Ricky Gervais is relishing the chance to host the Jan. 17 telecast of the Golden Globes on NBC (“I can just turn up drunk!’) but if you think this will lead to a much-ballyhooed chance to host the Oscars, think again. “If Oscars called, yes (I’d entertain the offer) but I don’t think they would,” Gervais told EW.com exclusively. “If they called me, I’d say, ‘I’ll turn up an hour before. I may be drunk, but just point me to where the microphone is.’ I don’t think they’ll accept those terms.” (That’s too bad. Now that Hugh Jackman has declined the offer to host again, Oscar could sure use a feisty comedian like Gervais, who routinely steals the show just presenting at the Emmys).
That said, Gervais, 48, also begrudgingly admits how there are probably still many Americans who still don’t recognize him (he’s the co-creator and executive producer of The Office). “I was doing David Letterman recently, and this guy goes, ‘Hey look! There’s the guy who played the Steve Carell part in the English version of The Office!’” Gervais chuckles. “Hosting the Globes could make me as famous as Steve Carell – or it could be the end of my career.”
For more on Gervais, pick up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.
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I can’t wait to see Ricky Gervais host the Golden Globes. As for the Oscars, they should get Tina Fey! She’d be hysterical!
Ricky Gervais would be perfect – listen up Oscar!!
I love how “Oscars: Ricky Gervais not expecting a call” constitutes headline news.
I don’t like him. He’s not funny. This is great news to me. And now, the backlash…
No backlash here. I watched his HBO comedy special and he was insufferably smug and horribly unfunny. People paid to see him to do that?
Tina Fey for the win! Please!
One, because damn…it’s ridiculous that only two women have ever hosted the Oscars, and two, because this woman is just amazingly funny.
I’m not sure Tina would be right for hosting. She’d likely want to do more of the writing, and I think it’s too difficult to write and host at the same time. I haven’t seen her do a lot off ‘off-the-cuff’ adlibbing like the other hosts (BCrystal, Whoopi, Ellen), being experienced in stand-up, have done. I’m thinking maybe Ellen again, or Whoopi.
I disagree…Tina Fey’s background is in improv. I think she’d be great!
Tina Fey isn’t funny.