Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes Below-the-Belt Barbs Targeting Gay Scientologists + Mel Gibson Eclipse Winners

Ricky Gervais’ mean-spirited Golden Globes humor eclipsed coverage of the actual winners. Among them, Annette Bening for her performance as a fierce, family-defending lesbian wife/mother in Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right, co-starring Julianne Moore.

Golden Globes winners thus far include Al Pacino for Best Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries, You Don’t Know Jack, in which he plays Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the one who created a ruckus a while back because of his assisted-suicide practice. Pacino’s was a rambling speech that – unless I missed something – failed to explain Kevorkian’s appeal to an actor. Also, inexplicably the orchestra failed to cut him off.

Claire Danes won for Temple Grandin as was expected. During her acceptance speech for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical, Annette Bening thanked husband Warren Beatty who was the Most Promising Male Newcomer back in 1962. (I’m assuming he was in on the joke; else, supermarket tabloids will be announcing divorce proceedings next week??)

Whether or not you didn’t find The Kids Are All Right funny, bear in mind that it could be considered a musical. Just remember the endless singing at Mark Ruffalo’s dinner table.

Jane Lynch has just won for Glee. Aaron Sorkin was the Best Screenplay winner for the critical and commercial hit The Social Network, which also won for Best Score: Trent Reznor (best known for the 1994 song “Closer” – chorus: “I wanna fuck you like an animal/ I wanna feel you from the inside”) and Atticus Ross.

Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes Opening Monologue Video: Charlie Sheen & gay Scientologists + Mel Gibson

“A night of partying and heavy drinking, or as Charlie Sheen calls it, ‘breakfast.’” That’s how Ricky Gervais began his introduction to the 2011 Golden Globes held earlier this evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. He then went to describe Sheen’s misadventures in a hotel room while porn star Capri Anderson was locked in the cupboard, emphasizing that it all took place on a Monday.

Regarding the Johnny Depp-Angelina Jolie Sony release The Tourist, which critics hated, domestic audiences stayed away from (though it has made good money overseas), and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association selected as one of the five best “comedies or musicals” of 2010: “Everything this year was three-dimensional – except the characters in The Tourist. [At first I thought he said ‘The Tories.’] … It must be good because it’s been nominated. So, shut up!”

Regarding The Tourist‘s nomination: “I’d like to quash this ridiculous rumor going around that the only reason The Tourist was nominated was so the Hollywood Foreign Press could hang out with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. That is rubbish! That’s not the only reason. They also accepted bribes.” Cut to Johnny Depp sporting a cryptic smile.

A few other Gervais tirades:

“Do you want to go see Cher? No? Why not? [falsetto] Because it’s not 1975.”

“Girls, we know how old you are,” referring to Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, and friends in Sex and the City 2. (Strange that they actually “bleeped” what seemed like “For Christ’s sake!” That’s really bizarre.)

“Two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay,” referring to Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor in I Love You Phillip Morris. Pause. “So, the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then,” referring to … Well, Gervais’ lawyers helped him with the wording of that joke. I need to talk to mine before completing that sentence.

Regarding Hugh Hefner and his young bride… Was that an imitation of a blow job? Good thing it was silent. The FCC-fearing NBC censors couldn’t bleep it.

And finally, Gervais introduced his first presenter, Scarlett Johansson, as “beautiful, talented, and [making an ugly face] Jewish, apparently. Mel Gibson told me that. He’s obsessed!”

Ricky Gervais Criticized & Golden Globes TV Ratings Up

Feb. 1 update: Ricky Gervais announced on his website’s “Golden Globes Diary” that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has asked him to return for the third time as host of the Golden Globes ceremony in 2012. Not long afterwards, the HFPA denied Gervais’ claim (which may have been made in jest – just look at those shorts).

“There is no truth to this rumor. We have not asked him to come back,” HFPA president Philip Berk said in a statement to TheWrap. “Nice try, Ricky.”

Perhaps, though “nice” isn’t quite the word for some of Gervais’ jokes during the show. Targets included Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, The Tourist, Robert Downey Jr, unnamed (allegedly) gay Scientologists (though we all know to whom he was referring), and the HFPA itself. Even Philip Berk was singled out at one point, when Gervais told the crowd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel that he had been helping the HFPA president put his teeth back in earlier that evening.

