Golden Globes Double Down On Off-Kilter; Pick Ricky Gervais To Host

For the first time since 1995, the Golden Globes awards will have a host, and that host will be idiosyncratic British comedy star Ricky Gervais.

We’re struggling for the term for the opposite of trainwreck…or when something is so complete and perfect a trainwreck that it becomes brilliant. Well, that’s what the Gervais-helmed has the potential to be.

It takes real character for a show which owes its acclaim to a booze-fuelled multi-decade run of awkward and embarrassing moments to double down on its off the rails strengths and book a host famed for creating legendary awkward and embarrassing moments. The combination of Gervais’ bizarre out-of-sync with humanity style and a line of drunken award winners, could create the most brilliantly uncomfortable show off all time.

Certainly, this choice will widen the gap between the Globes and Oscars; as Oscar attempts to return to old-timey glamour (and stodginess) the Globes will more become the free-wheeling, cantankerous, spontaneous alternative. There’s definitely a market for both, but in this media environment, we know which side of the canyon we’d want to be on.