Nikki Glaser put the Golden Globes back on the map as the first female solo host

You can say that comedian Nikki Glaser understood the assignment, and nailed it. The host for the 82nd annual Golden Globes took the time to practice for the big gig over the holidays, and the preparation showed. Most of Glaser’s jokes landed (like 95 percent of them, no one lands all of them!) and she managed to make the Hollywood elite laugh at themselves, without a single Botox glare.

Her opening monologue was spot on:

Sunday’s performance as host was universally acclaimed, with several critics calling out her sharp wit and fearless humor, hitting all her targets just short of the kind of merciless bite that was Ricky Gervais’s specialty. It’s no wonder that she turned to the British comedian for advice after scoring the gig, to which he said, “Be yourself. You’re not one of them,” adding, “Don’t try to walk out there acting like you’re an A-lister. Just because you’re invited, you wouldn’t be if you weren’t the host.”

Gervais’s opening monologue from the 2020 telecast is the stuff of legends and the replay of the bit amassed more viewing than the telecast itself (19M last time I checked).

Glaser’s performance was plenty edgy and certainly entertaining. Admittedly, the bar was pretty low after Jo Koy’s hosting trainwreck last year. But she also softened the blow, telling two-time nominated Selena Gomez and her “lucky” fiancé, Benny Blanco, “I love you,” after roasting him hilariously.

“Selena Gomez is here, double nominee tonight! And she’s here tonight with her new fiancé, Benny Blanco, and Benny Blanco is here because of the genie who granted him that wish.”

The lighthearted, fun tone was reminiscent of the shenanigans that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler pulled off in their several stints. But Glaser’s clever jabs had just a bit more bite, especially with quips about Diddy (Sean Combs), who is facing sex trafficking charges.

“Challengers? Oh my god, it was so good. That movie was more sexually charged than Diddy’s credit card.” Some folks gasped, to which Glaser quipped, “I know, I’m sorry. I’m upset, too, the afterparty’s not going to be as good this year. ‘Stanley Tucci freak off’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it. No baby oil this year, just lots of olive oil.”

The gentle barbs at Tucci’s and Timothy Chalamet’s expense were particularly amusing. And they seemed to be taken in stride, even if Tucci was surprised to be mentioned in the same sentence as Diddy (undeservedly so), with his Conclave castmate, Ralph Fiennes seemingly enjoying the jokes even more than his Italian gourmand co-star.

Glaser was also the first woman to host the telecast in its 82nd year by herself, which is sort of hard to believe, to be honest. The pressure was on, and the 40-year-old stand-up comedian certainly delivered. Her engaging and lively demeanor elevated an award show that has been knocked for a loop the last few years, with NBC dropping it completely in 2022 due to allegations of corruption by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. CBS picked up the spoils and Sunday’s successful telecast seems to have turned a corner for the awards ceremony.

Sure, there were odd moments, like The Rock’s bit with Auliʻi Cravalho at the start of the show, the weird stats splashed across the screen and the telecast trying to figure out new angles for presenters. We get it, the Globes are back, but we are still working out the kinks.

But Glaser was the standout, as she demonstrated at the Tom Brady roast, and is a keeper.

Seeing the jokes she decided to leave out, you can see how brutal she could have been, mostly in good ways (some of these are harsh! But mostly very funny). Glaser was reportedly paid less than her male counterparts (so disappointing to hear), but I suspect that will change next year. She’s sure to be asked back. After all, she’s very pope-pular.