Judd Apatow, HFPA Not Fans of Ricky Gervais' Golden Globes Roasting
Much is being made today about Ricky Gervais' performance as host-cum-roastmaster at the Golden Globes on Sunday night. Here at Movieline HQ, we're firmly on Team Ricky, and it seems like we're not alone -- celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Jason Bateman praised the unctuous Brit for his ribald comedy. But that doesn't mean everyone enjoyed the public celebrity berating -- just ask Judd Apatow and the Hollywood Foreign Press.
The normally irreverent funny writer/director voiced his displeasure with Gervais' attitude over the course of various tweets on Sunday night. Like this one:
This one:
And this one:
Um, burns? I must have missed the memo where Joan Rivers wasn't funny.
For his part, Apatow offered more than just pointed, anti-Gervais commentary. Asked by a follower if he was a fan of the The Office creator, Apatow wrote, "I am, but I lean [Stephen] Merchant. He makes me laugh crazy hard." He also proved himself to be unofficial president of the Tim Allen Fan Club. When another follower talked about how great The Santa Clause was, Apatow wrote, "That's my point! As was Toy Story. Mean is too lazy for RG."
Which brings up a good discussion point for us non-famous-types: Is it? Many of Gervais' jokes weren't that funny on face value -- after all, mocking Charlie Sheen is about as fresh as mocking George W. Bush. As has been pointed out from pro-Gervais camps all over the Internet, the things Gervais said are things we've all thought at one time or another -- albeit without a charming British accent and devil-may-care shrug. The nastiness -- and gall -- of the jokes is what made them spark. And perhaps that's why celebrities are so incensed: Gervais pulled their emperors' clothes off one stinging barb at a time.
Or maybe he was just a bitter pill -- nasty and rotted to the core -- who should have let the gathered celebrities enjoy their celebrity for three hours. As one member of the Hollywood Foreign Press told PopEater, "Ricky will not be invited back to host the show next year, for sure. [A]ny movie he makes he can forget about getting nominated. He humiliated the organization last night and went too far with several celebrities whose representatives have already called to complain."
As the great Fox News would say: You decide?
· Oh, Ricky, You Weren't Fine: Gervais Banned from Golden Globes? [PopEater]
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Comments
It's not mean if it's true.
“Ricky will not be invited back to host the show next year, for sure. [A]ny movie he makes he can forget about getting nominated. He humiliated the organization last night and went too far with several celebrities whose representatives have already called to complain.”
So, basically this person is saying that Gervais won't be able to lobby any nominations for his films. Way to implicitly confirm that your organization is corrupt, buddy. Looks like Gervais' banter was all-t00-honest.
See my Golden Globes recap at http://filmretrospect.blogspot.com
All this talk like celebrities are endangered species is getting a little ricockulous.
"Their feelings were hurt". You know when my feelings were hurt? Who cares, I'm not a celebrity. You know what I did about it? Moved the fuck on.
(Although, had I a "representative", perhaps they would move on for me so I can get back to the Wii)
Celebrities are not delicate creatures, they're human beings, just like the rest of us that don't get paid obscene amounts of money to pretend they're others for our amusement.
And to complain to "just let them have their party", which they've had about 30 of in the past three weeks, with plenty more a-comin', that's just plain stupid. Take a joke, move along.
Winch, I am your superfan.
I, at least, thought The Invention of Lying was funnier than most Judd Apatow films I've seen, so there you are.
I didn't hear a lot* of Gervais' jokes, there were so many dropouts in the sound.
* well, a few
what I think is telling is that the "several celebrities whose representatives have already called to complain” will probably never be identified, because they don't want to look like they can't take a joke.
I care that your feelings were hurt. Here, I'll put the kettle on and you can tell me all about the bad meanies who made you sad 🙁
Tim Allen should be content with stretching a single one-note arrogant character trait into one of the most lucrative sitcom paydays in history. Seriously. 1.25 million per episode for season 7 of grunting back in the day. He'll be alright.
Sorkin's back-peddling on the nature of Facebook was a little obnoxious for me personally, as I had enjoyed his open derision of the "socializing" it offers. Although, Fincher's subtle implications made up for it.
Reznor was the epitome of dignity amidst the hollywood fakery-- a very difficult task to pull off when you're collar's that tight. Although, I was hoping he'd yell out "I wanted to fuck this script like an animal… I really felt it from the inside."
And, yes, Mr. Downey Jr., we understand that you are charming. I took my pants off.
Was it me, or was that the most sympathetic January Jones has ever been on screen?
And I, yours, good sir.
The problem is, most of the jokes were beneath Gervais. They were not fresh, or witty, or clever, just mean for the sake of being mean.
Let's talk about "what is funny', cutting people down, that's funny?
