The Golden Globe Awards, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press, came and went, but did anyone really take notice? Over the recent years, this prestigious event has been plagued by apathy and dwindling ratings, to the point that it wasn’t even televised in 2022. The reasons behind this decline are as varied as the members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet. Viewers, grappling with the repercussions of Biden’s economic policies, found it hard to relate to the opulent Hollywood elite patting themselves on the back.
Another contributing factor to the decline in ratings is the diminishing influence of network television. Many people now prefer to binge-watch their favorite shows instead of tuning in to traditional broadcasts. Some were even unaware that the Golden Globes were happening. Furthermore, Americans have grown tired of sanctimonious celebrities delivering self-important political speeches, often detached from the everyday realities of ordinary citizens.
Another crucial factor that seems to have eluded the Foreign Press is the lack of entertainment value. The jokes have become stale, the speeches tedious, and many of the actors and films honored are relatively unknown. All of these elements have resulted in viewer apathy and a decline in ratings. However, it hasn’t always been this way.
In 2020, recognizing the waning viewership, the awards chose Ricky Gervais as the host. Gervais, known as the creator of “The Office,” is one of the most humorous and controversial comedians globally. His controversy is more a reflection of the leftward shift in American culture than his actual comedic style, but he’s one of the few who refused to conform to wokeism and remained uncanceled.
During the memorable 2020 broadcast, Gervais roasted Hollywood and many elites by name, infamously referencing Jeffrey Epstein. He quipped, “No one cares about movies anymore. No one goes to the cinema, and no one really watches network TV. Everyone is tuning into Netflix… You could binge-watch the entire first season of ‘Afterlife’ instead of watching this show. That’s a show about a man who wants to end his life because his wife dies of cancer, and it’s still more fun than this. Spoiler alert, season two is on the way, so in the end, he obviously didn’t end his life. Just like Jeffrey Epstein. Shut up. I know he’s your friend, but I don’t care.”
While fans found it uproarious, the awkward silence in the room ensured that Gervais wouldn’t be invited back to add some zest to the show. Fast forward to 2024, and the comedian was honored with the first-ever Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television award. Predictably, Gervais was absent, but comedian Jim Gaffigan followed in his footsteps when presenting the award. Gaffigan joked, “This is so exciting for me. The Golden Globes – I can’t even believe I’m in the entertainment industry. I can’t. You know, it’s so unlikely. I’m from a small town in Indiana. I’m not a pedophile. I don’t know if that’s a new category here, but…”
This light-hearted moment was a rarity in a night that saw few laughs. The new host, Jo Koy, a comedian in his own right, struggled to land most of his jokes, hindered by just ten days to prepare and the need to keep his humor inoffensive to the liberal elite.
Today’s Golden Globes are a far cry from the show’s heyday in the ’70s and ’80s when viewers tuned in to see their favorite celebrities share jokes, deliver speeches, and have a great time. What we have now are political diatribes, entitled celebrities preaching about social justice and climate change, and awards going to films that few have seen or care about. The substitution of Ricky Gervais with the tamer Jo Koy has left us with a broadcast that failed to captivate its audience this year.
In an era where entertainment and humor are highly sought after, it’s evident that audiences are yearning for more of the edgy and unapologetic comedy that Ricky Gervais brings to the table. Jo Koy is undoubtedly a beloved comedian, but he was placed in a difficult position that left viewers wanting more.
The question remains, will the Golden Globes organizers heed the calls for change and bring back the irreverent spirit that once defined this prestigious event, or will they continue on a path of decline, leaving viewers craving the comedic brilliance of Ricky Gervais? Only time will tell.
