The Snarkometer Rates Ricky Gervais and the Golden Globes

It’s official: outrageous British funny man Ricky Gervais will host the 2012 Golden Globes making it three years in a row that he will hold down the job.

After the backlash from the 2011 ceremony which was, according to Robert Downey Jr., “unusually mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones”, not many expected the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. to invite Gervais back. And while there are a few members of the HFPA who are not happy with this decision, the majority hopes the buzz Gervais brings to the event, controversial or otherwise, will make the awards show a ratings success. But will Gervais reign notorious for a third year in a row? Let’s take a look back at how his previous Golden Globe appearances rank on the Snark0meter to find out.

The 67th Golden Globe Awards (2010)

Gervais started off his Golden Globe career with a lukewarm performance dotted with the traditional self-deprecating or self-promoting jokes and lauding the actors, but there were a few quips that foreshadowed what was to come in 2011.

“Looking at all the faces here makes me think about all the great work that’s been done this year, by cosmetic surgeons. I’ve had a little bit of work done, I’ve had cheek implants, and I had a penis reduction. Just got the one now, and it’s very tiny.”

Move along. Nothing new here.

“One thing that can’t be bought is a Golden Globe. Well, ‘officially’”.

Ricky edges close to insulting the HFPA, but stays well on the safe side.

“I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the next man is Mel Gibson!”

Lightheartedly addressing Gibson’s apparent drinking problem and DUI? Delightful!

The 68th Golden Globe Awards (2011)

When he took the stage in 2011, Gervais didn’t pull any punches. His humor was biting and blunt and some thought he went too far. From my perspective, he only stated what was either truth (yes, Robert Downey Jr. has been to jail and rehab) or already plastered all over magazines (is Tom Cruise gay?), so why get so upset? In the words of one member of the HFPA “…he was insulting, and when I invite someone to my house, they don’t insult me.” Okay, but how insulting was he? Snarkometer?

“I’d like to quash this ridiculous rumor that the only reason the Tourist was nominated was so that the HFP could hang out with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. That is rubbish. That is not the only reason. They also accepted bribes.”

Thank goodness Johnny Depp has a sense of humor.

“Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey, two heterosexual actors, pretending to be gay. So the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists.”

I think it was this comment that prompted people to wonder if Ricky would live to see another day.

“Our first presenter is beautiful, talented, and Jewish apparently. Mel Gibson told me that. He’s obsessed!”

Last year, Gibson’s drinking problem! This year, uh, yeah.

The 69th Golden Globe Awards (2012)

As students of history, I think we can safely say that Gervais will bring his outrageous humor back this year. But will he scale it back due to last year’s aftermath or take the HFPA inviting him back as carte blanche to say whatever he wants? Let’s gauge his recent Tweet to see.

“Just told Billy Crystal he’d better not use any of my holocaust or pedophile material at The Oscars. He agreed (true).”

Oh boy.

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