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'Tasteless and unfunny': Critics maul Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais after string of X-rated jokes

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'Tasteless and unfunny': Critics maul Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais after string of X-rated jokes

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 5:09 PM on 18th January 2010

 

 

There was plenty of hype surrounding Ricky Gervais' turn as Golden Globes host, but disappointed critics have branded his performance 'tasteless' and 'unfunny'.

 

The Office star fronted the 67th Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles for the first time last night, taking a swipe at everyone from Mel Gibson to Angelina Jolie with some X-rated comments thrown in about himself.

But the British comedian's irreverent routine did not impress tough U.S. critics.

 

Scroll down for a list of winners and to watch Ricky Gervais in action...

 

 

article-1244087-07E6C2AB000005DC-381_468x682.jpg Courting controversy: Ricky Gervais hosted the 67th Annual Golden Globes in Beverly Hills last night

 

Bill Zwecker wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times: 'Ricky Gervais, one of the most anticipated awards show hosts in recent memory, was a big disappointment as he opened the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night.

 

'From a flat, self-congratulatory series of quips about Steve Carell... to a stale joke about the omnipresence of plastic surgery in Hollywood, to a tasteless group of penis jokes, to unfunny jokes about Hugh Laurie and Kiefer Sutherland, Gervais only generated embarrassed chuckles from the assembled Tinseltown luminaries.'

Respected industry magazine Entertainment Weekly listed Gervais' performance under their Best and Worst moments list, with it falling under the latter.

Hollywood Reporter called Gervais 'surprisingly uninspired' and claimed his jokes 'didn't land a blow, let alone draw blood'.

But some media outlets did praise the comedian, with Radar Online describing him as 'on fire'.

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Lampooned: Gervais took a swipe at Sir Paul McCartney over his costly divorce from Heather Mills

Fellow Brit Sir Paul McCartney fell victim to one of his less successful gags, with Gervais making fun of his costly divorce from ex-wife, Heather Mills.

As Gervais introduced the Best Original Song category, for which Macca was nominated, he said: '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.

 

More...

 

 

 

'He was behind me in coach. Saving money. He spent an awful lot last year.

The camera showed a stony-faced McCartney - who was at the show with his American socialite girlfriend, Nancy Shevell - as the crowd began to boo.

 

'I don't think we have to feel too sorry for him,' Gervais assured. 'He's doing alright.'

McCartney's song lost out to winner, The Weary Kind, from Jeff Bridges flick, Crazy Heart.

Gervais sipped on a glass of beer during the show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, quipping at one point: 'I like a drink as much as the next man... unless the next man is Mel Gibson.'

As Gibson - who was convicted of drink driving in 2006 - walked on to present the Best Director gong, he pretended to slur his words.

 

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Watch out, Mel: Gervais said he liked a drink as much as the next man, 'unless the next man is Mel Gibson'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And before he introduced Colin Farrell, Gervais joked: 'One stereotype I hate is that all Irishmen are just drunk, swearing hell raisers.

'Please welcome Colin Farrell.'

 

As he arrived on stage to present the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, he said: 'Oh, I once was a cliche.

'I heard Ricky had specifically asked to introduce me and I thought, "Oh, balls".'

Few were spared a lashing by Gervais, who at one point said: 'Just looking at all the faces here reminds me of the great work that's been done this year... by cosmetic surgeons. You all look great.

 

At that punchline, the camera quickly cut away from Meryl Streep, instead opting for a long shot of the crowd.

 

'It is an honour to be here in a room full of what I consider to be the most important people on the planet: actors.

 

 

 

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Self-promotion: Gervais made time to plug his own work

 

 

'They're just better than ordinary people, aren't they?

He said: 'Actors aren't just loved here in Hollywood, they're loved the world over because they're recognisable. You can be in the Third World and you get a glimpse of a Hollywood star and it makes you feel better.

'You can be a little child, a little Asian child, with no possessions, no money - but you see a picture of Angelina Jolie and you think, 'Mummy!'

 

Jolie and husband Brad Pitt skipped the event, but the star-studded audience, including Robert De Niro, Cameron Diaz and Matt Damon seemed to be enjoying his brand of humour.

He also turned the air blue at one point when he claimed to have had 'penis reduction' surgery - going from two male members to just one.

He joked that he would rather be at home pleasuring himself than being watched by millions.

He said: 'I've had a little bit of work done. I've had a penis reduction. Just got the one now.

 

 

article-1244087-07E6C097000005DC-12_468x353.jpg Centre stage: The star-studded crowd seemed to enjoy Gervais' brand of humour

 

 

'And it is very tiny. But so are my hands. So when I'm holding it, it looks pretty big.

