Well, Ricky, you had a good run.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced that two of the world’s funniest women will host the 70th Annual Golden Globes: “30 Rock” star Tina Fey and “Parks and Recreation” actress Amy Poehler. The comedic duo, who got their start on “Saturday Night Live,” are longtime friends and have worked together on numerous projects.
This means a pink slip for Ricky Gervais, however, who hosted the Globes from 2010-2012. The British comedian, known for getting himself in trouble with NBC repeatedly for his sharp tongue and fearless wit, will probably put Hollywood’s elite at ease this year with his absence.
Instead, as they go from mock “Weekend Update” stars to actual hosts for the Globes, Tina and Amy seem like safe choices by comparison to Gervais. Nonetheless, their selection as cohosts are already creating quite a buzz for the 70th annual Golden Globes, which will air on NBC on Jan. 13, 2013.
Critics are already sharpening their knives for months of upcoming analysis, with the timing of Poehler/Fey coming just a matter of days after “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane was tapped to host the Oscars. The two ceremonies will air barely a month apart, so it will be interesting to see if MacFarlane can tame down his bawdy act enough to please the masses, if Fey/Poehler can be cutting edge enough to keep the Globes interesting, and which overall hosting performance brings more acclaim.
“The unparalleled comedic timing of Tina and Amy will surely have viewers wanting to tune-in to see them in action,” HFPA president Dr. Aida Takla-O’Reilly said in a statement announcing their selection as co-hosts. “The HFPA is thrilled to have the magnetic duo be a part of the show’s 70th anniversary.”
“Having both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on board to host this year’s festivities is a
major coup,” said the President of Alternative and Late Night Programming at NBC, Paul Telegdy. “Tina and Amy have a proven chemistry and comedic timing from their many years together on SNL to their successful co-starring roles in ‘Baby Mama’.”
“It’s exciting to have two of the most respected names in comedy,” show producers Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and Barry Adelman told Entertainment Weekly. “Amy and Tina’s well known chemistry, along with their spontaneity and glamour, makes them a perfect fit for the Golden Globes.”
Are you as psyched about this announcement as we are? If not, who would you rather see hosting instead? Tell us your opinion in the comment section!