Golden Globes: Did host Gervais go too far?

Forget who won best actor at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards. The news Monday was whether the show's no-holds-barred host, Ricky Gervais, would be invited back next year.

"He pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far," the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which bestows the Globes, said in a mixed-message statement Monday afternoon. "The HFPA would never condone some of his personal remarks. Overall, however, the show was among the best we've ever had and we were pleased."

Celebrities are accustomed to a good roasting with their statues, but Gervais - who also hosted the 2010 ceremony - may have overly scorched the crowd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles Sunday night.

He cracked wise about Cher's age, Robert Downey Jr.'s drug addiction and the sexuality of certain Scientologists. That last jibe, veiled as it was, drew audible gasps from the room. Subsequently, Gervais disappeared from the show for almost an hour, leading to speculation that he'd been reprimanded or even fired. He reappeared later to skewer Sylvester Stallone's acting ability and Tim Allen's overall career.

Interviewed by USA Today after the Globes, two-time host Gervais noted that nobody had yet asked him to return. "That's ominous, isn't it?" he said.

He also suggested to another interviewer that he didn't see what the fuss was about. "I think last year I didn't go far enough," he said after the show, according to TVGuide.com. "This year, I went about right. If anyone was offended, then I don't care."

Nevertheless, the 49-year-old British comedian told the entertainment news website deadline.com that he loves to host the show. "For three hours every year, Hollywood is scared to death of me. It's great,"

His barbs drew a mixed reaction from TV critics. The Hollywood Reporter wrote "In what will undoubtedly be his last hosting gig for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (and, who knows, maybe any Stateside awards), he didn't disappoint." But the Los Angeles Times noted "It quickly became clear that his material wasn't just falling flat, it was making many audience members and presenters uncomfortable and even angry."

If Gervais drew fire, he also drew something better: ratings. The Globes, broadcast on NBC, beat all network competition with 17 million viewers, up slightly from last year.