Ricky Gervais dishes on the Golden Globes

Tipsy celebritires aren’t the only reason to watch the Golden Globes: Ricky Gervais will host the 67th installment of the film-and-television awards show (NBC, Jan. 17, 8 p.m.), long considered a bellwether for the Oscars. We chatted up the British mastermind behind The Office and Extras about the big gig.

EW: The Globes haven’t had a host since 1995. What was your first reaction when they asked you?
Ricky Gervais I laughed, because I was flattered. And laughing and being flattered was mixed in with ”Are they mental? Really? Me?” I thought if there’s one [awards show] I’d ever do, it would be the Globes. It’s a relaxed atmosphere — the fact that it’s more of a party than an awards show is the point. It’s more conducive to what I do. I’m not sure what I do, but whatever I do, they said they’re okay with it…. I [like] a place where people can walk around, there’s drinks at the table — I’m hoping everyone will be drunk. Well, I’m certainly going to be, I don’t want to be the odd one out. There’s nothing more boring than being sober in a room full of drunks.

EW: Who should be on alert when you’re on stage? Besides Steve Carell.
Gervais He’s in real trouble, of course he is. But I think the bigger they are, the more they should be on red alert. McCartney and Bono — they’re in trouble. They rule the world. Anyone richer, more talented, younger, thinner, or more handsome than me is my natural enemy.

EW: What advice do you have for celebrities who will be making acceptance speeches? Gervais As I said at the Emmys, don’t cry. It’s just an award. Grow up. Don’t thank your wife and kids. They did nothing towards that show. Don’t thank your agent. They don’t want to be thanked — they want the money. If you have to thank too many people, you shouldn’t be picking up the award, because to be quite honest, it looks like you didn’t do a lot. I want people to go: ”No one to thank, did it all myself, you made the right decision, good night.” ”I’m not going to thank my wife, I’m going to leave her.” It would be lovely to be totally honest, wouldn’t it? ”We have the best crew, although the soundman is a bit bipolar. You’ve got to get him on a good day, really.”

EW: Can you give us a few hints about some surprises you’re plotting? Have you decided which song you’ll be singing with the cast of Glee? Gervais I can tell you categorically I won’t be singing any songs that take rehearsal. Maybe I’ll come out to ”Trouble” by Pink…. I’m not going to prerecord things, I’m not going to do a rehearsal. I’m writing my own stuff. I’m just going to come out and do my bits — I suppose I do things now that could end my career…. I’m going to try to make this the most entertaining, fun party. I want to do it like one of the Rat Pack would. If I wasn’t so punctual, I’d probably turn up late.

MOVIES BALLOT

Dave Karger Predicts the Winners

BEST DRAMA

[X] UP IN THE AIR

You can count out Precious and The Hurt Locker, which have scored with critics but lack the star power to win a Golden Globe in such a tight race. Inglourious Basterds, meanwhile, seems a better fit in a few other categories. Avatar certainly has the momentum in the overall awards-season race, so if the Globe voters are going for prescience, that’s their best bet. But with the most Globe nominations this year (six in all), the starrier Up in the Air should steal it.

? AVATAR

? THE HURT LOCKER

? INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

? PRECIOUS

BEST COMEDY OR MUSICAL

[X] (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

With its award-laden cast, eye-popping musical numbers, and bevy of nominations, Nine would appear to be the favorite. But will the Hollywood Foreign Press want to anoint a film that’s so clearly fading from Academy contention? If not, The Hangover is too crass, while Meryl Streep’s legion of fans may find themselves split between her two comedies. So the quirky (500) Days seems poised for an upset. After all, it’s a comedy with the best musical number of the year.

? THE HANGOVER

? IT’S COMPLICATED

? JULIE & JULIA

? NINE

BEST ACTOR

DRAMA

[X] GEORGE CLOONEY

Up in the Air

One of the closest races, it’s a three-way battle between Bridges, Clooney, and Firth. Give the edge to Clooney, thanks to his surprisingly emotional turn in Up in the Air. Plus, as the voters know, the guy gives good speech.

? JEFF BRIDGES

CRAZY HEART

? COLIN FIRTH

A SINGLE MAN

? MORGAN FREEMAN

INVICTUS

? TOBEY MAGUIRE

BROTHERS

BEST ACTOR

COMEDY OR MUSICAL

[X] DANIEL DAY-LEWIS

Nine

A dramatic actor going the singing-and-dancing route usually gets bonus points here, even if he’s not a slam dunk for an Oscar nod (witness Globe winner and Academy snubbee Richard Gere for Chicago). So Day-Lewis should traipse off with the trophy.

? MATT DAMON

THE INFORMANT!

? ROBERT DOWNEY JR.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

? JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT (500)

DAYS OF SUMMER

? MICHAEL STUHLBARG

A SERIOUS MAN

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

? CHRISTOPH WALTZ

Inglourious Basterds

Along with Best Screenplay, this is the Quentin Tarantino opus’ best shot at a win. Certainly the Foreign Press members will be impressed with Waltz’s quadrilingual breakout performance as an SS colonel.

? MATT DAMON

INVICTUS

WOODY HARRELSON

THE MESSENGER

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

THE LAST STATION

STANLEY TUCCI

THE LOVELY BONES

BEST DIRECTOR

[X] JAMES CAMERON

Avatar

Tarantino is a long shot for a spoiler victory here. But the real race is between friendly exes Bigelow and Cameron. Bigelow is clearly the critical favorite, but the HFPA adores Avatar, which is likely enough to make Cameron the King of the Globes.

? KATHRYN BIGELOW

THE HURT LOCKER

? CLINT EASTWOOD

INVICTUS

? JASON REITMAN

UP IN THE AIR

? QUENTIN TARANTINO

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BEST ACTRESS

DRAMA

[X] CAREY MULLIGAN

An Education

With Meryl Streep in the comedy category, dramatic upstarts Mulligan and Sidibe will vie for the win. Unless the HFPA wants to reward Bullock for her fab year, they’ll probably go with the poised Mulligan.

? EMILY BLUNT

THE YOUNG VICTORIA

? SANDRA BULLOCK

THE BLIND SIDE

? HELEN MIRREN

THE LAST STATION

? GABOUREY SIDIBE

PRECIOUS

BEST ACTRESS

COMEDY OR MUSICAL

[X] MERYL STREEP

Julie & Julia

Unlike at the Oscars, actors can compete against themselves for a Globe?hence Streep’s two nods here. It’s Complicated may be her more recent vehicle, but her Julia performance is without question the stronger awards bait.

? SANDRA BULLOCK

THE PROPOSAL

? MARION COTILLARD

NINE

? JULIA ROBERTS

DUPLICITY

? MERYL STREEP

IT’S COMPLICATED

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

[X] MO’NIQUE

Precious

The supporting races are by far the easiest to call this year. Cruz is beguiling, the Up in the Air ladies are lovely, and it’s a crime that Moore’s mantel is empty. But with her devastating turn in Precious, Mo’Nique is in a league of her own.

PENÉLOPE CRUZ

NINE

? VERA FARMIGA

UP IN THE AIR

? ANNA KENDRICK

UP IN THE AIR

? JULIANNE MOORE

A SINGLE MAN

BEST ANIMATED

[X] UP

Globe voters have always been big Pixar fans?they even gave Toy Story 2 the prize for Best Comedy or Musical in 2000. Wes Anderson’s delightful Fantastic Mr. Fox is the only upset possibility, but Up’s critical and commercial success seals the win.

? CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

? CORALINE

? FANTASTIC MR. FOX

? THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

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