For the past two years Ricky Gervais has let Hollywood have it at the Golden Globes – no one was safe from his acid tongue.
This year, despite promising not to hold back, the Office star wasn’t quite so insulting. American critics once again weren’t all that impressed with Ricky’s hosting talents, but this year they’re complaining about the lack of controversy.
“Ricky Gervais made two jokes about NBC, two about the Kardashians, and one about Jody Foster’s Beaver - not exactly the stuff of raging controversy,” said Ken Tucker of entertainment bible Entertainment Weekly.
While The Huffington Post called Ricky’s turn mediocre, saying, "If Gervais doesn't get invited back in 2013, it might be because he was so boring Sunday night. After weeks of media speculation about what Gervais would do, Gervais' performance as host was decidedly anti-climactic and underwhelming. Its general mediocrity gave the ceremony as a whole a certain deflated quality.”
The jokes
So just what did Ricky say, and who did he take aim at? Biting the hand that feeds him, Ricky had a pop at the Golden Globes,
“The Golden Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. Bit louder. Bit trashier. Bit drunker. And more easily bought...allegedly.”
He then continued to slam the awards do, saying, “Tonight, you get Britain's biggest comedian, hosting the second biggest awards show, on America's third biggest network... I'm just kidding. It's the fourth.”
Beaver
In the style of a 14-year-old boy, Ricky also joked about the Mel Gibson movie The Beaver, which was directed by Jodie Foster,
“I mustn't mention Mel Gibson this year. Not his private life, his politics, his recent films or especially not Jodie Foster's Beaver. I haven't seen it myself. I've spoken to a lot of guys - they haven't seen it either but that doesn't mean it's not good,” Ricky quipped.
Queen of Pop
Ricky also made Madonna and Elton John the centre of a joke, as he introduced the W.E. director on stage he said,
“Our next presenter is the Queen of Pop. No, not you Elton [John]. She’s all woman. She’s always vogue, she’s a Material Girl and she’s just like a virgin. Please welcome Madonna.”
Madonna was quick to retort, telling Ricky, “If I'm still a virgin Ricky, then why don't you come on do something about it?”
Tell us, what do you think about Ricky’s jokes…. good, bad, or worst of all indifferent?