There was really no reason to watch last night’s Golden Globes other than to see what Ricky Gervais was going to do, and the man did not disappoint. He was ballsy, but more importantly, he was funny. He began the night ripping on The Tourist and the Hollywood Foreign Press (the elephants in the room, let’s face it), and proceeded to actually be funny every time he was onstage, making reference to John Travolta being closeted (“‘I Love You Phillip Morris’ — two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay – which is the exact opposite of some famous Scientologists … probably.”) and introducing Bruce Willis as “Ashton Kutcher’s dad.”

Ricky Gervais did most of the obvious jokes (Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson, Etc.), but he executed them brilliantly. To host this kind of Hollywood circle jerk without coming off as a massive tool would be a feat; to actually be funny, entertaining, and honest was nothing short of a miracle. A gay, scientology miracle. (pic via DailyWhat)

Of course, there’s a reason people in Hollywood are famous for being thin-skinned pussies, and the reason is that Hollywood people are thin-skinned pussies. Actually, that’s not quite true. Most of the stars seemed to understand the way jokes work (especially Christian Bale). It seems to be the media that’s largely responsible for misinterpreting playful ball-busting for conflict (or deliberately stoking controversy). How say you, O Great Greek Twat Chorus?

WashingtonPost: “Are we at war with England? If not, then why have we been subjected to two years of Gervais hosting the Golden Globe Awards, witnessing a growing hostility between the British comedian and a resentful audience of celebs?” [This writer should be sentenced to 30 hours of Gervais-free Globe coverage]

NYTimes: “It’s so rare for presenters to be at open war with their host, and at times it almost looked as if Mr. Gervais and Mr. Bale were intent on bringing to Hollywood some of the incivility and extremism that veins political discourse. Theirs was certainly the most conspicuous wisp of conflict of the night, and that is unusual.” [Oh NY Times, you win the Golden Globe for Most New York Timesyest]. “Trashing the association that feeds you, on the other hand, is bad form, or bad politics.” [Not true. To not acknowledge that the HFPA is a joke would just be dishonest. Also, who gets fed by an association?]

LATimes: Headline: ‘Golden Globes: Host Ricky Gervais was just too nasty.’ The host pulled no punches, but he should have knocked himself out. [What does that even mean? Is this a Fighter review?] The opposite of dull and deferential is not snotty and abusive. [Likewise, the opposite of dull and uninformed is not humorless and c*nty.]

FoxNews: Ricky Gervais draws more gasps than grins at the Golden Globes. [But neither from me, because I had a big wiener in my mouth!]

BaltimoreSun: The normally clever-to-brilliant Ricky Gervais resorted to nonstop insult comedy as “the host” of the Golden Globes last night. He appeared to be auditioning for a dinner-theater version of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” His main game was “Get the Guest.”
When he wasn’t putting down easy targets like Charlie Sheen or joking about the vanity of “Sex and the City” stars and the age of Cher, his staggeringly lame fallback position was to list the lesser credits of A-listers like Bruce Willis.

You’re right, that was staggeringly lame! Maybe you should write his jokes next year, Mr. Guy-who-thinks-Who’s-Afraid-of-Virginia-Woolf-references are timely! Anyway, I’m done popping these queef balloons, it’s starting to stink in here. Here’s a list of the winners:

Read the rest of this entry »

Nope, that title is not an accidental repeat from last year. British actor and comedian Ricky Gervais has been invited back to host the Golden Globes once again, despite his last hosting gig that was marred with despicable things like him being funny, charming and refreshing. The Globes, more commonly known as the Special Olympics of film and television awards, consist of the Hollywood Foreign Press making tough-but-fair and long, earnestly conceived decisions regarding the best of movies and TV for the past year. Some say that the event’s prestige and dignity are rivaled by none. Others say *fart noise*.

The return of Gervais just might make the show watchable for the second straight year, as his performance at the last ceremony was filled with such highlights as making fun of Mel Gibson and, well, a bunch of other stuff, but really it was all about his joke about Mel’s drinking. And now he gets to do it again, after Mel’s ridiculous year. This is going to be comedy heaven.

Who does the award for Best Celebrity Who Can’t Take a Joke go to, Variety?

