Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Gervais stands his ground over Globes performance
Published in Daily News Egypt on 20 - 01 - 2011

Academy Award hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco are unlikely to be seeking tips from Ricky Gervais.
The British comedian was brash, profane and cruelly funny at Sunday's Golden Globes, delivering his trademark humor as promised for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in his second go-round as host of the ceremony that has "butt-talking" appearances by Jim Carrey and Jack Nicholson in its history.
At its heart, pairing the right host with the right awards show is a delicate form of matchmaking. The relationship should be unpredictable but not self-destructive, capturing TV viewers and Nielsen ratings without alienating the stars who come to be celebrated.
More than a few brave hosts have discovered how daunting the brief affair can be. That includes David Letterman, who has yet to shed memories of his bumpy 1995 Oscar gig that included an oddball phonetics bit mocking the names of Uma Thurman and Oprah Winfrey.
"Ricky Gervais was the host of the (Globes) show — very funny guy," Letterman said on his late-night CBS show Monday. "But there's already talk that he'll never be invited back, and I say, `Hey, welcome to the club.'"
At the 2008 Emmy Awards, there was a misguided attempt to pay homage to reality TV by letting five of the genre's hosts, including Heidi Klum of "Project Runway" and Jeff Probst of "Survivor," share the emcee job. Their dull joint act bombed, with presenter Jimmy Kimmel dryly complimenting them for being "sufficient."
Gervais was anything but boring. Unlike last year, however, when he slyly mocked actors as a class by calling them "the most important people on the planet," he turned very personal.
His targets Sunday included Bruce Willis, the stars of "Sex and the City" and Robert Downey Jr., who retorted onstage, jokingly or not, "Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn't you?"
One of the sharper jabs was at the Golden Globes' own expense: Gervais joked about a lawsuit by a former publicist for the HFPA that alleges the group engages in payola schemes for nominations and awards.
Gervais initially struck a brave tone on his website, saying he "enjoyed the Globes more this year. I think I had better gags." He also rejected as "rubbish" the rumor that he was censored as the show progressed. But on Tuesday, he admitted verging on self-doubt in the face of criticism.
"Thanks to the twitterverse, the blogosphere, all the journos and the coolest stars for coming to my rescue," he said in a posting at rickygervais.com. "It was heartwarming to realize I wasn't losing my mind. Some reactions nearly had me believing I'd gone too far too. Nearly."
Among his boosters was Elizabeth Banks ("30 Rock," "W"), who tweeted, "I thought RG was hilarious. Actors can take it. We have thick skins."
"Have you noticed that nobody remembers the winners of the Golden Globes — but they do remember Ricky Gervais," Regis Philbin said Tuesday on his daytime talk show (on which he also announced his retirement).
The HFPA largely stood by its man, issuing the merest squeak of official displeasure over Gervais zingers, which included, "It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking. Or as Charlie Sheen calls it — breakfast." HFPA President Philip Berk also told The Hollywood Reporter that Gervais was not warned about his performance or kept off-air during the broadcast.
"We loved the show. It was a lot of fun and obviously has a lot of people talking," the association said in a statement, noting that Gervais is expected to deliver "in your face, sometimes outrageous material. Certainly, in this case, he pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far."
But the group, which said "overall" it was pleased and called the show "among the best we've ever had," said it hadn't made a decision about whether Gervais would be invited back next year. Also facing the HFPA in the months ahead is a decision on who will broadcast the Globes next year. Its contract with NBC expired with this year's show.
Meanwhile, the producers gearing up for the Jan. 25 Oscar nominations announcement and Feb. 27 Academy Awards broadcast have signaled plans for a far different ceremony.
Choosing co-hosts who are respected actors, non-comedians and include a potential nominee — Franco for "127 Hours" — makes a decorous evening likely for the film awards that remain Hollywood's main self-congratulatory event.
"We have the reputation of the predominant American art form to protect and spread the message to the world," said Don Mischer, who is producing the ceremony with Bruce Cohen. "This will be watched by billions of people when you put it all together, so you do feel that sense of responsibility."
Filmmaker Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up," "Superbad"), who will host the Producers Guild of America Awards on Jan. 22, took a friendly jab at Gervais online and started a Twitter campaign to gather better jokes for his gig.
"I thought Joan Rivers did a wonderful job hosting the Golden Globes tonight," Apatow joked in a post-show tweet. "Ricky Gervais should do an episode of Extras where he hosts the Golden Globes and is out of tune."
Calling "mean too lazy for RG," Apatow invited followers to post jokes better than Gervais' and promised the "winners" a shout-out at the non-televised awards show. The entries, he tweeted later, demonstrate that "it's hard to be funny and not vicious. Steve Martin is king."
Whether Gervais gets a third call to headline the Globes may be determined more by a number than his one-liners. The broadcast attracted nearly 17 million viewers, according to "fast-national" Nielsen figures released Monday, and was NBC's most-watched prime-time entertainment telecast among advertiser-favored young adult viewers since last year's Globes.


Clic here to read the story from its source.