Ricky Gervais

If you thought English comedian Ricky Gervais played it a little bit safe when he hosted the Golden Globe Awards last January ? marking the first time the glamorous soiree had had a central emcee since 1995 ? you're not alone. Gervais agrees with you. And although he's not quite ready to populate the show with the boundary-pushing material he favors for his stand-up tours, he is promising to turn up the heat just a touch on the celebrities gathered together for the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.

It would turn out to be a classic teen TV drama moment: Dawson Leery, the eternal idealist of late '90s adolescent sudser "Dawson's Creek," watches as his soul mate embarks on a love affair with his best friend. As she walks away, Dawson's "ugly cry" absorbs his face. "God, do I remember that moment," recalled James Van Der Beek, the crier in question. "It wasn't scripted for me to cry, it just happened. " He had all but forgotten that scene at the end of the show's third season until a few years ago, when it resurfaced on YouTube and Twitter.

You should always talk about: Ricky Gervais. Start by watching tonight's Golden Globes, where he will preside over Hollywood's booziest party. Then go and buy yourself a DVD copy of "The Invention of Lying," one of last year's most underrated comedies, about an alternative world in which everyone tells the truth. (Tuesday) Oh yes, you will want to talk about: the new season of "24." Why? You will want to know why I say that the birth of Jacqueline Bauer is a thrilling revelation.

SUNDAY It's a busy night for Ricky Gervais when the actor-comic voices a dolphin on "Family Guy" and appears as himself on "Life's Too Short," a new little-people-in-showbiz send-up starring "Harry Potter's" Warwick Davis. (Fox, 9 p.m.; HBO, 10:30 p.m.) "I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac" salutes the late, great stand-up comic, below, who parlayed his gruff but lovable persona into a hit sitcom and scene-stealing roles in films like "Bad Santa" and "Ocean's Eleven.

Ricky Gervais has "confirmed" a report that he's worth $80 million. But how much is his tongue in his cheek? He blogs: "Now this is out, I will have to get my family a million scratch cards each for Christmas. " ( Entertainment Weekly ) Garth Brooks will now be a part of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. ( Los Angeles Times ) "Star Trek," "Twin Peaks" and "Cheers" will soon be available to stream on Netflix. Time to call out sick. ( Los Angeles Times ) Or if you don't like Netflix, you can go across cyberspace to Amazon, which is also streaming movies now. ( Los Angeles Times )

Let's face it. Audiences will tune into the Golden Globes Sunday at 5 p.m. on NBC not so much to see if "The Artist," "The Help," "Hugo" or "Midnight in Paris" wins best picture of 2011 -- but to see just how outrageous host Ricky Gervais will get. For the last two years, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has had a love/hate relationship with the British comic actor as host because of his caustic monologue and presenter introductions. Here are just a few of his jokes from last year that sent giggles and shocks throughout the star-studded crowd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom.

You couldn't avoid Ricky Gervais right now, even if you wanted to. The English comedian has a new stand-up special premiering on HBO on Saturday, just weeks before the DVD release of the first season of "The Ricky Gervais Show," an animated incarnation of the popular podcasts he does with "mates" Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington that also airs on the cable channel. The series' second season premieres the same weekend Gervais is due for a return engagement hosting the telecast of the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16 on NBC; the day before that ceremony, he'll shoot a small, walk-on part in Disney's new Muppets movie, due out in November.

Standard door height in Britain: 6 feet 6 inches. Standard bed length there: 6 feet 3 inches. British comedy writer and erstwhile stand-up Stephen Merchant: 6 feet 7. Just right for the NBA but, as Merchant points out at the beginning of his "Hello Ladies" show, a slight issue when the person he's most often photographed with is his 5-foot-7 comedy partner Ricky Gervais. Merchant is not only the co-host of "The Ricky Gervais Show" and co-creator and co-director of the U.K. sitcoms "The Office" and "Extras," but he was also once a familiar face in stand-up.

On Sunday, Ricky Gervais will be the first person to host the Golden Globes telecast in 15 years. But he's not exactly feeling the pressure. "I can't flop," the 48-year-old British comic said in a recent phone interview. " 'Cause I don't care! "I don't care about ratings or opening weekends or anything like that. I care about whether I enjoyed doing it and whether I'm happy with the result." Gervais co-created (with longtime writing partner Stephen Merchant) and starred in the BBC comedy "The Office," which has made him a wealthy man. NBC runs a hit adaptation -- with Steve Carell playing the role of a blundering middle manager pioneered by Gervais -- and there are successful versions in other countries as well.

Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2 - The Stand-Up Special infobox 12/18/10 'Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2 ? The Stand-Up Special' Where: HBO When: 10 p.m. Saturday Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17)

In many ways, too many ways, HBO's new comedy "Life's Too Short" is "Extras" with a dwarf. If that sounds harsh and potentially offensive, well, "Life's Too Short" is that too. It is also, at times, extremely funny. A faux documentary starring the very talented Warwick Davis ("Willow," the "Harry Potter" series) as a down-market version of himself, "Life's Too Short" is another way for creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to look at the reeking underbelly of the entertainment industry.

The Gig: Paul Telegdy is president of alternative and late-night programming for NBC Entertainment. He is responsible for unscripted shows, including "The Voice," "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and "Saturday Night Live. " The gregarious 40-year-old Brit, son of a Hungarian political refugee who became a chemical engineer and a former British actress turned teacher, has lived in Switzerland, Austria, England, Belgium and the U.S. Telegdy, a father of two young daughters, took an unconventional path to network television, but the seeds were planted early.

The critics may have felt that Ricky Gervais was defanged, but viewers apparently felt the Golden Globes still had enough bite. Ratings for the 69th annual Golden Globes on Sunday delivered an average of 16.8 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. That was essentially flat with last year's 17 million, when Gervais' hosting caused a sensation with the British comic's barbed jabs at celebrities. The Globes are the most-watched award show so far this season, beating out the Emmys and the American Music Awards.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Monday. It was a very good night for Harvey Weinstein at the Golden Globes. Four of his films won at the awards show. ( Los Angeles Times ) Strangely, Ricky Gervais was well-behaved during the show. ( Los Angeles Times ) Elton John seemed to have a beef with Madonna at the Golden Globes. ( Idolator ) Singer Lana Del Rey had an awkward introduction to the world on "SNL" over the weekend. ( Los Angeles Times )

Despite all his tough talk leading to Sunday night's broadcast, it was a markedly respectful and restrained Ricky Gervais who showed up to host this year's Golden Globes, leaving one to wonder why he bothered to take the gig at all (except for the money, of course). After a performance last year that viewers found either ruthless and mirthless - or ruthless and hilarious - many were surprised the Hollywood Foreign Press Association asked the British comedian back. Yet as every entertainer knows, nothing sells tickets like controversy, and so the Globes launched an ad campaign playing off the idea of the comedian would be unmuzzled.

Award season is often filled with riddles and mysteries, but few shows pack them in like the Golden Globes. On Sunday, "Game of Thrones" actor Peter Dinklage told viewers to Google a stranger's name, an unfamiliar Turkish actress came on stage and wished for world peace, and Ryan Gosling (despite two nominations) was missing in action. We explain — as much as we can — what went down in the Beverly Hilton ballroom. Google who? Dinklage, who won the Golden Globe for supporting actor in a series, miniseries or motion picture made for television, closed his acceptance speech by mentioning Martin Henderson, urging viewers to "Google him!"

Ricky Gervais is getting another crack at hosting the Golden Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. announced on Wednesday that Gervais would return for a second year to host the ceremony, which will take place Jan. 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and be broadcast on NBC. In a statement, the comedian said, "I can't believe they invited me back after awful things I said. Let's see how far I can go this time." Despite mixed reviews on his performance, the Gervais-hosted Globes in January delivered a big audience for NBC, with 17 million people watching.

Ricky Gervais is back for a second year to host the Globes and says he's going to push the comedy a little further this time, that he'll just look around the room and spot someone to target. What might that mean for you? "Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky: "There will be a lot of ballet jokes. Last night, Letterman made fun of the film. I think he said, 'If you don't want to celebrate Christmas, you can go see two Jewish girls make out.' " "Animal Kingdom" actress Jacki Weaver: "He's right up my alley, the British ironic humor.

Standard door height in Britain: 6 feet 6 inches. Standard bed length there: 6 feet 3 inches. British comedy writer and erstwhile stand-up Stephen Merchant: 6 feet 7. Just right for the NBA but, as Merchant points out at the beginning of his "Hello Ladies" show, a slight issue when the person he's most often photographed with is his 5-foot-7 comedy partner Ricky Gervais. Merchant is not only the co-host of "The Ricky Gervais Show" and co-creator and co-director of the U.K. sitcoms "The Office" and "Extras," but he was also once a familiar face in stand-up.

A year after he left many at the Golden Globes cringing with his caustic barbs, Ricky Gervais will return to host the award show Sunday night. More pressing than the winner of the twin best picture awards may be the question of whether the British comic will stage another velvet-roped cage match, applying verbal pile drivers to normally cosseted celebrities. If Gervais returns with his expected bile, one of the hottest hot seats at the Beverly Hilton could be held by a diminutive academic and entertainment writer, Aida Takla-O'Reilly.