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Image: Ricky Gervais
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Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais says he thought the crowd had "finally worked out that my gags only seemed rude and nasty but were actually not too scary at all."
updated 1/17/2012 1:50:50 PM ET 2012-01-17T18:50:50

British comedian Ricky Gervais said he expects to avoid being persuaded to host the Golden Globe Awards again after calling his gig at Sunday's film and TV honors ceremony his favorite of the three.

Critics were lukewarm toward his performance, saying his jokes on Sunday were less harsh compared to 2011, and the show suffered a slight dip in ratings. But Gervais said that to him, it was his best performance yet at the gala Hollywood event.

Story: Five biggest jaw-droppers of the Globes

"It was by far my favourite of the three hosting stints. I've told my agent to never let me be persuaded to do it again though. It's like a parachute jump. You can only really enjoy it in retrospect when you realise you didn't die and it was quite an amazing thing to do," the comedian wrote on his official blog following the awards ceremony.

The "Office" comedian also thought the crowd had "finally worked out that my gags only seemed rude and nasty but were actually not too scary at all."

Story: Gervais sprinkles Globes barbs with charm

Gervais used his opening monologue to take jabs at actors such as Johnny Depp, Jodie Foster and Helen Mirren, pop singer Justin Bieber and reality star Kim Kardashian as well as the Golden Globes ceremony itself, calling it "just like the Oscars, but without all that esteem."

Critics felt Gervais played it safe this year compared to his caustic jokes last year about actors Robert Downey, Jr. and Charlie Sheen, with TheWrap.com's Tim Molloy saying "despite promises (Gervais) wouldn't hold back, none were as hard as the ones last year."

Vote for best red carpet look at Golden Globes

The comedian's much-hyped third stint hosting also failed to boost the TV audience, with the Globes drawing in 16.8 million viewers to NBC this year, a slight dip from last year's 17 million who tuned in to see Gervais's acid wit let loose. (Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Video: Golden Globes: The night’s big winners

  1. Closed captioning of: Golden Globes: The night’s big winners

    >> women.

    >> we begin with the winners on stage at the 69th annual golden globes . from martin scorcese to spielberg, streep to the silent era it was a night that saw hollywood honor its past while celebrating legends who are still creating some of their best work. "the artist," set before talking movies began, took best picture for a musical or comedy along with best actor for dujardin.

    >> thank you, merci. [speaking french].

    >> congratulations.

    >> you were told you couldn't be an actor because your face was too expressive.

    >> they said in the close-up, the camera don't like that -- don't like your mouth, your nose.

    >> so something with the eyebrows.

    >> that's true. they are very independent.

    >> they are expressive.

    >> yeah.

    >> are they excited they won the golden globes .

    >> are you? yeah. i think, yeah.

    >> reporter: best drama went to "the descendants" and best actor to its star, george clooney .

    >> especially thank you very much to alexander paine who makes wonderful films and is a great friend.

    >> reporter: the great christopher plummer has been in a hundred films but until "the beginners" he'd never won a golden globe .

    >> how does it feel to collect all these accolades?

    >> they're hard to lift.

    >> reporter: meryl streep won as margaret thatcher in "the iron lady " and michelle williams for "my week with marilyn." i heard you had to learn how to wiggle.

    >> it's not a swing, it's not a direct side to side. there's undulation. it's all kinds of things.

    >> reporter: it's never a surprise when meryl streep wins but she makes it memorable every time.

    >> oh, [ bleep ]. [ laughter ]

    >> oh, i have to remember my speech.

    >> reporter: you just abandoned the speech?

    >> yeah. i had everybody's name. all these incredible actresses.

    >> reporter: instead the s-word came out?

    >> yeah.

    >> reporter: what happened?

    >> i forgot my glasses.

    >> reporter: cable shows once again dominated the television categories. showtime's "homeland" won best dramatic series along with lead actress claire danes .

    >> reporter: president obama is said to love this show.

    >> it makes me feel weird that the president has seen me naked. other than that, i'm good.

    >> reporter: martin scorcese took best director for "hugo" while steven spielberg 's "the adventures of tintin" won.

    >> why don't you hold it during the whole interview.

