Who Will Be The Target of Ricky Gervais' Jokes?
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) This year's favorite Golden Globes accessory may well be a bullseye on the back.
Brtish comedian Ricky Gervais, back for his second turn as host at Sunday night's 68th annual ceremony, has been telling interviewers he will be looking to the bejeweled and tuxedoed audience for targets for his jokes.
SPECIAL SECTION: The Golden Globes
PICTURES: Ricky Gervais
He says he agreed to do a second turn as host of the awards, to be broadcast on NBC, because he wants "to do a proper job this time."
"I don't think I went far enough," he said. "Obviously not, because they invited me back. So, I'm going to do it again, do a proper job. And I guarantee they will not invite me back."
This year's Globe contenders should provide Team Gervais with a bounty of comic fodder, including best-picture nominations for the much-maligned "The Tourist" and "Burlesque."
And though it has been picking up accolades,"Black Swan" could be the butt of many ripostes.
"I honestly can't wait to do it," Gervais said of the awards show. "I'm going to go out there, guns blazing, like it's the end of the world."
After all, the 49-year-old Gervais has little to lose, with what seems like projects at every network and studio in Hollywood, and you can expect to hear about them on Sunday.
Gervais is reuniting with frequent collaborator Stephen Merchant and "The Ricky Gervais Show" co-producer and co-star Karl Pilkington for the travel series "An Idiot Abroad," a UK smash that will debut later this month stateside on Science Channel.
With that, prepare for this year's Globes host to serve as a pitchman, too.
"I'm going to mention 'An Idiot Abroad' on Science," Gervais said. "I'm going to mention 'The Ricky Gervais Show' returning on HBO. I'm going to mention I'm in the Muppet movie, 'Wind in the Willows.' Steve (collaborator Merchant) has got a fridge-freezer for sale."
Gervais, a 2004 Golden Globe winner for starring in the original British version of "The Office," promises he'll never host the Globes again.
"You know I said that last time," he replied. "I mean, who knows? I want to do either such a bad job I'm not invited back, or such a good job that I don't want to do it again. That's nice to do such a good job you don't revisit it."
In an interview with the McClatchy newspapers, Gervais said of last year, "I sort of did one-liners of the people I was about to introduce, but I realized I can look around the room and just pick anyone out. I'll just think of the best, most fun targets."
Who would you like to see get the Gervais treatment? Discuss in the comments below.
