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Ricky Gervais hosted the 69th annual Golden Globes (AP)
He dropped an F-bomb mid-show, took aim at Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber and poked fun at his bosses on national television, and yet Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais somehow managed to seem more toned down at this year's show, in spite of the fears of Hollywood's elite.
Introducing presenters Antonio Banderas, a Spaniard, and Mexican-born Salma Hayek, Gervais complimented both before saying he couldn't "understand a f*cking word they are saying."
Gervais -- returning to the awards after a controversial turn at the helm last year -- began by taking a swig from a glass of beer.
"So where was I? Nervous? Don't be. This isn't about you," he said. "Tonight, you get Britain's biggest comedian hosting the world's second biggest award show on America's third biggest network. Oh, sorry, fourth. It's fourth."
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He said the event's organizers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, had warned him that if he insulted anyone in the audience he would "still be invited back next year."
But Gervais and the show seemed tamer and more predictable this year, not quite living up to outrageous reputations.
After criticizing "The Tourist" at last year's ceremony, Gervais asked the night's first presenter Johnny Depp if he had seen the film -- in which Depp stars -- to which he replied "no."
"Oh boy. He's fun," Depp said, before introducing a clip from one of the films nominated for the Best Drama award.
After he introduced Madonna with a series of hackneyed puns about her song titles, including "Like a Virgin," the pop star shot back.
"If I'm still just like a virgin, Ricky, then why don't you come over here and do something about it?" she deadpanned. "I haven't kissed a girl in a few years -- on TV."
It took the presenters and winners themselves to liven up the program -- and that includes Uggie, Dujardin's scene-stealing Jack Russell terrier in "The Artist," who performed some of his signature tricks on stage toward the end of the night.
Male genitalia was a frequent theme. Tina Fey and Jane Lynch teamed up to make a penis pun inspired by "Hung" star Thomas Jane. Seth Rogen, taking the stage with the gorgeous Kate Beckinsale, cracked: "Hello, I'm Seth Rogen, and I'm currently trying to conceal a massive erection." And Clooney, in accepting his best-actor award, made a joke about fellow nominee Michael Fassbender, who plays a sex addict in "Shame."
"I'd like to thank Michael Fassbender for taking over the full-frontal nudity responsibility that I had," and Clooney then went on to suggest Fassbender could play golf with his hands behind his back.
Even Meryl Streep -- the grand dame of them all who won for best actress in a drama for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" -- let an expletive slip during her acceptance speech. Streep got flustered when she realized she forgot her glasses at her table; instead she winged it, giving a rambling (but gracious) speech praising other actresses' performances, including some who hadn't even been nominated that night.
Let's hope the after-parties got wilder.
NewsCore and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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