Ricky Gervais pulled no punches last night as he intro'd one star after another with digs at their personal lives.
Gervais, who was drinking during the entire ceremony, quipped, "I like a drink as much as the next man...unless the next man is Mel Gibson," as the star took the stage. He was alluding to Gibson's notorious drunk driving arrest and subsequent photos of him boozing it up with young women.
Gibson was not the only one whose alcohol use became the basis for ridicule. Before introducing Colin Farrell, Gervais took a sober tone and said, "One stereotype I hate is that all Irishmen are just drunk, swearing hell raisers."
But the most controversial of Gervais's jokes was aimed at Sir Paul McCartney. "We actually came over on the same flight. I didn't get to speak to him because I was up the front in first class. He was behind me in coach. Saving money. He spent an awful lot last year." At that moment the camera cut to a shocked McCartney who was there with his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, and obviously did not appreciate the jab about his incredibly expensive divorce. A few boos were heard around the room. "I don't think we have to feel too sorry for him. He's doing alright."
RICKY ON MEL:
RICKY ON PAUL MCCARTNEY & COLIN FARRELL: