EXCLUSIVE: Ricky Gervais has been pressed into service once again to host the 77th annual Golden Globes next year.
While the Oscars and the Emmys went hostless this year, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s NBC broadcast shindig is putting a blast from the past front and center with the After Life creator playing ringmaster and MC for the fifth time on January 5, 2020
“Once again, they’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse,” said Gervais of the host job for the three-hour show. “But this is the very last time I’m doing this, which could make for a fun evening,” he added with a clear sense of threat for nominees and organizers alike.
Can’t say they weren’t warned.
Fact is the Comcast-owned network, dick clark production and the HFPA had been looking at a variety of comedians since early this summer to shoulder the hosting gig, but talk kept coming back to Gervais, I hear. After preliminary talks with Team Ricky went well, a formal offer was made and accepted in the last week or so for Gervais to host one more time.
After years of the boozy Globes going without a host, Gervais roasted Hollywood at the annual Beverly Hilton-based ceremony in 2010, 2011 and 2012 before handing the reigns over to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for three years. Lured back in 2016 (after saying before he was done hosting), the often scathing The Office co-creator was followed by NBC late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers in 2017 and 2018. Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Andy Samberg and Killing Eve star and Globes winner Sandra Oh held things in check this year with WME-repped Gervais back for the 25th anniversary of the often freewheeling ceremony on NBC.
“There is always a palpable electricity in the room when Ricky takes the Globes stage, declared NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy of the record holding host. “His return as master of ceremonies at the Golden Globes is much anticipated. It is sure to make for an unexpected evening. We can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve.”
“When Ricky Gervais is at the helm of the Golden Globes Awards, we can always expect the unexpected,” added HFPA chief Lorenzo Soria of the comedian who has scolded the 90-member group repeatedly as a joke in more ways than one. “We’re excited to see it all unfold on January 5!” The CEO of dcp Mike Mahan chimed in: “In a world where many award shows are opting to go the no host route, the Golden Globes are going all in! It’s going to be a great night.”
Oh, be careful what you ask for there gents in hoping for the ratings traction that eluded the 76th annual Golden Globes
As well hosting the Golden Globes, Gervais has another season of After Life coming to Netflix, apparently next year as well.