Ricky Gervais NOT Asked To Return As Golden Globes Host

UPDATE II: Gervais has opened up further about his assertion that he was asked back, clearing up the matter -- with his trademark digging humor. He posted to his website:

You may also have read that I am hosting next year's Golden Globes. This is not true. Not yet anyway.

The TV show organisers said they were happy with everything and asked me to not rule out a third gig. However, it is not entirely up to them. The Hollywood Foreign Press and various other committees need to meet and agree. I have no idea if they want me back again. It depends whether they care about fifty delicate egos in the room or the 200 million people watching at home who want a laugh. Also, even if they did want me back, at the moment I'm pretty sure I shouldn't do it. But I'll tell you this. If they do invite me back and I accept, I'm going to pull exactly the same s**t again or even worse.

___

UPDATE: Phil Berk, President of the Hollywood Foreign Press, denied Gervais was asked back, telling The Hollywood Reporter: "There is no truth to this rumor. We have not asked him to come back. Nice try, Ricky."
___

PREVIOUSLY:

For the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, apparently the only thing worse than bad press is no press at all.

After Ricky Gervais put on an insult clinic that got the nation buzzing for weeks after his Golden Globes hosting duties -- which the HFPA spoke out in part against -- the actor and comedian has revealed that the Globes' producers have asked him back for a third straight year of hosting -- defying his prediction.

"I did exactly what I went to do. Improve on last year's and have a laugh. The response was staggering. It was discussed on every news channel and chat show for weeks," Gervais wrote in a diary for Heat Magazine. "The ratings went up again, and the organizers asked me to consider a third year. I don't think I should. I don't know what I could do better. I certainly couldn't get mor press for them, that's for sure."

For his part, Gervais didn't ever seem to think he did anything wrong, saying that "being nice would be nauseating."

"I'm not going to apologize for being true to myself," he said. "My strategy is to make me laugh. If there's anyone in the world like me, that's a bonus."

Now, it seems the HFPA would be nauseated without all the ratings and buzz. But will he take the job? As he said in the Heat article, he writes that two seasons is enough for him, and he also said so in an interview with reporters shortly after the show. But stay tuned.

For the entire article spread, click here.

Comments

[shuffleoff]

10:21 AM on 02/02/2011

It is unfortunate because knowing this I will not be watching the creepy Golden Globes next year...but c'mon people, it's over!

[Winthorpe]

10:20 AM on 02/02/2011

Update: I will NOT watch.

[copelli21]

09:36 AM on 02/02/2011

The only reason I even watched the Globes this year was because Ricky G. was hosting and I am sure that's the only reason alot of other people watched as well. That show got the ratings that they did because of him.

It certainly wasn't for nominations like "The Tourist" for best comedy or musical.

[Sananda]

09:56 AM on 02/02/2011

I loved Ricky Gervais and watched the Globes for the first time in years -- haven't watched for years because it is so darn boring and a pandering fashion show. His "roasting" style rocked the boat and turned the table on the "celebrity gods." Bravo Ricky! Comedy is supposed to push the envelope and make people think and question.

[SeanMartin]

07:19 AM on 02/02/2011

I dont know which is worse: his outlandish presumption or his childish performance. He wasnt funny, folks. His "jokes" were inane, poorly performed, woefully mis-timed. He was like a three year old holding up a stool sample and giggling.

"Fifty delicate egos"? Mr. Gervais, look in the mirror and consider just one.

[liveinhope23]

10:16 AM on 02/02/2011

"He wasn't funny, folks"
Although I have posted this several thousand times before, let me say again - there is no empirical, evidentiary baseline for humor - or any form of art for that matter. You cannot state that something is "not funny", only that it is not funny to you. As clearly, millions of people find RG hilarious, it's more than a little presumptuous to try and correct them by pointing out that he isn't. Art is all a matter of opinion. You're certainly entitled to yours, but please don't state it like it's a fact - it's arrogant (speaking of egos).

[SeanMartin]

05:14 PM on 02/02/2011

It wasnt funny. It was "oh look, I'm gonna be real shocking! and naughty! and people will say I was hysterical!"

Blah.

[tragicallyblonde]

05:05 AM on 02/02/2011

Rock on Ricky!

I, for one, appreciate your wicked humour...we of the commonwealth have alot in common.

[onlythetruthcounts]

05:05 AM on 02/02/2011

I know more about Ricky than the Golden Globes. What are the Golden Globes and why should I care? They certainly have a dreadful sense of humor if one at all.

[SteveDenver]

03:22 AM on 02/02/2011

The Golden Globes have become a laughing stock on the road to irrelevance. I remember when GG nominations reflected sophisticated taste and film scrutiny, but the Depp/Jolie nominations for a movie that was roundly panned by critics and public was enough to prove the old guard has left and not been replaced.

[onionboy]

03:06 AM on 02/02/2011

Guy's a frickin' genius.

[reshmi1]

02:21 AM on 02/02/2011

Ricky was great the last two years and i would definitely watch him again. Keep up the good work.
http://bit.ly/ePS6Rq

[Project4NuBostonTeaParty]

12:23 AM on 02/02/2011

.
Ricky, I tuned in to Golden Globes just to watch YOU. (I suspect most people did but won't admit it now.) You did not disappoint. In fact, I felt you didn't get nearly enough time on camera. Whether you return next year is up to the media gods, but they'd be foolish to not ask you.

PS people: They are ACTORS. Were they TRULY offended, or just PRETENDING? I mean, how do you account for the snappy comebacks some of them had?

.

[SteveDenver]

03:23 AM on 02/02/2011

All of the murmurs and gasps were simply because Gervais said aloud what the crowd was thinking.

[nokaoi]

11:12 PM on 02/01/2011

when he said he helped the hollywood foreign press guy off the toilet and put his dentures back in...i knew then and there he wouldn't be asked back.

if he'd made fun of only the movie stars, he would have been asked back..

[littlebrowngirl]

10:12 PM on 02/01/2011

Shocking.

[Alskling]

11:37 PM on 02/01/2011

Absolutely jaw dropping.

[Sol76]

09:34 PM on 02/01/2011

Have the actors that were the butt of Ricky's jokes say to the press that they were deeply offended and hurt? Personally I would consider it a privilege to be made fun of by one the best living comedians. I think much of the purported controversy is by people second-guessing how the award nominees felt on that fateful night.

[nik101]

09:18 PM on 02/01/2011

He wasn't funny. He wasn't good at the helm. Too many people who handle this much better than this guy.

[LaughingMan]

09:28 PM on 02/02/2011

You're in the minority. (of people who didn't find him funny).

He's the only reason that the show has gotten its highest ratings ever over the last 2 years.

[ArjenBoatsma]

09:11 PM on 02/01/2011

"50 delicate egos in the room"
Ricky has grossly underestimated that number.