Ricky Gervais Says the Golden Globes Want Him to Host Again (UPDATED)

After the amount of controversy Ricky Gervais stirred up from his Golden Globes hosting stint last month, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he wouldn't be asked back anytime soon, even though we thought the whole thing was overblown. But according to Gervais himself, that's not the case: He said the show has talked to him about hosting again next year.

The Guardian came across a "Golden Globes Diary" that Gervais wrote for this week's Heat magazine that ended with him saying, "The ratings went up again, and the organisers asked me to consider a third year. I don't think I should. I don't know what I could do better. I certainly couldn't get more press for them, that's for sure."

This news item will undoubtedly be spun as, "See, the Golden Globes did like Gervais' routine. All is forgiven!" But excuse us if we're not assuming this mean the show's organizers definitely want him back for 2012.

For one thing, it's not uncommon for award show producers to gush about their host the day after, no matter the blowback he or she received. (In fact, a Hollywood Foreign Press rep did just that this year.)

And while we have no reason to doubt Gervais' word, it's a long stretch from "asked me to consider a third year" to "Yes, this is definitely something we should do again." We've learned this over the years when the Oscar producers would always say that, yes, they'd have such-and-such host back again in a heartbeat. (We can't find the article online now, but we remember some Academy muckety-muck recently mentioning that even David Letterman has been approached to host the Oscars again, despite most people thinking he did a terrible job.)

So, really, what did we learn today? That Ricky Gervais was told the same thing that probably every host is told after he or she hosts a big awards show. Frankly, it would have been more noteworthy if he hadn't been told that. This is, of course, academic since Gervais keeps insisting he won't host the Globes again. But it sure seems like he wants to let people know it's his choice not to return, which will surely make Judd Apatow very happy.

Update: Well, that was fast: Phil Berk, the head of the Hollywood Foreign Press (and one of Gervais' targets during the show), now says that the organization said no such thing to Gervais. We especially like the "Nice try, Ricky" kiss-off at the end of the statement.

Ricky Gervais asked to host Golden Globes again [The Guardian]