Reviews for Gervais’ first outing were Goldilocks-like — some critics thought he was too mean to some of the assembled celebrities, while others thought — given the wicked edge of his past work — he wasn’t provocative enough. And others thought he was just right.

His best line at a 2010 awards show, ironically, came at the Emmys, when he took a pointed dig at Mel Gibson: “I’m not going to have a go at him; he’s been through a lot,” Gevais [sic] announced, referring to the beleaguered star’s recent scandals. Then, after a perfectly timed beat, he added, “(though) not as much as the Jews.” At the Globes he chided Gibson a bit more mildly.

I included that excerpt about his best line because it’s certainly a good line, but come on… is that better than: “I enjoy a drink as much as the next guy, as long as the next guy isn’t… Mel Gibson!” I think not. But you can see for yourself in the collection of Gervais Golden Globe highlights after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not one of those smug wieners who will scream your ear off about how the British version is superior every time someone mentions The Office – please, people, jump in a volcano, and take your stinky limey DVDs with you*.  But I still love Ricky Gervais.  Even in his more broad, commercial projects he usually still finds a way to Trojan Horse some balls in there (here’s a horse I made for you! Surprise! I hid my balls in it!).  The latest news makes me even happier: Gervais has been working on a TV series starring Warwick Davis in a fictionalized version of Davis’ life called “Life’s Too Short”.  Gervais says it could eventually become a movie.

Ricky Gervais has hinted there may eventually be a film version of his new TV show Life’s Too Short, which centres on the travails of real-life vertically-challenged actor Warwick Davis.
Gervais and his long-term writing partner Stephen Merchant have penned the comedy series, described as “sort of like Curb Your Enthusiasm” for BBC2.
Asked if the duo were planning any future movie projects, Gervais said: “We want to do another one. Maybe we can do a film of Life’s Too Short.”
Merchant then cautioned: “Let’s see how the series goes. Let’s not get carried away,” to which his partner responded: “Let’s have it ready in case it’s a success. Always plan for success.” [Guardian]

I’d actually be excited about this project even if Gervais wasn’t involved.  If you don’t know who Warwick Davis is, you need to go rent Willow and Leprechaun immediately.  He’s the original Hollywood dwarf.  Dude makes Peter Dinklage look like Verne Troyer.

*And another thing! PAL sucks!  (*throws up ‘NTSC’ gang sign, C-walks*)

Cemetary Junction was written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (the same team behind the British Office and Extras).  That’s just about all I need to be interested, but in the interests of looking like I’m working, here’s the synopsis:

Cemetery Junction, set in 1970s England, follows three blue-collar friends who spend their days joking, drinking and chasing girls. [Ha, sounds like us, right, pussies? *slowly hides glass of Chardonnay*] Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world, but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is.

Having known plenty of Brits, Scots, Aussies, Kiwis, South Africans, Irishmen, etc., I’d say I’m generally pretty good at understanding accents.  But is it just me, or was like 80% of everything that comes after the first scene completely unintelligible?  I had to watch it like three times and still all I heard was “Oy, cunt, ow’s da dodgy bloke a bob’s yer uncle’s lorrie lift, a bahmy bugga. Oy ‘eard ‘e shoyned da bobby’s boots, ‘e did.”

Also, what’s up with the downer title?  This is a comedy, right?  I’d have gone with Crotch Punch Station, or Banana Peel Alley.

Here’s Louis C.K. on the Tonight Show last night doing some bits you’ve probably already heard and enjoy (I can tell you’re all hip because of the scarves), but more importantly, at the 4:30 mark the interview starts, and he tells a story from the set of The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais.  It’s about how he was doing a scene with John Hodgman and he thought of a really hilarious Hodgman burn an so he told everyone about it, but then… well, let’s just say it doesn’t go well.  It’s strange, because usually Jewish comedians are so full of social grace and devil-may-care charm.  Anyway, after that he shows a clip from the movie, and it looks pretty good, and Philip Seymour Hoffman kindareminds me of Eyebrow Kitty.  Haha, good story, Vince.

(sorry, foreigners, if you can find the clip anywhere else besides Hulu, please send it).