Look, comedian Jo Koy seems like a nice guy and the last thing we want to do at Reel 360 News is pile on the already mountainous pile of bad reviews for Koy and the Golden Globes show held last night at the Beverly Hilton.
But the show did stink. Like a steaming pile of you know what.
Once notorious for its drunk celebrities, sharp Ricky Gervais barbs, and a diversity scandal that nearly led to its demise, the Golden Globes attempted a resurrection at its 2024 ceremony. However, the first event since the dissolution of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) showcased that sometimes, bad things can indeed get worse.
The event, now owned by Dick Clark Productions, lacked the charm and allure of its past, revealing a damaged reputation and dwindling ratings. The star-studded audience at the Beverly Hilton ballroom appeared less than enthused, with muted applause and scarce laughter as Koy struggled to connect with viewers.
Koy, tasked with hosting the beleaguered ceremony which was broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, faced a challenging uphill battle, compounded by being a last-minute addition after several more prominent names declined. Koy’s monologue set the tone for what many are calling an abject failure, making the entire show a cringe-worthy experience.
While Koy managed to land some successful jokes, including playful jabs at Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan and a comedic take on the length of Oppenheimer, a smattering of laughs. The comedian, who stepped into the hosting role just 10 days before the event, acknowledged the challenge, cautioning against high expectations and revealing his recent involvement in crafting some of the jokes that garnered laughter.
Aiming to infuse the ceremony with humor after a tumultuous period in the awards show’s history, Koy delved into a variety of topics, including Meryl Streep, Succession, Oppenheimer, Ryan Gosling, Harry & Meghan, and even Hall & Oates.
Some of the jokes:
“I loved Oppenheimer, it just needed another hour. … My New Year’s resolution in 2024 is to finish Oppenheimer by 2025. … I love Oppenheimer, especially the first season.”
“Robert De Niro, your last performance is your greatest performance — how’d you get her pregnant at 80?”
“White people stole everything,” he said of Killers of the Flower Moon. “You took the land and the oil and you took the premise of the movie.”
“Meghan Markle gets paid millions of dollars for doing absolutely nothing — and that’s just by Netflix.”
“Kevin Costner’s here. He’s never here, he’s on a mountain with a cow.”
“Saltburn, you know what I loved about Saltburn? Satanic families have feelings too. [Barry Keoghan’s penis] was the real star of the show. … Oh there it is, on Bradley Cooper’s face.”
The Color Purple is “what happens to your butt when you take Ozempic.”
Koy has released five comedy specials across Comedy Central and Netflix and recently wrapped his Funny is Funny World Tour, but the Globes represents what’s arguably the 52-year-old’s highest-profile gig yet.
Not all jokes hit the mark, heck let’s be real – most jokes were cringe.
The Barbie boobs joke. Yeah, no.
The comedian’s imitation of his mother, a regular feature in his stand-up act, provided a lighter moment, emphasizing his mother’s admiration for Meryl Streep and the actress’s frequent victories at awards shows.
And comparing Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan’s penis size to Bradley Cooper’s nose in Maestro was an awkward highlight that almost landed.
Other highlights of Koy’s monologue included a humorous reference to the working habits of the Royal Family, particularly Harry and Meghan Markle’s lucrative deal with Netflix. The Taylor Swift/NFL joke caused eye-rolls from the singer. Watch below:
REELated:
The HFPA’s disbandment led to the creation of the “Golden Globes Foundation,” a recent entity that rose from the ashes of its predecessor. Despite claims of increased diversity within the new voting body, the show failed to demonstrate any tangible improvement.
The dissolution and rebranding of the organization did little more than make hosting a challenge and turned the Golden Globes into a lackluster prelude to the Emmys and Oscars. Despite the occasional heartfelt speech and genuine tears from winners, the telecast itself was widely criticized as atrocious. The attempt to maintain the show’s reputation for spotlighting outstanding but unfamiliar films and TV shows was overshadowed by its damaged legacy and waning viewership in an era of award show fatigue.
The presenters appeared uninspired – Kevin Costner looked like he wanted to nap – and even the physical setup of the room seemed poorly executed. Awkward moments, like the winning cast and creator of Netflix’s Beef struggling to reach the stage, only added to the overall sense of disarray. As Hollywood once again navigates the aftermath of a lackluster Golden Globes, questions loom about the future of the awards show.
With its reputation tarnished and its once-unique standing as a platform for fresh talent eroded, the Golden Globes may need more than just a rebrand to reclaim its former glory. The audience, celebrities, and industry insiders alike are left wondering if the spectacle is worth repeating next year.
