LOS ANGELES — The Golden Globes ceremony is fast approaching and Nikki Glaser struggling to find Julia Roberts joke.
“She was the toughest nut to crack,” says Glaser, host Sunday Globes– Tuesday said with a determined laugh. – But I'm going to hack it.
The comedian landed the hosting gig last year after showcasing his skills in mercilessly roasting celebrities. She received rave reviews for her monologue. She took out the knives, but they were not too sharp. She was immediately asked to return.
Sunday's monologue will be a shape-shifting monster until the CBS telecast picks up and she takes the stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, ideally with a scene ready for Roberts, who is nominated for Best Actress in a Drama for “After the hunt.” She will sit in front of Glaser with her starry charm.
“I just want to make the perfect joke, but it feels like people have no sense of humor about Julia Roberts,” Glaser told The Associated Press. “She'll be okay – other people aren't okay because of her. Like the most innocent joke about her that I tried a couple of times, they booed, it was like bullying.”
According to others, Glaser is confident in her material and their ability to accept it, including the men in the absurdly star-studded best actor categories:
– She'll get another chance Timothee Chalametnominated last year for Bob Dylan and this year for Marty Supreme: “Timothy, he's great. He knows how to handle it,” she said. Last year she told the mustachioed Chalamet: “You have the most gorgeous eyelashes – on your upper lip.”
– She will have the first chance to poke George Clooney, nominated for a J Kelly Award: “George Clooney would be interesting, just hang out with him. I think he's such a good athlete,” she said. “He's ready for it.”
— She says she is delighted with her things on Sinners nominee Michael B. Jordan.
– What about Leonardo DiCapriorepresenting awards season powerhouse “One battle after another?” “Leo? Leo, yes, Leo. We're going to hit Leo,” she said. “Icebergs are approaching. Beware.”
Glaser spoke to the AP, dressed in a dress and fur coat, on a mock New York City street lot on the CBS studio lot where she is getting ready.
But the real preparation took place in the comedy clubs of Southern California.
“I was always making jokes,” she said. “I live and die among these crowds. They really tell me what to keep and what not to keep. The things that I think will kill will be just nothing, and the things that I think will just be throwaways are like the best joke.”
She shares what she quit.
“I was going to make a joke about Pluribus where I was like, ‘Did you see that? Probably not,” she said. “But we couldn't find a place for 'definitely not' and have it end up in a cemetery. That's probably right.”
Since the roast monologue is aimed at people in the Globe crowd, the comedy club audience is forced to play the role of celebrities.
She will ask them, “Will you play Julia Roberts for me?” You know, anyway, it's strange, but I kind of just set it up. It's like I'm hosting the Golden Globes. They're usually very excited about it.”
Like every awards show host, she fears that some major event will change everything. Last weekend she thought she would definitely have to talk about Venezuela on stage. Now she thinks maybe not.
“You can't even predict that events happening a week from now will be relevant enough,” she said. “You'll be surprised to know that half the room has no idea why I say 'Venezuela.' People don’t get news like the rest of us.”
Last year's version of the Julia Roberts challenge was “evil” and find a joke that straddles the line between meanness and affection. It took a long time, but she and the two friends she was writing to found him.
“In the end, everything turned out perfect. I loved it,” she said, repeating the phrase. “My boyfriend loved it, my boyfriend’s boyfriend loved it.” The perfect “wicked” joke. It wasn't too rude, it was just glorifying my homosexuality.”
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For more information on the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/golden-globe-awards.
