The Brit Is Back! Ricky Gervais Confirmed As Golden Globes Host
Nov. 16 2011, Published 1:45 p.m. ET
By Breaking Celebrity News Staff
Despite last year’s controversial appearance, it was announced Wednesday that Ricky Gervais will be hosting next year’s Golden Globes awards.
It will be Gervais’ third time in the hot seat, having hosted the past two years, amid criticism for his put-downs and jokes aimed at some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
The Globe’s website states: “After weeks of rumours it’s finally official—Ricky Gervais will be back to host the Golden Globes for a third year.
“The Hollywood Foreign Press Association voted for the controversial British comedian’s return after meeting with NBC official Doug Vaughn.”
As Breaking Celebrity News previously reported, Golden Globes chief, President of the Hollywood Foreign Press, Philip Berk, slammed the Brit’s performance at the 2011 show, telling the Hollywood Reporter that Gervais “definitely crossed the line” with his often outrageous jokes and comments.
"He definitely crossed the line," Berk said. "And some of the things were totally unacceptable.
"Any of the references to individuals is certainly not something the Hollywood Foreign Press condones.”
Some of the “references to individuals” that Berk objected to included digs at Charlie Sheen, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise.
"It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking -- or as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast," Gervais said at the opening of the show, before recalling the timeline of Sheen's October rampage in New York. "That was a Monday... what did he do New year’s Eve?”
Next up on the chopping block was Depp and Jolie, the A-lister whose nomination for the critically-panned The Tourist took some by surprise.
"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?"