I feel like Ricky Gervais’s performance as host of the last Golden Globes has become much bigger than it really was. He got up there and told some funny jokes, and he told some jokes that made some people uncomfortable, and people seemed to overreact to that in different ways. Some said Ricky was sticking it to the man, some said he was just mean. My favorite comment on Ricky’s performance came from Robert Downey Jr. as he was presenting an award that same night – “Aside from the fact that it’s been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I’d say the vibe of the show has been pretty good so far, wouldn’t you?”

Anyway, at the time I felt the push-pull of Ricky’s performance. I’ve always thought he was funny, but I didn’t think the Globes performance was his best night. Everything that came after it, though, made me kind of dislike Ricky. He went overboard defending himself, listing all of the people who said they liked him, repeatedly telling media outlets that he had no plans to come back as host, and that was why he burned the house down (except he didn’t burn it down – he was just playing with matches, that’s all). It just seemed weak, in my opinion, like Ricky cared too much that he was being criticized, like he could dish it out but couldn’t take it, and like he was trying to pretend like all of it didn’t matter, like a kid who takes his toys away and plays by himself in the corner. It was immature, and he seemed petty and small.

So all of Ricky’s claims that he would never come back were BS. He’s coming back for host this year, officially. He confirmed it on his blog:

So it looks like I’m hosting The Golden Globes for a third and definitely final time.

It was a tough decision to be honest. There were many pros and cons. I loved doing it, but I was worried that I couldn’t improve on last year. I’m in LA anyway as I’m launching Life’s Too Short on HBO. But then I didn’t want the Globes to overshadow the series. I knew some people would be uncomfortable with me being host. (This was a pro by the way.)

What actually tipped the balance and made me say yes, was the fact that it would shut up all those f–king idiots who said that I’d never be invited back. Is that the wrong reason to do something? Ha ha. I think it is.

Now here’s the thing. The outrage I caused was of course, as usual, totally out of proportion to the things I said. I don’t think anyone had any right to be offended but they were. This year I’m going to make sure their offence is completely justified. The best thing about it is writing the gags. I love writing one liners. Particularly when they can’t be used in any other context. It gives them a special weight on the night if you know what I mean.

Follow me on Twitter and let me know your favourite targets for the monologue.
I’m enjoying it already.

[From Ricky’s blog]

It will be interesting to see where this performance falls – whether he tries to be nicer, whether he tries to be harsher, or whether he just keeps it off-balance throughout the night. People are saying the Hollywood Foreign Press just hired him back because the controversy will bring in ratings, and maybe more people will tune in, hoping to see him zing some celebrities.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame, The Observer, Humanist Mag.