Ricky Gervais Golden Globe Opener Video

Ricky Gervais's Golden Globes Opening — Hilarious or Too Harsh?

January 16, 2011

Ricky Gervais opened the Golden Globes with a little stand-up routine. As expected, no one was safe from his brutal honesty: he trashed Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp's The Tourist, made cracks about Hugh Hefner, and even poked fun at Lost's Hurley's weight. The British comedian certainly didn't hold back, and his opening act included a jab at Scientology. Gervais surely left some audience members bemused and others offended, but what did you think of his opening — hilarious or too harsh?

17 Comments

Burkina 2 years 17 weeks

He is fucking hilarious. What he said about The tourist- not harsh just true- poor characters and nobody saw it. The scientology bit, spot on, same as the Hefner bit. If de Niro is laughing you know you're doing good. The comedians in the room, Alec, Tina were laughing. Celebs are so full of it.

Kiki tee 2 years 17 weeks

An off day? I haven't seen him in such flying form in years. This is a guy who was at the top of his game, tried to take on Hollywood, failed, and I see this as basically a final f-you before he goes back to what he's good at, which is bitter observations and hilariously cruel jabs. It was fantastic, compulsive viewing and I could have watched for hours!Robert de Niro's face as he watched Gervais miming gagging while giving Hugh Heffner a hand job was actually one of the funniest things I've ever seen. It was a breath of fresh air through an industry that takes itself waaaaay too seriously.

Kiki tee 2 years 17 weeks

An off day? I haven't seen him in such flying form in years. This is a guy who was at the top of his game, tried to take on Hollywood, failed, and I see this as basically a final f-you before he goes back to what he's good at, which is bitter observations and hilariously cruel jabs. It was fantastic, compulsive viewing and I could have watched for hours! Robert de Niro's face as he watched Gervais miming gagging while giving Hugh Heffner a hand job was actually one of the funniest things I've ever seen. It was a breath of fresh air through an industry that takes itself waaaaay too seriously.

2 years 17 weeks

He was just not funny and seemed a bit like he was having an off day. And yes, bordering on cruel. It was much better last year at the Oscars!

2 years 17 weeks

I read that basically the HFPA was pissed and won't be hiring him again. I found him hilarious. Learn to take a joke privileged Hollywood elite. Its not like it was anything we hadn't heard before! Plus, the Cruises were already bent out of shape over Anne's Katie Holmes impression, so maybe they weren't watching.

prettypopj 2 years 17 weeks

Is that not why he was hired?The scripts are heard by all excs before they go out so NBC fully aware of what he was going to say-these actors and such know what he is like now so if they dont like it dont go x

ticamorena 2 years 17 weeks

knowing british humor and the antics of mr gervais, i'm certain a lot was edited out so this is the sufficiently provocative but won't lose my job version...

hypnoticmix 2 years 17 weeks

It was both hilarious and too harsh. I laughed my @ss off but for a show that is on early prime time his consistent reference to drinking from the red carpet to the opening monologue was gratuitous. His mock licking of Hugh Hefners penis too much and although I'm not a Christian the bit at the end regarding "thank God I'm an atheist" was just too much. I like Gervais and think he's generally funny but this was late night material not something our kids should be catching wind of.

2 years 17 weeks

looooved it very much! It was the best part of the show. 2nd best: Alec Baldwin Not the best: jlo, maybe it's just cuz she was beside Baldwin but she sounded pretty fake/dumb Another highlight was Alexa Chung ... So adorable

2 years 17 weeks

Hilarious!! And I love that he followed up the Scientology comment with a mention that his lawyers helped him word that joke. Ha! I agree he just says what everyone's thinking--which is what makes it funny.

2 years 17 weeks

Hilarious. Love him. Like that kind of humor.

jutka 2 years 17 weeks

yes, he skewered a bunch of celebs, but it was neither hilarious nor harsh, it was just not that funny.

2 years 17 weeks

It was hilarious. He just had the balls to say what the majority of people are thinking.

2 years 17 weeks

Don Rickles made a career of it, nothing new, just telling it like it is.

2 years 17 weeks

Yes it's hilarious. Not everyone kisses Lolie/Pitt asses like you. Look at her she looks awful.

2 years 17 weeks

Gervais just spoke what the rest of us are always thinking.. LOVE IT!!