Ricky Gervais to Host Golden Globes Again, Both Parties Uphold Pretend Hostility

Okay, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, you can’t keep getting us to cover your supposed feud with Ricky Gervais over his quasi-edgy Golden Globes jokes if you keep inviting him back to host.

Last year, both Ricky Gervais and the powers that be trumped up the whole, “oooh, career over because the jokes were too sharp!” thing before and after the British comic hosted the awards show, with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association strongly suggesting Gervais was banned from the awards show after it ran, to much predictable buzz. Gervais made light of “certain… Scientologists” that conceal their sexuality as well as Robert Downey Jr.’s colorful past and the box office success of Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie film The Tourist during his last Golden Globes hosting gig.

Even as the announcement was made that Gervais would be heading up the awards ceremony, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association tried to carry the thin-ice act a bit further, saying:

“While many welcome Gervais’s return, not everyone is happy with the decision because last year his blunt one-liners targeting big-name celebrities caused anger and resentment in some quarters.”

Gervais himself has been cackling on his Twitter feed about the high-profile trolling opportunity that has just been afforded to him again. He joked as he tweeted a pic of himself and current and former Oscar host Billy Crystal:

“Just told Billy Crystal he’d better not use any of my holocaust or pedophile material at The Oscars. He agreed (true).”

CNN host Piers Morgan tweeted to Gervais that he wanted to call dibs on the first apologetic interview, to which Gervais replied:

“@piersmorgan: Dear @rickygervais – please can I have the first ‘Sorry if I offended anyone” What if I’m not sorry? Like last time. Ha ha.”

Will you be watching this year’s Golden Globes? Do you find Gervais funny or just self-satisfied?