Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais delivered a blistering, brutal attack on liberal Hollywood, Sunday night, bringing up awkward topics like covering up for Harvey Weinstein. All three morning shows covered the Globes, the outfits and the winners on Monday, but they allowed just seconds to the biting commentary that Gervais served up to the not-so-pleased crowd.
CBS This Morning included just 7 seconds to playing the words the comedian actually said. NBC’s Today barely beat that, managing a meager 15 seconds of Gervais. Good Morning America offered the most, 47 seconds of the entertainer’s commentary.
Gervais opened the award ceremony by warning Hollywood: “You in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.”
Yet, that clip never made it into the Natalie Morales segment on the “unpredictable” Gervais. Instead of showing, the Today reporter mostly told, describing to the audience: “He did what he does best, roasting the celebs with a sharp tongue.” From 7am to 9am, Today devoted 12 minutes and 33 seconds to the Golden Globes in general. But only 15 seconds of that was from Gervais.
The best Morales could do is play this clip of Gervais hammering Hollywood: “The companies you work for, I mean, unbelievable. Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS starting a streaming service you would call your agent, wouldn't you?”
During Today With Hoda & Jenna, airing at 10 AM, Hoda Kotb opined, “If you guys watched the Golden Globes last night, Ricky Gervais was hosting. He was out of control. He didn't care about anything or anyone. He was like a wrecking ball through the audience.”
CBS This Morning played almost nothing of Gervais, just a scant 7 seconds. At the top of the show, during the daily “eye opener,” the program included a clip of the comic’s zinger that “most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.” But that was it from Gervais himself.
Reporter Kevin Frazier instead tried to explain Gervais’s performance, describing it as “stepping over” the line:
He doesn't play his shtick for the room or the people in that room. He does it for the audience at home. So I believe even though Ricky walked up to the line and stepped over it, he will be back again in the future as long as he wants to come back. He will be back, because that's what they want.
Good Morning America allowed the most time to Gervais’s words (47 seconds.) Reporter T.J. Holmes played a clip of him talking about the movie Bird Box, saying it’s a “movie where people survived by acting like they don't see a thing. Sort of like working for Harvey Weinstein.” The crowd didn’t seem to like the joke, prompting Gervais to accuse them: “You did it! I didn't! You did it!”
Holmes also made sure to note that the celebs ignored his call not to get political:
Gervais had specific instructions for the stars last night: When you win, come up here, get your little award, thank your God, agent and move on. Well, most of them didn't follow the advice as we heard many of them talking about the issues having to do certainly with the wildfires and climate change as well as women's rights.
Partial transcripts are below:
CBS This Morning
1/6/207am Eye Opener
7 seconds
RICKY GERVAIS: You in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.
8:18 AM ET
ANTHONY MASON: There were emotional moments at last night's Golden Globe award, including a tribute by Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon to Ellen DeGeneres.
KATE MCKINNON: Of course, attitudes change only because brave people like Ellen jump into the fire to make it change. I thought I never could be on TV, they don't let LGBTQ people weren't on TV, more than that I would have thought I was an alien and didn't have a right to be here. Thank you for giving me a shot.
MASON: McKinnon thanked DeGeneres for paving the way for gay and lesbian artists and presented her with the special Carole Burnett award.
...
8:22
MASON: Comic Ricky Gervais was back, hosting for the fifth time and he sure kept the censors busy. What was the reaction backstage?
KEVIN FRAZIER: Well, Anthony, here’s the thing: He doesn't play his shtick for the room or the people in that room or the people in that room. He does it for the audience at home so I believe even though Ricky walked up to the line and stepped over it, he will be back again in the future as long as he wants to come back. He will be back, because that's what they want.
Good Morning America
1/6/20
7:32T.J. HOLMES: Look. Host Ricky Gervais had specific instructions for the stars last night. When you win, come up here, get your little award, thank your God, agent and move on. Well, most of them didn't follow the advice as we heard many of them talking about the issues having to do certainly with the wildfires and climate change as well as women's rights.
...
HOLMES: Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais opened Hollywood's biggest party in classic Ricky Gervais fashion, but not holding back.
RICKY GERVAIS: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, nearly three hours long, Leonardo DiCaprio attended the premiere and by the end, his date was too old for him. Even Prince Andrew was like, “Come on, Leo, mate. You're nearly 50, son.”
HOLMES: Poking fun at Hollywood insiders.
GERVAIS: I came here in a limo tonight, and the license plate was made by Felicity Huffman.
HOLMES: Even drawing gasps from the audience.
GERVAIS: A movie where people survived by acting like they don't see a thing. Certainly working for Harvey Weinstein. You did it! I didn't! You did it!
HOLMES: And he didn't stop there.
GERVAIS: If you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a platform to make a political speech, all right? You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.
Today
1/6/2020
7:15
NATALIE MORALES: It was a night that was both festive and fun as the Globes, Hollywood's favorite party, kicked off awards season with the unpredictable Ricky Gervais back as host. He did what he does best, roasting the celebs with a sharp tongue. Meantime, there were plenty of surprises with old Hollywood and the studios dominating the night despite a strong showing from the streaming industry.RICKY GERVAIS: Let's go out with a bang. Let's have a laugh at your expense, shall we?
GERVAIS: With a drink in hand and his sharp wit on display, Ricky Gervais got the 2020 Hollywood awards season started.
MORALES: You say you won't, but the companies you work for, I mean, unbelievable. Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS starting a streaming service you would call your agent, wouldn't you?
9am
HOTA KOTB: If you guys watched the Golden Globes last night, Ricky Gervais was hosting. He was out of control. He didn't care about anything or anyone. He was like a wrecking ball through the audience.
