Hollywood Fires Back On Gervais

I didn't watch this year's Golden Globes. Actually, I can't recall the last time I sat in front of the tube for hours to watch any awards show. Between the tears of joy, the best and worst on the red carpet, and the few shocking moments, I can find out all of it online the next day--and usually do. However, the 68th Golden Globes will most likely go down in history thanks to host Ricky Gervais. Sure, the host should be funny and give some digs to Hollywood's elite. But many feel Gervais went way too far.  He certainly shook things up, taking unapologetic comedic swipes at stars and the entertainment industry. Gervais took his insult comedy even further and the audience was not amused. The celebrity targets balked at his humor and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, organizers of the Globes, are hinting that the British comic won't be back in 2012.

Gervais' monologue, in which he skewered the recent box-off flop The Tourist(whose stars, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, were in attendance) and Charlie Sheen (who was not), as well as his bits throughout the ceremony left a both stars and press with a bad taste in their mouths.

Robert Downey Jr., among the offended, called Gervais "hugely mean-spirited" while onstage and critics were quick to chime in, too:

The New York Times:

"Ricky Gervais, the master of ceremonies, broke the rule of paying homage to the obscure foreign journalists whose one lever of power are those awards. He was merciless from the start."

The Washington Post:

"Are we at war with England? If not, then why have we been subjected to two years of Gervais hosting the Golden Globe Awards, witnessing a growing hostility between the British comedian and a resentful audience of celebs?"

Los Angeles Times:

"Poking fun at big stars is in the job description. But televised teasing requires a lightness of touch or else it quickly becomes bullying."

To top it off, Hollywood Foreign Press president Philip Berk (also roasted by Gervais) told The Hollywood Reporter that the host "definitely crossed the line," but he couldn't have been entirely offended: the broadcast was seen by 17 million viewers — its largest TV audience in three years.