    >> reporter: i don't think i could.

    >> it matches your dress.

    >> reporter: octavia spencer won best supporting actress for "the help."

    >> words can't really describe how overjoyed i am and the fact that it's happening on dr. king's holiday feels like the perfect bow.

    >> reporter: congratulations. here you are on "today" where you belong.

    >> let's see what's happening in your neck of the woods.

Photos: Awards

loading photos...
  1. George Clooney

    George Clooney won the Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture drama for his role as a Hawaiian man struggling to hold his family together in "The Descendants." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  2. Meryl Streep

    Meryl Streep won the award for best actress in a motion picture drama for "The Iron Lady." She plays former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the film. (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  3. 'The Artist'

    Uggie, the dog from "The Artist," poses with the film's cast. The black-and-white, nearly silent movie won the award for best motion picture comedy or musical. (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Martin Scorsese

    Director Martin Scorsese claimed the best director award for his work on "Hugo," a love letter to the early days of filmmaking. (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  5. Jean Dujardin

    French actor Jean Dujardin barely speaks in "The Artist," yet he won the Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture comedy or musical. (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  6. 'Modern Family'

    The cast of ABC's "Modern Family" pose with the trophy for best television comedy or musical. (Paul Buck / EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
  7. Matt LeBlanc

    Matt LeBlanc won the best actor in a TV comedy or musical for his work in "Episodes." (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  8. Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Sidney Poitier

    Morgan Freeman poses with Helem Mirren and Sidney Poitier. Freeman won the Cecil B. Demille award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  9. Ricky Gervais

    Ricky Gervais returned to host the Golden Globes for the third year in a row, despite taking heavy criticism last year for his digs at Hollywood stars. (Paul Drinkwater / NBC via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  10. Octavia Spencer

    Octavia Spencer claimed the award for best supporting actress in a motion picture for her role in "The Help." (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  11. Idris Elba

    Idris Elba poses with his award for best performance by an actor in a TV series, miniseries or TV movie for "Luther." (Lucy Nicholson / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  12. Jessica Lange

    Jessica Lange claimed the trophy for best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a TV series, miniseries or TV movie for "American Horror Story." (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  13. Claire Danes

    Claire Danes poses with her award for best performance by an actress in a television drama for 'Homeland.' She won the same honor for "My So-Called Life" in 1994 when she was just 15. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  14. Steven Spielberg

    Director Steven Spielberg's "Adventures of Tintin" won the best animated feature award. (Lucy Nicholson / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  15. Michelle Williams

    Michelle Williams accepts her award for best actress in a motion picture comedy or musical for the film "My Week With Marilyn." (Handout / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  16. Peter Dinklage

    Peter Dinklage won the best supporting actor award for work in a TV series, miniseries or TV movie. He plays Tyrion Lannister in "Game of Thrones." (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  17. Madonna

    Madonna poses with a Golden Globe trophy she won for best original song for "Masterpiece," from "W.E." She also wrote and directed the movie, which looks at the love affair between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII. (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  18. 'Downton Abbey'

    Rebecca Eaton, Julian Fellows, Gareth Neame and Brian Percival, producers of "Downton Abbey," pose with the award their PBS series won for best TV series, miniseries or movie. (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  19. Kelsey Grammer

    Kelsey Grammer claimed the trophy for best actor in a TV series for his role in "Boss." (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  20. Kate Winslet

    Actress Kate Winslet won the award for best actress in a TV series, miniseries or movie for her role in "Mildred Pierce." (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  21. Laura Dern

    Actress Laura Dern claimed the Golden Globe for best actress in a TV comedy or musical for her role in HBO's "Enlightened." (Lucy Nicholson / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  22. Christopher Plummer

    Actor Christopher Plummer took home the night's first award. He was named best supporting actor in a movie for his role in "Beginners." (Lucy Nicholson / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
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  1. Image: George Clooney
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images
    Above: Slideshow (22) Golden Globe winners - Awards
  2. Image: Lea Michele
    Matt Sayles / AP
    Slideshow (35) Golden Globe winners - Red carpet
  3. Image: Lea Michele
    Matt Sayles / AP
    Slideshow (35) Golden Globes red carpet

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