Golden Globes 2011: did Ricky Gervais jokes go too far?

The Telegraph ^ | 01/17/2011 | Anita Singh

[SeekAndFind]

Ricky Gervais is unlikely to be invited back as Golden Globes host after he mocked the organisers and insulted Hollywood celebrities.

The British comedian's jokes were so near-the-knuckle that when he mysteriously disappeared from the ceremony for an hour, the internet was abuzz with speculation that he had been sacked midway through the broadcast.

He eventually returned, but in subdued form.

His critics included Robert Downey Jr, who told the audience: "Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the show's going pretty good so far, wouldn't you?"

The most controversial gag of the night was about the Church of Scientology. Referring to the film I Love You Phillip Morris, Gervais said it was about "two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay - so the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then."

"My lawyers helped me with the wording of that joke," he added as the audience gasped.

He also poked fun at The Tourist, the flop film starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp - both of whom were in the audience and smiled gamely. Explaining that it had been a big year for 3D movies, Gervais quipped: "It seems like everything this year was three-dimensional... except the characters in The Tourist."

There were jokes about Charlie Sheen ("It's gonna be a night of partying and heavy drinking. Or as Charlie calls it: breakfast") and Hugh Hefner's sex life. He introduced Bruce Willis as "Ashton Kutcher's dad".

But Gervais perhaps took a risk too far when he mocked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the 90-strong group of international film critics who choose the Golden Globe winners.

[Maverick68]

Much like the Tucson murders, the Media/Elites act differently when it’s THEIR ox that’s being gored.
Had he made incredibly tasteful jokes about Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney, he would have been lauded as “edgy” by those who are criticising him.
Same with Tucson.
The most tragic thing of all is the death of a little girl, but the coverage is almost EXCLUSIVELY about Rep. Giffords...

[SoFloFreeper]

Did he poke fun at Sarah Palin?
Republicans?
Conservatives?
Christians?

No?

If he made fun of ANY of the above, he’d be applauded as a cutting edge humorist, unafraid to speak out against oppression and hypocrisy.

Make fun of Hollywood? Now THAT is a bridge too far.

[denydenydeny]

Although the “jokes” would be about those stupid, nasty, Conservative Nazi fascist Tea Party murderers instead. Which the Hollywood elite would find to be hilarious.

That's really the bottom line. If the jokes had been about Sarah Palin's children, Gervais would have been called "edgy."

[denydenydeny]

Great minds.

[wbill]

I would dare to say that most people in the USA had no idea that this show was even on .... yup, that'd be me.

nor did most people care ....yup, guilty again. :-)

Can't stand any of those self-congratulatory shows. Oscars especially. The 99% of the movies that win, suck.

[Maverick68]

BTW, I just watched the opening and LMAO....
I’m sure Gervais is a total Leftist punk, but it was nice to see him poke the elites...

[Mister Da]

I suggest Gervais avoid being the MC at Kim Jung Un’s coronation.

[SeekAndFind]

The Kim's might secretly have a sense of humor. I read somewhere ( sorry can't remember where exactly ) that Kim Jong Il watches a lot of American movies and one of his favorites was TEAM AMERICA -- WORLD POLICE ( the puppet movie that made fun of him ).

[Tupelo]

“Gervais sounds like the 21st century version of the other great purveyor of the insult joke — DON RICKLES.”

No. No. No. Rickles in his prime did all of his insults with a smile. He also did most of his insults to his friends. No malice. Nothing mean spirited.

[bray]

What lib could ever take a joke?

[CAluvdubya]

Thanks for the info....I adore The Office. It has had a short time where it wasn’t as funny but it seems like it’s back onm track now (guess it’s because it’s the last season)

[TribalPrincess2U]

Hollyweirds have been insulting us for years.

[TankerKC]

Had Gervais stuck to the normal Palin, Bush and middle-America insults, he would have been a hit.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Yep, he didn’t get the message.

And he didn’t bring T-Shirts.

[RetSignman]

[Gervais also made a dig at the organisation’s president, Philip Berk, saying: “I had to help the HFPA president off the toilet and pop his teeth back in.”]

Not sure what this meant but it sounds like it could be something s little sick and twisted about Philip Berk.

Berk’s response to Gervais was...”wait until you want one of your films qualified... THAT sounded like a threat to Gervais which could harm his income.

[patriot08]

Loved that joke about Travolta and Cruz. LOL
How true.

[Aria]

I suggest Gervais avoid being the MC at Kim Jung Un’s coronation.

LOLOL

[KarlInOhio]

“And now, a category that no one in America cares about — The Best Foreign Language Film.”

Hey, I love some British films.

I almost wish I had recorded this just for the insults, much like the first couple shows of American Idol when Simon was in charge.

[mass55th]

I didn’t watch it. I doubt the Hollywood Foreign Press, and the so-called stars that claim they were offended would have had a problem if he’d attacked Sarah Palin or the Tea Party. Poor babies. They can’t take it when the jokes about them.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time.

And the kicker:

However, the Los Angeles Times noted that "a visible contingent in the glitzy crowd was palpably discomfited by the British comic's full-frontal joke assault, which set a corrosive tone for this year's ceremony".

Ewwwwww -- hate speech. I'm sure these low-life actors are like most congresscritters (politics is for ugly people), a bunch of thin-skinned elitists.