Golden Globes haven’t been the same since 2020 and won’t survive without big change

It’s officially awards season, and we’re kicking things off across the pond with the Golden Globes. The 83rd annual event returns to the airwaves tonight (January 11) and will see the biggest stars in Hollywood gather for the top awards ceremony, which is known for bringing all the drama. However, in recent years, the lavish event has become boring and tiresome, filled with endlessly long speeches, questionable outfits, and celebrities I’ve never heard of.  

And this year’s host is a prime example of that, as American actress and comedian Nikki Glaser steps up to the podium for the second consecutive year in a row. When she first took on the role in 2025, she made history as the first female presenter to host the awards show.

Although I’m glad to see the prestigious event hosted by a female for the first time, it would have been nicer for this historic achievement to have been pioneered by someone more well-known. Maybe big names like Oprah Winfrey or Kelly Clarkson would be sure to bring in a bigger audience.

However, I think I speak for everyone when I say that the most memorable and enjoyable Golden Globes to watch were hosted by British comedian Ricky Gervais. The creator of The Office brought some much-needed comedy to the glamorous event, roasting some of the Hollywood names sitting in the audience, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr, and Martin Scorsese.

His explosive comments certainly ruffled some feathers in the audience, which made it all the more enjoyable to watch as a viewer. Seeing actors watching in horror and attempting to mask their embarrassment kept viewers glued to their screens rather than falling asleep during the lengthy Thank You speeches.  

And it was obvious that his controversial approach to hosting the show was a huge hit with fans online. Ricky hosted the glittering show for five years, showing how much viewers loved seeing Tom Hanks squirm during his uncomfortable monologue, and Jonathan Pryce scowl at him from the audience.  

Unfortunately, the David Brent star has shut down calls to return to host the show in the future. Following his fifth and final stint in 2020, fans urged him to host the awards event again online, to which he bluntly replied: “Nah, f**k that”.  

He has been open about the stress and difficulty that comes with the job, once admitting that it “ruins Christmas” for him due to the immense pressure of joke writing and fighting with censors.  

But it would be good to bring that style of edgy comedy to the Golden Globes. It adds a level of excitement and intrigue that maintains the interest throughout the whole show, rather than just watching the stars walk the red carpet and switching off. Fans will have to tune in to see if Nikki Glaser will be able to match Ricky's signature hosting.