The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) shocked many in the entertainment community when late Wednesday it announced via Twitter that Ricky Gervais will host the Golden Globe awards for a third time.
Gervais posted a YouTube video on his Twitter page referencing his controversial performance as host of the 2011 show and promising “This (times) 10.”
The comedian’s satirical barbs struck at the HFPA itself, claiming that the group had taken bribes. He also aimed hard-hitting jokes at several of the major stars in the audience including Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, and Robert Downey Jr.
The HFPA acknowledged on its website that "not everyone is happy with the decision," citing Gervais’s “blunt one-liners targeting big-name celebrities” that had “caused anger and resentment in some quarters.”
After the last award’s ceremony, the group said Gervais “pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, 16 of the 62 members who had voted on whether Gervais should host again actually voted against his return.
Celebrities in the audience at the 2012 awards will likely be anxiety ridden as they try to figure out who will be the next target of the acerbic comic.
At the last Globes show, Downey remarked, “Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn't you?”
However, the 17 million viewers that helped the Globes best the competition in its time slot went a long way in encouraging reconciliation with Gervais at least for now.
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