Ricky Gervais Row Breaks Out Over Golden Globes Hosting Decision

A row has erupted over whether or not Ricky Gervais should return as the Golden Globes host next year.

The event is hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and they are said to be deeply divided on asking him back for a third time, following his controversial performance last year that included him mocking guests and nominees.

A source told Deadline: "NBC has put the HFPA in a lose-lose situation. If the Hollywood Foreign Press says 'Yes' to Ricky, it risks turning the Globes into The Ricky Gervais Show and leaving the impression that they’re annually throwing a great party while inviting someone who humiliates all the guests. If it says 'No', the HFPA looks like it has no sense of humour about itself.

"The problems is, if you have Ricky, the show tends to wind up being all about him and how mean he can be. he effectively dwarfs the importance of the ceremony itself."

One thing in Gervais's favour is the fact that viewing ratings improved dramatically with him as host, with the source adding: "There are those who feel that ratings and revenue are what the HFPA needs to focus on most. Of course that's all NBC is interested in. The other faction believes that without Ricky, you may lose a little in viewership but wind up better protecting the brand.

"Some think the job of a host should be enhancing everyone’s experience and making sure they all have a good time. But that isn’t where Ricky’s head is at. He tends to make it all about his career and all about him. The question the association has to answer now is, is the boost ultimately worth the price? Nobody really knows which way it's going to go yet. But what NBC needs and what’s in the best interests of the HFPA may be two very different things."

Should Gervais be invited back, it is likely that the HFPA would insist on having the right to veto any script, with the source saying: "Not that he'd necessarily pay any attention to that. He could promise to be a good boy and then turn around and do whatever the hell he felt like doing."

The Golden Globes takes place on January 15, 2012.