TheWrap adds that when asked if Gervais might be invited to return next year, “an HFPA insider” remarked: “It’s highly unlikely. Twice was nice. Let’s leave it at that.”

Regarding his alleged invitation, Gervais wrote in his Golden Globes Diary: “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.” Gervais also claimed he has “yet to find anyone who was actually offended” by his jokes.

Jan. 17 post

Ricky Gervais, Jane Fallon (Image: © HFPA / Hollywood Foreign Press Association)

Ricky Gervais’ roasting, ahem, hosting job at the 2011 Golden Globes ceremony was panned by some television critics and most of the winners were quite predictable (The Social Network, Colin Firth, Annette Bening, Natalie Portman, etc.). However, jokes about gay Scientologists, Mel Gibson’s reported anti-semitism, oral sex with Hugh Hefner (is that what that was?), Charlie Sheen’s antics with a porn star, Robert Downey Jr’s former drug addiction, and even the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s alleged kickbacks lured 16.99 million viewers in the United States, up 0.5 percent from last year when James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar took home the Best Picture – Drama Golden Globe and 16.98 viewers tuned in.

Regarding Gervais’ performance, Los Angeles Times TV critic Mary McNamara wrote: “This year, he was far better prepared [than last year], and one would imagine, much sweatier, as it quickly became clear that his material wasn’t just falling flat, it was making many audience members and presenters uncomfortable and even angry.”

Robert Downey Jr, after being introduced as an actor best known for his stints at the Betty Ford Clinic and the Los Angeles County jail, remarked onstage, “Aside from the fact that it’s been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I’d say the vibe of the show has been pretty good so far, wouldn’t you?” (Downey Jr then proceeded to introduce the Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical nominees with the following: “I don’t know if an actress has done her best work until I’ve slept with her.” Pause. “Julianne.” Cut to The Kids Are All Right nominee Julianne Moore laughing. And so on.)

Presenters Tom Hanks and Tim Allen came up with their own Gervais joke while onstage: “We recall when Ricky Gervais was a slightly chubby but very kind comedian,” Hanks told the crowd. Allen then added: “Neither of which he is now.”

Philip Berk, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s president, told The Hollywood Reporter that Gervais “definitely crossed the line. And some of the things were totally unacceptable. But that’s Ricky,” adding, “any of the references to individuals is certainly not something the Hollywood Foreign Press condones.” Berk also said that Gervais was never “called on the carpet” or warned to tone things down, explaining that the Golden Globes host’s disappearance during the mid-section of the show had been pre-planned.

Now, that doesn’t sound like a very stern rebuke – especially considering that at one point Gervais told the audience at the Beverly Hilton Hotel that he had been in the bathroom with Berk helping the HFPA president put his teeth back in.

Unless Downey Jr, Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Johnny Depp, and the like threaten to boycott the Golden Globes, despite online rumors to the contrary Gervais may well return next year.

In a statement released Monday, a representative for the HFPA said:

“We loved the show. It was a lot of fun and obviously has a lot of people talking. When you hire a comedian like Ricky Gervais, one expects in your face, sometimes outrageous material. Certainly, in this case, he pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far. The HFPA would never condone some of his personal remarks. Overall, however, the show was among the best we’ve ever had and we were pleased.”

Photo: The Kids Are All Right (Suzanne Tenner / Focus Features)

Golden Globes: Motion Pictures

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
* The Social Network

Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture Drama
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
* Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
* Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
* The Kids Are All Right
Red
The Tourist

Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
* Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone, Easy A

Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp, The Tourist
* Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version
Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

Best Performance By An Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
* Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Best Performance By An Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
* Christian Bale, The Fighter
Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never
Sleeps
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Best Director – Motion Picture
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
* David Fincher, The Social Network
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David O. Russell, The Fighter

Best Foreign Language Film
Biutiful (Mexico / Spain)
The Concert (France)
The Edge (Russia)
I Am Love / Io Sono l’amore
* In a Better World / Hævnen (Denmark)

Best Animated Feature Film
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Tangled
* Toy Story 3

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg, The Kids Are All Right
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David Seidler, The King’s Speech
* Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech
Danny Elfman, Alice in Wonderland
A.r. Rahman, 127 Hours
* Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, The Social Network
Hans Zimmer, Inception

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Bound to You” — Burlesque
Music By: Samuel Dixon
Lyrics By: Christina Aguilera, Sia Furler

“Coming Home” — Country Strong
Music & Lyrics By: Bob Dipiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges

“I See the Light” — Tangled
Music By: Alan Menken
Lyrics By: Glenn Slater

“There’s a Place for Us” — Chronicles of Narnia: The
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Music & Lyrics By: Carrie Underwood, David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey

* “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” — Burlesque
Music & Lyrics By: Diane Warren

Golden Globes: Television

Best Television Series – Drama
* Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Walking Dead

Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Piper Perabo, Covert Affairs
* Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best Performance By An Actor in a Television Series – Drama
* Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
The Big C
* Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie

Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
* Laura Linney, The Big C
Lea Michele, Glee

Best Performance By An Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matthew Morrison, Glee
* Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Best Mini-series or Motion Picture Made For Television
* Carlos
The Pacific
Pillars of the Earth
Temple Grandin
You Don’t Know Jack

Best Performance By An Actress in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made For Television
Hayley Atwell, Pillars of the Earth
* Claire Danes, Temple Grandin
Judi Dench, Return to Cranford
Romola Garai, Emma
Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List

Best Performance By An Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made For Television
Idris Elba, Luther
Ian Mcshane, Pillars of the Earth
* Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack
Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship
Edgar Ramírez, Carlos

Best Performance By An Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made For Television
Hope Davis, The Special Relationship
* Jane Lynch, Glee
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Julia Stiles, Dexter
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Best Performance By An Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made For Television
Scott Caan, Hawaii Five-o
* Chris Colfer, Glee
Chris Noth, The Good Wife
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
David Strathairn, Temple Grandin

Natalie Portman in Black Swan with Vincent Cassel: Emotionally unbalanced ballerina remains the U.S. film critics’ top Best Actress. Following a series of Best Actress wins for her star turn as a seriously distraught ballerina in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller Black Swan, Natalie Portman (Closer, Brothers) is the odds-on favorite for the 2011 Best Actress Academy Award. As for Vincent Cassel, he’s the son of veteran French actor Jean-Pierre Cassel (Army of Shadows, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie).

Now for the acting predictions. Those are for the most part quite easy: Best Actor – Drama should be Colin Firth for The King’s Speech. Anyone else would be a major upset. Best Actress – Drama will be Natalie Portman for Black Swan. Annette Bening will be the Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for The Kids Are All Right. Christian Bale will win as Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter.

Now, the Best Actor – Comedy/Musical winner is harder to predict because you have Johnny Depp with two nominations for movies that were, to put it kindly, less than enthusiastically received: Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist. Then you have movies that haven’t been widely seen and/or didn’t get much love this awards season: Barney’s Version, Love and Other Drugs, Casino Jack. Shot in the dark: Kevin Spacey for Casino Jack.

Best Supporting Actress: I’m betting on Melissa Leo for The Fighter, even though either Amy Adams (also The Fighter) or Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech) could end up taking home the Golden Globe.

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3. Best Foreign Language Film: Biutiful. Best Original Score: Hans Zimmer for Inception. Best Song: Diane Warren’s “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from Burlesque.

Photo: The Kids Are All Right (Suzanne Tenner / Focus Features)

Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake in The Social Network

Last-minute Golden Globe predictions for those who care less about the current accusations (kickbacks, vote-buying, etc.) against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than about awards-season gold and glitter…

Best Picture – Drama: It’ll be either David Fincher’s The Social Network or Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech. Despite comments to the contrary, the Globes have gone for less genteel material in the recent past (e.g., Brokeback Mountain, Babel, Slumdog Millionaire). I believe they’ll choose The Social Network this time around, especially considering that Fincher’s drama has won nearly every North American critics award out there.

Best Picture – Comedy or Musical: The HFPA voters pretty much have no choice. It’s either Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right, which received a number of good reviews, or something like Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland or the panned Johnny Depp-Angelina Jolie vehicle The Tourist. In other words, expect The Kids Are All Right to be the easy winner.

Best Director: David Fincher for The Social Network, though Inception‘s Christopher Nolan could pull an upset win. (The King’s Speech‘s Tom Hooper isn’t a very well-known quantity this side of the Atlantic.) The Best Screenplay award will go to either David Seidler for The King’s Speech or Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network. Much like the Best Picture – Drama category, this is a tough one. I’ll put my money on Sorkin.

Vincent Cassel and Natalie Portman Black Swan image: Niko Tavernise / Fox Searchlight.

Natalie Portman Black Swan photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.