 

'And let's face it I usually am holding it. I wish I was doing that now, instead of this, to be honest.

Gervais, 48, also took the opportunity to plug the original BBC version of his show The Office, holding up a DVD box set of the hit programme and urging viewers to buy it, rather than watch the American spin-off, which stars funnyman Steve Carell.

Carell could be seen in the audience jokingly mouthing that he was going to "kill" Gervais for his remarks.

 

He said: 'I'm not used to these sort of viewing figures He also plugged his website later on the show - and his latest DVD release, The Invention of Lying.

He said: 'I've had hundreds of emails asking me why The Invention of Lying wasn't nominated.

'I don't know why! Maybe the DVD will win an award... That's out on Tuesday at Walmart." And at the end of the broadcast he urged viewers to tune into his new HBO series.

 

But he didn't dare take the Mickey out of one celeb - hardman Mickey Rourke.

 

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Big night: The Office star arriving on the red carpet with his partner Jane Fallon wearing a lilac Alberta Ferretti gown and Sir Paul with girlfriend Nancy Shevell

 

 

He said: 'I haven't got a bad word to say about him...mainly because he has arms as big as my legs.'

 

 

Gervais, who won a Globe in 2004 for his work in The Office, admitted before the show that he was planning to defy orders from producers to clean up his material.

He confessed: 'There were about five things they didn't like (in rehearsal). I said I won't do them - but I'm going to do them. It's live, so what can they do? They can't stop me.'

 

Earlier, Sir Paul McCartney, who was presenting the award for Best Animation, had the celebrity crowd in fits of laughter when he made a joke about drugs.

The singer said: 'I'm Paul McCartney, or as I'm now known, that guy from [video game] Rock Band.

'Animation is not just for children. It is also for adults who take drugs.'

 

As audience members - including Julia Roberts - laughed, he added: 'So let's take a look at the films that were nominated by drug-taking adults.'

 

 

The winners are..

 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) - Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia

Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) - Robert Downey Jnr for Sherlock Holmes

Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) - Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side

Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) - Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart

Best Supporting Actress - Mo'nique for Precious

Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds

Best Director - James Cameron for Avatar

Cecile B DeMille award for lifetime achievement - Martin Scorsese

Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) - The Hangover

 

Best Motion Picture (Drama) - Avatar

Best Animated Film - Up

Best Screenplay - Jason Reitman for Up In The Air

Best Actress in a Mini-Series made for Television - Drew Barrymore for Grey Gardens

Best Actor in a Mini-Series made for Television - Kevin Bacon for Taking a Chance

Best Actress in a TV Show (Musical or Comedy) - Toni Collette for United States of Tara

Best Actor in a TV Show (Musical or Comedy) - Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

Best Actor in a TV Show (Drama) - Michael C Hall for Dexter

Best Actress in a TV Show (Drama) - Julianna Marguiles for The Good Wife

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Mini Series- John Lithgow for Dexter

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Mini Series -Chloe Sevigny for Big Love

 

Best TV series (Drama) - Mad Men

 

Best TV series (Comedy or Musical) - Glee

Best TV Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made For Television: Grey Gardens

 

Best Song -The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart

Best Original Score - Up

Best Foreign Film - The White Ribbon

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1244230/Golden-Globes-Critics-maul-tastless-unfunny-host-Ricky-Gervais.html#ixzz0czKXnPmk

Pfft, he was the only reason I was watching.

oh god, i laughed SO HARD at the animation joke. paul. :heart:

I thought he was really funny! It's not his fault that Hollywood is filled with a bunch of pretentious, stuck-up-their-own ass, no sense of humor snobs who can't laugh at themselves one in a while.

I think he was hilarious! Why can't we all just have a good laugh?

 

 

The winners are..

 

Best Director - James Cameron for Avatar

Best Motion Picture (Drama) - Avatar

Best TV series (Comedy or Musical) - Glee

 

:inquisitive:

I don't like the guy and I don't find him funny but at least he didn't spend the whole night kissing arse.

What do you expect from someone who's not funny and un-professional?

 

His 'humour' relies solely on being a controversial dick, did he have one single joke that wasn't cringeworthy?

I don't find him that funny and the only thing that seemed to be a joke at The Globes was him.

If Mel Gibson had've punched him or at least groped him and called him 'Sugartits' like he did with that policewoman, THEN he would've been funny, if it only were to see that stupid smug grin of his wiped off his face. :)

Gervais was the only reason I watched.. and quite frankly... I dont think they showed him enough!! LOL

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