Oh Ricky, You Weren't Fine: Gervais Banned From Globes Hosting Duties?

By Rob Shuter Posted Jan 17th 2011 11:02AM

Ricky Gervais trashed Angelina Jolie, Charlie Sheen, Hugh Hefner, Mel Gibson, God, Tom Cruise (and the list goes on) last night when he hosted the Golden Globes. But the joke that got him in the most trouble was when he made fun of Philip Berk, the current head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA for short).

"Ricky will not be invited back to host the show next year, for sure," a member of the HFPA tells me, adding that Gervais' relentlessly mean shtick could have even larger consequences. "For sure any movie he makes he can forget about getting nominated. He humiliated the organization last night and went too far with several celebrities whose representatives have already called to complain."

Berk verified on Monday that Ricky has ticked off the HFPA, telling the Hollywood Reporter that the two-time host went too far with his jokes aimed at other celebs.

"He definitely crossed the line," Berk said. "And some of the things were totally unacceptable. But that's Ricky. Any of the references to individuals is certainly not something the Hollywood Foreign Press condones."

This opening monologue at Sunday's ceremony set the tone with Gervais announcing, "It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking -- or as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast."

Next the British comedian went after Angelina who was sitting at table one and not laughing when he said, "It seems like everything this year was 3-dimensional -- except for the characters in The Tourist," Gervais said. "I haven't even seen 'The Tourist' -- who has?"

However, the remark that upset the most attendees was when he described Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor's performances in 'I Love You, Phillip Morris' as "two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. So, the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then." The not-so-subtle dig at Tom Cruise and John Travolta (we can presume) was met with boos and groans.

Humble Pie was soon served up by Cruise's 'Tropic Thunder' co-star, Robert Downey Jr., after Gervais made fun of him for his long-conquered troubles with the law and drug addiction.

"Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show's pretty good so far, wouldn't you?" Downey Jr. asked.

After that, Gervais knew he had lost the crowd, and his few remaining appearances on stage were met with stifled laughs and stern faces. A popular Twitter phrase during this part of the show: "Where's Ricky Gervais?"

Ricky explained his nearly hour-long absence in comments to BBC News a day after the show. "I was allowed to choose who I would introduce in advance. I obviously chose presenters who I had the best jokes for, and who I knew had a good sense of humor."

He added, "Everyone took it well and the atmosphere backstage and at the after show was great."

To make matters worse, though, Gervais' last words in the telecast were, "Thank God for making me an atheist." Smooth move!

"Ricky blew it big time. It's one thing to make fun of celebrities but it's another to make them totally uncomfortable," an insider tells me. "People in that room were furious but had to sit and smile because the camera's were on them. It really says something when several people who attended said they would have felt safer with Kathy Griffin hosting."

Ricky, if you're going to be naughty, don't forget to also be NICE!

Too Rude! Too Funny! React to Ricky on Facebook

► Jo Piazza: Yes, Ricky Gervais Was Too Nasty at the Golden Globes

Tags: golden globes, ricky gervais

Comments

(1031)

Monday 17 January

By ibchr

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Oh, lighten up. He didn't say anything the rest of America wasn't already thinking.

By Susan

Absolutely. These people ALL need to get over themselves. They want publicity but ONLY 'good' publicity. Nope - it doesn't work that way. If you put yourself out there, then you get what you deserve.

By Danielle

No doubt!! He was funny and everyone needs to lighten up! You should expect this when you're famous!!

By Andy

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You are wrong. This was not a roast of the celebrities. Ricky totally screwed up and his last statement was the icing on the cake!

By patricia

I agree. Lighten up Hollywood. It has the sting of truth - the one deminsional Jolie and Depp in Tourist, Charlie Sheen's awful depravity, Sex and the City actresses being too old for that crap, speculation about Tom Cruise's sexuality and so on. You are not above being called out.

By Tim

Yeah, some of his stuff hit below the belt, but sorry, that one with Tim Allen was effing hilarious...

By stu

booo hooo poor OVER PD holly weird peeps!

By Slash

Ricky did great . Seems "Stars" put their pants on and have bodily functions like me !

By themeeker

It seems to me that if you want to be famous, one of the prices you pay is being a target of these jibes. To anyone who got their hair mussed over it, I would say tough. Sometimes these "rumours" are actually based in fact.

By Jacqueline

Everything he said was true.....Lighten up America...

By Rod

Being mean-spirited is a cheap, easy, lazy way to get laughs from people who are like-minded. Ricky can be funny without doing that, it's too bad that so many people like him choose the easy way out.

By Donna

I will disagree with you, he went too far in way to many cases, and with a spiteful tone, not a joking you know I'm just fooling around tone. I got sick of hearing him before mid show and the God thing at the end just capped his ending of the night, no jobs anytime soon I imagine

By Megan

I know. "Ohh, the poor rich celebrities can't bear to have fun poked at them!"

Bah!

By Joan Sanders

Very funny.....you are right......people need to be able to take a joke......good for Ricky.....dares to be politically incorrect.

By georgie

You are so right. I thought the things Ricky said was funny.

By Heather

"It seems like everything this year was 3-dimensional -- except for the characters in The Tourist," Gervais said. "I haven't even seen 'The Tourist' -- who has?" IT'S FUNNY because it's TRUE. Hollyweird needs to get over itself and realize they aren't curing a child with cancer, but they PRETEND for a living.

How many of you Ricky supporters would sit still and smile if he was saying the same things about YOU in front of millions of people?

By sem

Totally agree! These self-centered, vain actors need to get over themselves because Ricky just said what everyone is thinking. Furthermore, they need to stop making acceptance speeches like they just cured cancer or won the nobel peace prize...you're just a freakin' actor, get a grip!

By bushstaged911

the show was good but this guy isnt funny . I am glad he was a small part of it

By elvoz

I dont know why speaking the truth would ever be offensive -- if you dont want to hear it -- stop acting stupid -- loved the show

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