Judd Apatow, Host of Producers Guild Awards, Slams Ricky Gervais

By Christine Fenno Posted Jan 23rd 2011 11:09AM

One of Hollywood's busiest writer-director-producers, Judd Apatow ('The 40-Year-Old Virgin,' 'Superbad,' 'Knocked Up,' the upcoming 'Wanderlust') took on hosting duties Saturday night at the Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles.

Of course, the elephant in the room was last week's controversial Golden Globes -- in fact, the PGA's took place in the very same Beverly Hilton ballroom -- and Apatow wasted no time slamming that show's emcee, reportedly lacing his monologue with profanities in the process.

"What did you think of Ricky Gervais?" asked Apatow, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I didn't like him. I thought he was mean."

One by one, he cut Gervais' wisecracks down to size. "He had that joke about the guy on 'Lost' [Jorge Garcia]," said Apatow. "He said he ate everybody else. Let's be honest: Ricky Gervais just lost weight. Even now, he's four pounds away from not being allowed to do a joke like that. Did he lose weight just to make fat jokes? You think that's how mean he is?"

And who can forget last week's uncomfortable Globes moment when Gervais questioned why 'The Tourist' nominees Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp were even invited? "[Gervais] says the characters were two-dimensional. ... Then he says he hasn't seen 'The Tourist.' So as a comedian, that's not fair, is it? To make jokes about a movie you haven't seen."

"I can't do a joke about [Gervais' 2009 film] 'The Invention of Lying' because I haven't seen it. You haven't seen it. None of us have seen it. So the joke would not work."

Apatow continued his tirade of gallantry: "[Gervais] made a joke about Tim Allen, who was standing next to Tom Hanks. Who looks good standing next to Tom Hanks? We all look like a piece of s**t standing next to Tom Hanks. ... Tim Allen did 200 episodes of 'Home Improvement.' He was in three of the highest-grossing movies of all time. And his latest just crossed the one billion mark. Whereas 'The Invention of Lying' made $18 million dollars worldwide ... Leave Tim Allen alone."

The Producers Guild Awards was a black-tie event, packed with celebs and industry power players, but wasn't broadcast for TV viewers. Indeed, leading up to the PGA's, host Apatow tweeted his disappointment in Gervais' Globes performance ("mean is too lazy for RG"), but acknowledged on Twitter that asking fans to submit material "better than Ricky Gervais' [jokes]" was merely "fanning controversy to help ratings for a show not being televised."

Winners at the 22nd Annual PGA's included producers of 'The King's Speech,' 'Toy Story 3,' 'Waiting for Superman,' 'Mad Men,' 'Modern Family,' 'The Pacific,' 'Deadliest Catch' and 'The Colbert Report.'

Tags: Judd Apatow, ricky gervais

Comments

(150)

Monday 24 January

By me

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Who is Judd what's his name.....enough said.

By John

I, as a rule, don't watch these "award" shows as I have little interest in seeing self-absorbed "celebrities" hand each other awards. But I did read the hoopla about the host of this years awards, and I thought he was brilliantly funny without being mean. The age crack about the Sex And The City girls having been on Bonanza almost made me spit my coffee! If Gervais is back next year, I may actually watch.

By 1234

wow, his movies blow and so do his jokes. "Wah, Ricky was being mean, Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" STFU Judd and quit making crap movies you crap movie maker!

By Nico Toscani

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Anybody claiming to not know who Apatow is, is lying or has been living under a rock for the last decade.

By pjmqone05

Who are you? This guy has made some great TV and movies What do you do?

Vote down Vote up Report this

To PJMQONE05 - You must have a lot of time on your hand - but then someone has to keep the tabloids and celebrity magazines in business.

Sunday 23 January

By Brianna

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Bravo Judd!!!! I especially loved how he stood up for Tim Allen. I was very disturbed when I heard Ricky say that about Tim.

By Kathy

What disturbs me is a room full of Hollywood narcissists who get upset when a real "mirror" reflects who they really are. Its not pretty is it?

By Anne

He did it with British humor and meant nothing malicious. Lighten up you guys. That man is funny!

By Johnny

I didn't watch the Golden Globes. When I first read about the things Ricky Gervais said, in a very anti-Ricky article, I was against him. But when I actually watched him telling the jokes, I laughed. They were no meaner than Chris Rock's jokes or lots of others who have hosted the various awards shows before him. And I must say, that Tim Allen joke he did was the funniest of the night. Perfectly delivered. I don't get all the Ricky-bashing. The host is there to entertain the television audience, really, and he was getting lots of laughs from the live audience on every joke. These shows are always like roasts. This one was no worse than any I've seen. People need to relax.

By syl

The show was funny. Ricky Gervais was hysterical. Only the hollywood people are upset. They really should get over themselves and learn to laugh along. What a bunch of crybabies!

By jsactor

These people need to lighten up on Ricky Gervais....His act is mean and raunchy. If you don't want that, then you don't hire him. People that are upset should be mad at the people that planned the awards and hired him..not be mad at him for doing what he does.

By Abraxus

I totally agree with you - it's like hiring anyone - you get what you pay for - they knew the type of humor he did and DO NOT tell me the producers of the show didn't know the material he was going to do in his monologue first - they knew, they only backpedaled AFTER they realized maybe it was a little too close to the mark for some people. I think people in Hollyweird in general need to lighten up about themselves, they act like they are God (look at the behavior of many of them - drinking, doing drugs or just treating people like garbage because they think it's their right). All I can say is, if you didn't like Ricky as the host or his type of humor that is fine, (I can't stand Monty Python myself, yet my friends think it's great), then next time don't watch Ricky, and the people in charge shouldn't hire him.

By Homer

Judd who? Who is this guy? Are we supposed to know who this guy is?? Ricky Gervais is 'spot on' with his cracks about the pampered elites. I mean.., c'mon now!!! Pitt? Jolie?? These people are soooooo full of themselves. Bob Downey Jr is the only one among them that had the balls to go 'tit for tat' with Gervais. Kudos to Downey - a REAL man who gives as good as he gets. This Judd character? He WISHES he were as sharp as Ricky Gervais

By Miri

Are you serious? I suggest that before you write something that suggests you have been on another planet, that you do your homework first. I love when people are so obtuse that if the person isn't in front of the camera then they aren't relevant. Judd Apatow was probably one of the most successful people in that room. Do some research before you publicly look like an idiot!

By Laurie

Ricky Rocked the house! Who is Apalow? is he Gweyneth Paltrows grandfather.

Yes, Miri! Of COURSE, I'm serious! Your guy... uh....., Judd is it(?).. has no business 'slamming' Ricky Gervais for practicing his craft. The man was hired to perform his 'shtick' ... and he did. What's the beef? Why all the personal invective - the name calling?

By the way, your guy could stand in front of the camera (..uh, has he ever?) all day long and he STILL wouldn't be relevant.

Obtuse? Really? Now THAT's funny...

By KADEN

please do not think all uk people are mean, this jerk is here because he could not make it in UK, hatefull is to kind a word for him, time we turn off all people who use hate for there own good, to much good jokes out there that make us have good belly laugh's, and hurt no one,

By Rebecca

Judd Apatow made movies that are not even worth watching, unless you're an oversexed teenage boy that gets off on watching people being nasty..

By surfgolf

How Ironic. Hollywood can bash everyone they want (Palin, kids, Bush, Fat people, mentally ill, etc.) and no one says a word. BUT, OMG, someone does the "mean" jokes against them and all hell breaks loose. Typical bullys. They can dish it out but can't take it. Hollywood is showing the epitome of hypocracy!!!

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