ 2011 host was responsible for making the award show, which is usually awkward and pointless, memorable this year by indiscriminately roasting his guests.
The opening monologue included the predictable stabs at Mel Gibson and Charlie Sheen, as well as Hollywood sweethearts Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. While his jokes may have made some attendees uncomfortable, they served to make the ceremony surprisingly enjoyable for thousands of fans tuning in from home.
“It was a big year for 3-D movies— ‘Toy Story,’ ‘Despicable Me,’ ‘Tron,’” he said. “It seems like everything this year was 3-dimensional. Except the characters in ‘The Tourist.’”
After receiving an awkward laugh (the audience clearly isn’t used to seeing someone likable make fun of Depp or Jolie so publicly) he took the joke one step further, including the Hollywood Foreign Press in the fun. “I’d like to squash this ridiculous rumor going around that the only reason ‘The Tourist’ was nominated was so the Hollywood Foreign Press could hang out with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. That is rubbish. That is not the only reason. They also accepted bribes.”
He got a few boos for that one, but weren’t we all thinking the same thing without the benefit of Gervais’s wit?
Because Hollywood can’t help being petty, various rumors have circulated through the Twittosphere about Gervais’s hour-long disappearance from the show. His absence sparked snarky tweets from the audience suggesting he was passed-out drunk, kidnapped by angry Scientologists (who he made a gay joke about earlier in the ceremony), or being torn a new one by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
When he finally returned to the stage he was “very, very muted” and “sheepish” as worded by the Hollywood Reporter, giving weight to the theory that he was scolded for making the show enjoyable.
It’s unclear what actually happened to Gervais for that missing hour last night, but if his jokes were cut off, whoever was responsible should quit show biz.
If Hollywood, along with its Foreign Press Association, is going to drape stars in ball gowns and televise award ceremonies to boost bottom lines, they should allow a brilliant comedian to temper their back-scratching with a little fun-poking.
Award shows have grown irrelevant over the decades— our lives are so imbued with Hollywood gossip and glamour that very little about these shows remains special. Seeing someone who makes us laugh roast our favorite stars is indeed the only reason to still turn it on.
Well done, Gervais.
For those of you who missed his opening monologue, view it here:
January 17, 2011 at 5:57 pm, Dayna Carruth said:
I love Ricky Gervais. So much, that I’ve yet to watch the American version of The Office. I refuse. He’s just that good to me.
January 18, 2011 at 3:05 am, Mirabel said:
Nice story, and insightful. As a person who doesn’t tune into the award shows, which as you mentioned have become really lame…Hollywood scratching it’s own back… I checked out Gervais’ the opening monologue which was no doubt the best part of the evening’s entertainment. Thanks.
January 18, 2011 at 3:05 am, Mirabel said:
Nice story, and insightful. As a person who doesn’t tune into the award shows, which as you mentioned have become really lame…Hollywood scratching it’s own back… I checked out Gervais’ the opening monologue which was no doubt the best part of the evening’s entertainment. Thanks.
May 22, 2012 at 12:27 am, Golden Globe Nomination Nonsense | Death and Taxes said:
[...] women in the 1990s liked Alanis Morissette. I try to watch them all — Tonys, Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, Golden Globes, Spirits, Razzies, Scream Awards, VMAs, ESPYs, AVAs, AMAs, CMAs and SGAs. I’d [...]