The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and NBC announced Monday that actor/comedian Ricky Gervais will emcee the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards, set for January 10 on NBC, according to a CBS News report. The reaction on social media, most (but not all) of it positive, was quick to spread as the hashtags #HesBack and #GoldenGlobes were trending heavily on Tuesday. Gervais also chimed on Twitter, CBS reported, writing that his “only guarantee is that not everyone will enjoy it as much as me.” UK Lowdown (@UKLowdown) was quick to show enthusiasm with “Great news! The Golden Globes is going to be funny and entertaining again.” David Cutler (@DCCutlerSports) wrote “Looking forward to watching the #GoldenGlobes with @RickyGervais. He should be the permanent host every year.” RELATED: Wondering who’s presenting at the Golden Globes? Expect Ricky Gervais and more Gervais hosted the Globes from 2010-2012, before the current Tina Fey-Amy Poehler three-year stint, and was known to push the envelope with some of his bits, CBS stated. “Ricky Gervais left us with a lasting impression and we are thrilled to have him back in our show as we honor the best in film and television,” said HFPA President Lorenzo Soria in a related Deadline article. “His off-the-cuff wit and quirky charm will surely have the room and audiences around the world at the edge of their seats.”
Can’t wait to host The Golden Globes again. My only guarantee is that not everyone will enjoy it as much as me. pic.twitter.com/oqOO8KnyLV
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) October 27, 2015
The selection of Gervais as host can be viewed as a dig at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars and last week announced its choice of Chris Rock as 2016 host, theL.A. Timesstated, adding that the message is that the Golden Globes are prepared to be even edgier than the Oscars. RELATED:Chris Rock is back to host the Oscars Twitter users were quick to acknowledge the controversial aspects of his hosting style. Raphael Seth (@NBCRaphael) wondered if “designers are going to be outfitting celebs with Kevlar to repel Gervais truth grenades,” while Gina DiFalco (@ginadifalco) warned “Ricky Gervais – inducing anxiety to pretty celebs at #GoldenGlobes since 2010.” Gervais himself took to Twitter with“It’s a good job I’m drunk. Otherwise the thought of hosting The Golden Globes again would seem like a real pain in the arse.”
