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 jeff

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Yeah,and Kanye West keeps getting invited back after what he pulls at award shows over and over???He's a REAL loser!!!!!!!!

By geddy37

The trouble is that the people who were made fun of are NOT Americans in any but the weakest sense of the word. They are thin-skinned, airheaded, ignorant prima donnas.

By Tigger

He's my guy....I cant go on TV...He can...

By AD

OH I GET IT....THEY CAN BAD MOUTH POLITICAL PARTIES.POLITICAL PEOPLE.. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH....BUT DON'T SAY ANY THING ABOUT THEM....AH HA I GET IT....WE CAN PUT IT OUT THERE,BECAUSE WE ARE FAMOUS...BUT LEAVE US ALONE,,BECAUSE WE ARE FAMOUS

DEAD BEATS

By joanc

I agree with you! big deal who cares about all this or take it seriosly?. They're just trying to make something out of nothing.Who is this so called foreign press anyway? Get a life america! I am sure the socalled stars took it with a grain of salt.

By ajschrod

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Don Rickle's sarcasm could be nasty AND funny without being mean-spirited. Ricky's was not; and I'm glad he got the boot!!

By Cutie

"For sure any movie he makes he can forget about getting nominated. ...................in other words if you are rude this organization will never nominiate you for an award no matter how great you would be in the movie role, says a lot about these awards!!!!!!!

By Carlos

He will REAP what he has sown!!!!!!!!!!
Heaven heard every word.

By ValerieW

Exactly! You don't hire Ricky Gervais and then be surprised that he is being Ricky Gervais!!! This is what he does and whether you like it or not, it is what he is known for. And why should he leave Berk out? That would imply that Berk is above the celebrities, which he shouldn't be. And are we really trying to say that no-one knew the content of his speech - I don't think so.

By Karen

Ricky, you can't tell these narcissists the truth, shame on you.

By Jack

This is why they hired the guy in the first place. To give the show a little edge to it, like he did last year. Now they are going to fry the guy for doing what they hired him for. So he fractured a few high profiled hollywood egos. This is what he does. Some of these so-called stars need to dip into their paychecks and buy a sense of humor or get a thicker skin. Ricky did a good job, he has everyone here talking about it, doesn't he? And all he did was to dish out the truth.

By sillysal

Seriously, I have never heard of this guy.

By undrgrndgirl

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@rod, he wouldn't be saying those things about me in front of millions of people, i'm not a narcissistic actor

By coco

protesters are celebs get it

By mannix

I agree. big cry babies. with all that fame and riches you think they would have a tougher exterior.

Tuesday 18 January

By Jancx

So true, the truth hurts. Maybe Hollywood should clean up it's act.

By keithdelliott

Anyone who actually watches the 3 minute video montage of the jokes will be appalled by this guy's remarks. They are way over the line... even for Hollywood. He was obviously pissed at somebody and was trying to make a fool of himself. As if he was trying to get thrown off the stage.

By JAXnVilleGAL

I tried watching it and just thought the host stunk ! NOT funny ! After seeing the results today, I'm glad I didn't watch it. After Avatar lost last year, I've made the decision that I just won't watch any of that crap - it's all bogus !

Makes one wonder if they didn't know his kind of humor (question on "Humor") ?

By ebmamabear

Couldn't agree more!

By bill

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exactly! did the tv network not know what they were getting? who care about these stupid awards anyhow.

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