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Golden Globes Host Nikki Glaser Understood the Assignment

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Golden Globes Host Nikki Glaser Understood the Assignment

Nikki Glaser delivered an impressive performance as the host of the 82nd Golden Globes, striking the perfect balance between warmth, self-deprecation, and wit to cater to both the live audience at the Beverly Hilton and viewers at home. Known for her cutting humor, Glaser reassured nominees that she wouldn’t be making fun of them this evening, acknowledging it would be inappropriate to mock such a formidable group of A-list celebrities. She jokingly added, “You can do almost anything—except tell the country who to vote for,” before briefly addressing the political climate, saying, “You’ll get ’em next time…if there is one.

In the past, the Golden Globes have often chosen comedians who are not afraid to challenge boundaries as their hosts, with some results being praised (as with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s skewering of gender norms in Hollywood) and others being criticized (such as Ricky Gervais’ complaints about the show he was hosting). Glaser, who is the first solo female host for the Golden Globes, fits this pattern well. She has been a prominent figure in entertainment for over a decade, combining stand-up with roles in films like “Trainwreck” and television shows such as “FBoy Island,” which she hosts. However, 2024 was her most significant year yet. Known for her razor-sharp wit, her hilarious set at the live Netflix event “The Roast of Tom Brady,” which went viral in May, was a particular highlight. (Her joke about Brady’s delayed retirement: “It’s hard to walk away from something that’s not your pregnant girlfriend.”) Not long after, HBO released her latest special, “Someday You’ll Die,” which was nominated for a Golden Globe on Sunday (with Ali Wong taking the award). The wickedly funny performance showcases Glaser’s knack for tackling taboo subjects, from joking about wishing a pregnant friend would miscarry to discussing gangbang porn as a symbol for life.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve come to understand why some stand-up comedians have struggled with hosting awards shows. The jokes that fly during late-night talk shows or at comedy clubs aren’t always suitable for an awards audience or primetime television. This was evident when Jo Koy bombed on the Golden Globes stage last year with a questionable Barbie joke, appearing unprepared and indifferent towards the nominated films.

In contrast, Amy Schumer, announced as host in August, has been meticulously crafting her material since then, a process that involved refining jokes with a team of writers in front of numerous live audiences. As she told Vanity Fair, “People are eager to see celebrities taken down,” but as a non-celebrity comic, I can’t afford to bomb by failing to get laughs and applause from the audience or the stars themselves. The material that Middle America expects isn’t the material I can deliver because I need to win over both the audience and the celebrities to avoid sinking myself.

The strategy proved effective, resulting in an entertaining and witty monologue that, while not entirely spectacular, certainly caught attention. Glaser seemed genuinely excited to be on stage, and her energy was infectious. When she playfully teased the celebrities present, her jabs were subtle but skillfully executed: “You have the most stunning eyelashes – on your upper lip,” she quipped at Timothée Chalamet. Her indirect compliment to his co-star in the highly anticipated sequel, Dune: Part Two, Zendaya, was, “I rose early for all your scenes.” Regarding Nicole Kidman’s performance in the infamous erotic film Babygirl? “I raise two fingers for it.

1. In a gathering of Hollywood folks, Glaser skillfully capitalized on two crowd-pleasing themes: the absurdity of the streaming industry and the shared anxiety about the upcoming Trump administration.

2. The film Emilia Pérez was aptly referred to as “the boldest movie that automatically plays after watching ‘Is It Cake?'”. It had the perfect blend of political satire. “The Bear, The Penguin, Baby Reindeer,” Glaser enumerated, “These aren’t just items from RFK’s freezer; they are television shows nominated tonight.” She fearlessly tackled the topic head-on with her comment that Challengers was “more sexually charged than Diddy’s credit card.”

During the night’s festivities, I cleverly kept my brief interjections concise. While some hosts might have gone ahead with that intentionally cringeworthy musical number featuring Wicked and Conclave, adorned in pink sequins and a shiny miter, I swiftly nipped it in the bud with a staged call from my backstage team: “Hold on, this is terrible? This entire thing is terrible? I’m making a fool of myself in front of Elton John?” In an impromptu quip, I joked that Mario Lopez, who was mentioned by winners more than once thanks to Kieran Culkin’s endearingly disheveled acceptance speech, had garnered more shout-outs than the Almighty. Even in those fleeting moments before the final awards were presented, I managed a chuckle with an unexpected observation about Glenn Close: “The former drummer for System of a Down.

When comedians take on the role of hosting awards ceremonies, they tend to lean towards two opposite styles: either viewing it as simply another stand-up set geared towards their fans, or delivering bland performances that fail to showcase their unique personas. However, Glaser managed to strike a balance by tailoring her witty and self-deprecating style for the occasion. In her monologue, she joked with Glen Powell saying, “You were in everything… Twisters, Hit Man, my head when I was having sex with my boyfriend.” This joke was reminiscent of those found in Glaser’s lively specials – not overly provocative but still amusing. However, it lacked the edge that would make you both blush and laugh out loud simultaneously.

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2025-01-06 09:07

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