Kids learn from programs like this,and bullys kill kids. This is not the venue for such deplorable behavor.
Gervais wasn't great, but adults can be such babies, especially comedians. And these are the same people who complain that there's not enough civility in government! Bitch and moan all you want to your friends, Apatow, but don't tweet about it, it makes you look small.
totally agree!
The reason there's even a debate today is because the jokes weren't that funny. This is how it's so easy to see them as needlessly hurtful, and Gervais as an a--hat.
If he'd done his primary job and really brought the funny, Harvey Weinstein wouldn't have been vowing to ruin him a few hours later.
What child was going to stay up that long and sit that still to watch the Golden Globes for 3 hours from 8:00 to 11:00 (and I don't know about kids these days but on a school night my bed time was 8:00pm, no excuses, but I suppose if parents these days don't know how to teach their children the difference between comedy and bullying then they probably can't enforce an early bedtime or age appropriate television programs)?
I was surprised how completely unoriginal, un-witty and sophomoric Gervais was last night. He came off as nothing more than self-congratulatory, snarky and appeared to have the goal of being more inflammatory than funny. I agree that the celebrities being offended by Gervais is completely ridiculous seeing as how the entertainment industry is bombarded with ego-centric bastards that won't give the average person the time of day, but I can half-ass see their point if they are just accusing him of being a half-wit shark. Oh, yeah, and I don't know if they teach Brits this or not, but you don't bite the hand that feeds you.
I can't believe I'm agreeing with Judd Apatow but he is right. Steve Merchant is the genius. Gervais' solo work proves this.
Gervais' entire schtick is based on fremdscham. Telling jokes that aren't quite funny in order to induce extreme uncomfortability and embarrassment on the part of the audience is exactly what he does best -- did no one actually watch the Office or Extras? He totally succeeded with his brand of comedy. He did much the same thing last time he hosted. Hollywood has such a short memory, apparently. I couldn't believe they hired him again after the last time, knowing what sensitive souls film artists are. But personally, he's why I couldn't stop watching, and I was very disappointed when he disappeared for a while and then came back all toned-down.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop is better than Funny People.
This is ridiculous to get mad about.
1. Gervais is known for his bashing. Has no one ever seen him on a talk-show before?
2. It's the Golden Globes. Not the Academy Awards. And even if it WERE the Academy Awards, he added some spark to it.
3. Had he been "safe" there'd be just as many posts today claiming that he wimped out along with other sarcastic jabs made at those who won probably much along the same lines as the jokes he delivered.
4. I guess this means Kathy Griffin won't be next in line to host?
Ricky was hilarious. My husband normally won't even watch awards shows, but Ricky's jokes hooked him into watching the whole broadcast. These celebrities are a bunch of babies if they can't take a little mocking at their expense. I hope they know this is the kind of stuff most of us are thinking at home anyway, just better written and delivered with superior timing.
Also, I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed with Apatow for sticking up for lame-o Tim Allen of all people. He's a ridiculous hack who foisted his terrible show on us for far too many years. He should count himself lucky that he gets to have a career at all anymore.
Apatow is indeed being a total ©unt about this. Coming from a guy who sided with Jay Leno last year, and thinks Adam Sandler is a comedic genius, this comes as no surprise.
I think Judd Apatow desperately wants to be Ricky Gervais, but has neither the intelligence nor the taste to do so. If you look at his style, it's just a slightly raunchier, much less funny and watered down version of Gervais/Merchant productions. He tries to go for comedy with a heart, but doesn't have a clue how to create characters you empathize with.
And to think I used to think Apatow was kind of a cool guy.
Bulky victims are the result of bad parents that raised a nerd that cannot handle himself/herself. If watching an award show is making your kid a victim go live in a cave.
What an epic pansy! (Judd Apansytow!) I have never understood why talk show hosts can get away with saying these exact things, yet heaven forbid an awards show host say anything approaching that content! Is it not enough that these people are all rich and are there to get awards for something as frivolous as making movies and television shows? Maybe if this were the Nobel Prize Show, and Gervais had insulted the people who cured cancer, then it would be a little mean. But I don't pay those guys salaries. I DO pay these halfwits their salaries, and I DEMAND they be brought down a peg or 4000!
As for the jokes themselves... Charlie Sheen jokes are severely lame. And there was a better target out there for 2-dimensional characters than The Tourist (how about tossing some more gasoline on M Night Shamalamadingdong?). But the Scientology joke was quite funny. Then it was perfected with the lawyered-up following joke. And I love Bruce Willis, but introducing him by his worst movies and as Ashton's dad? Brilliant!
Judd Apatow needs to remember that he was the person behind the "let's take shrooms" montage in Knocked Up, the least funny thing EVER put on film. Glass houses, beeyotch!
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