Lively intro, lifeless kudocast

Gervais The inspired choice of Ough Gervais to host this year's Golden Globes soured a year ago, when the multifaceted star's "courageous insult comic" persona motivated him to go to beyond his debut in irreverence, departing award-show decorum inside an uncomfortable shambles. Inviting him back thus introduced a whiff of anticipation to the ceremony ("Who'll he party next?") that almost surpassed the nominees heading into Sunday's telecast. Still, the late great Gil Cates spoke in the unpredictable "award-show gods," with Gervais largely an absentee a lot of the evening, they didn't smile on Sunday's lifeless telecast."Boy, he's fun," mentioned The Actor-kaira Pitt after Gervais' six-minute opening monologue, too as with a comprehensive sense, it's tough to argue. It's just in hindsight the telecast peaked along with his open, and was practically all downhill next.With people anticipating another celebrity flaying, Gervais reserved his most difficult barbs for NBC as well as the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., showing his iconoclastic streak by (frequently) biting hands feeding him."So, where was I?" he began, before likening the HFPA for the corrupt immigrants in "Boardwalk Empire" and quipping the Globes is to the Oscars "what Kim Kardashian is always to Kate Middleton," which really sounds about right. If this involves naughtiness, Gervais danced around the street with jokes about Attacking Youthful Boys as well as the Jodie Promote-directed "The Beaver," but otherwise -- apart from a later expletive -- there's little to produce the region or censors blanch.Depp's appearance right ahead of time increased the "it's all regulated controlled in fun" attitude, given Gervais' injections at him over "The Tourist" a year ago. (Clearly, which gave Gervais an chance to plug his approaching Cinemax series "Life's Short,In . through which Depp comprises a twisted appearance as themselves.)Even if the injections smarted -- the HFPA isn't exactly recognized for its spontaneity regarding queries about the group's authenticity -- getting Gervais back will be a essentially clever misdirection thinking about the minimal time period he really came out within the three-hour telecast. Ultimately, getting Gervais host felt as being a bait-and-switch tactic.However, the Globes are often deft professionals of shaping a telecast -- quickly racing through TV honours to splash as much celebs on-screen as you can.Previous Gervais, the show was virtually lifeless, shown by lots of acceptance speeches that droned up with no hint of spontaneity or miracle. When Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep and Madonna all get visit music, you understand you're looking for a difficult evening.Nor managed to get happen assist the voters inadvertently made an appearance likely to choose as much little-seen individuals who win as you can.Although the Globes have typically cultivated unpredictability, there's an deficit of the too. OK, Streep did not remember her glasses and there's an exhibit mixup with Make the most of Lowe and Julianne Moore mostly, little increased the customary "expect wackiness" vibe.Seth Rogen bucked the recognition, referencing glamorous co-presenter Kate Beckinsdale by saying he was "presently trying to cover a massive erection," and George Clooney went underneath the belt in adoring "Shame" star Michael Fassbender's, er, performance.Next, the pickings were awfully slim: Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy's little showing duet. "Modern Family's" bilingual acceptance. Madonna awkwardly trying to zing Gervais.Even director Louis J. Horvitz, a skilled in the award-show wars, fought to discover reaction shots from anybody who made an appearance as though they were getting fun, except through the nice cozy tribute to Morgan Freeman.For that arrivals program, Carson Daly shown less giddy than his co-hosts, nevertheless the only fireworks came from from Elton John, who must be bleeped for saying fellow song nominee Madonna "hasn't got a f--kin' chance." Given Gervais' slip as well as the FCC fine levied over Bono employing the same term in 2003, the network might want to time-delay Males and ladies afterwards telecasts.Incidentally, Madonna -- who pretentiously mentioned her song "like miracle showed up in this area of me" -- later won, making John's premature exclamation one of many misfires in the shateringly extended evening.Related: 'The Artist' and Weinstein Co. dominate Globes 69th Golden Globes: Complete report on individuals who win TV beginners dominate Globes Spencer recalls girls that inspired 'The Help' Large Globes footprint for TWC Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com