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Hollywood on alert: Ricky Gervais Hosts Golden Globes

By April MacIntyre Nov 16, 2011, 22:30 GMT

09/14/2011 - Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon - "Boardwalk Empire" TV Series New York City Screening - Arrivals - The Zeigfeld Theater - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Ricky Gervais will host the Golden Globes, the award show put on by the long rumored alleged graft-plagued Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.

The British comedian took the serious mickey out of some famous A-Listers last time around, and this time most likely will top the first appearance last year.

The Beverly Hilton in January 15 is where the event will take place, aired by NBC.

The HFPA confirmed the news on its website moments after Variety broke the news Wednesday, 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. After the show Gervais dismissed the possibility of coming back for a third time, but he gradually warmed to the idea and last month met with HFPA President Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly in Paris to discuss it.'"

Gervais' better zingers from last year included

On Charlie Sheen: ¡°It¡¯s going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking. Or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast.¡±
On 3-D: ¡°It was a big year for 3-D movies. Toy Story, Despicable Me, Tron. It seems like everything this year was three-dimensional ¡ª except the characters in The Tourist.¡±
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On Sarah Jessica Parker:  ¡°There were a lot of big films that didn¡¯t get nominated this year ¨C nothing for Sex and the City 2. I was sure the Golden Globe for special effects would go to the team that airbrushed that poster.¡±

On the elderly: ¡°Next up, Eva Longoria has the daunting task of introducing the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press. That¡¯s nothing! I just had to help him off the toilet and pop his teeth in.¡±

¡°Congratulations to Hugh Hefner, who is getting married at age 84 to 24-year-old beauty Crystal Harris. When asked why she was marrying him, she said, ¡®He lied about his age. He told me he was 94¡ä. Just don¡¯t look at it when you touch it.¡±

On Scientologists: ¡°Also not nominated, I Love You Phillip Morris. Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. So the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then. My lawyers helped with that joke.¡±

Gervais tweeted that he had "Just told Billy Crystal he'd better not use any of my holocaust or pedophile material at The Oscars. He agreed (true)" -- including a link to a photo of the Globes and Oscar hosts standing together outside.