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Internet hosting awards exhibits is a very thankless job.
Listed here are some issues I noticed whereas tuning in to final night time’s Golden Globes that made me snicker more durable than something the ceremony’s host, the comic Jo Koy, stated on stage: this video of Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy trying misplaced on the purple carpet; the second The Bear star Ayo Edebiri remembered to acknowledge her “actual household additionally” after thanking her castmates; this tweet.
Which is to say, nicely, Koy bombed. His opening monologue started poorly—“All of us dreamt of this second!” he declared enthusiastically to silent, obvious disagreement—and solely received worse. Like every awards-show host, Koy shouted out particular person nominees, however virtually each joke didn’t land, largely as a result of the punchlines had been dated or apparent. He poked enjoyable at eventual best-drama winner Oppenheimer’s three-hour runtime, claiming he’d end watching the film in 2025. For Barbie, which later gained the brand new prize for cinematic and box-office achievement, he admitted he didn’t know what to anticipate from a film about “a plastic doll with huge boobies.” He made a quip about Meryl Streep successful on a regular basis—who hasn’t?—after which, apropos of nothing, requested her to do the “Wakanda Eternally” pose from Black Panther.
By the tip of his set, Koy sounded indignant, seemingly selecting up on how little the group was vibing along with his comedy. “Yo, I received the gig 10 days in the past, you need an ideal monologue? Yo, shut up,” he stated. “I wrote some of those, and so they’re those you’re laughing at.”
Internet hosting a Hollywood awards present isn’t at all times a catastrophe, however Koy’s dreadful efficiency proved the thanklessness of the job. And given his late hiring, he was particularly unsuited for the duty. However because the night time continued—and Koy distributed with the gags as he launched presenters—his diminished time on stage demonstrated simply how pointless such hosts are.
Contemplate the few advantages to stepping on stage earlier than an viewers of largely well-known folks on observe to win prestigious awards. Certain, there’s the publicity and nevertheless a lot a number will get paid for the gig. However the emcee by no means walks away with a trophy. Somewhat, such an entertainer should toe that high quality line between sucking as much as these being feted and doing the sort of ribbing that’ll get sufficient laughter to register on a telecast. Those that have carried out nicely sufficient within the position are typically late-night hosts for a purpose: They’re already nicely acquainted with the celebrities within the room.
After which there’s the humor. A number who’s additionally a stand-up comedian, like Koy, doesn’t usually ship a set that’s near their standard type; they need to compromise their comedy to do the job, as a result of they’re speaking completely concerning the initiatives and other people being honored. There are exceptions—Jerrod Carmichael finally yr’s Golden Globes involves thoughts, as a result of he had extra to debate—however as a rule, the host is predicted to amuse these earlier than him and preserve viewers hooked. Meaning lobbing lighthearted one-liners at A-listers—not precisely probably the most thrilling or inventive train.
It’s telling that the Globes struggled to land a number till slightly greater than per week in the past—in addition to that different exhibits have gone again to the identical hosts over and again and again. The Oscars, regardless of attempting a couple of years sans host, will probably be emceed by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time in March. The Grammys will discover Trevor Noah on stage, additionally for the fourth time, later this month. Awards exhibits aren’t actually for recent comedy or persona. They’re for familiarity.
In some ways, then, Koy was doomed to fail. As a comic book who doesn’t anchor a late-night present, he’s not a face or title most viewers acknowledge, and making a superb first impression to these watching at dwelling and earlier than a room he’s by no means emceed makes for an intimidating problem. He additionally occurred to host the primary Globes that honored stand-up comedy, in addition to the primary main Hollywood awards present being telecast since the tip of the twin author and actor strikes. That’s a celebration you wish to attend, not handle.
Maybe the most important mistake Koy made was accepting such an irrelevant job within the first place. “I wish to convey my type to the Globes,” he instructed the AP within the lead-up. “After all, I’m going to have enjoyable. However most significantly, I wish to be sure that everybody’s glad.” As Koy discovered Sunday night time, that’s unimaginable to do at an awards present. Not until you’re a trophy.
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