Award season is approaching us, and their hosts are being announced left and right. It’s the season of glitz, glam, and laughs. The Oscars announced that Chris Rock is hosting the 88th Academy Awards are in late February and The Golden Globes have announced that Ricky Gervais is hosting the show in early January. These men are not making their first appearances on either show. This is Gervais’ fourth time hosting the Golden Globes and Rock’s second time hosting the Oscars. Both Rock and Gervais are well known comedians and have been in the industry for years. They each have a different comedic style, setting them apart from one another.
Chris Rock is known for his standup comedy and roles as humorous cartoon characters in movies, such as Madagascar and Grown Ups. His comedic genre is conducted of multiple topics, including observational comedy, political satire, and black humor.
“Chris Rock really knows how to keep his crowds entertained” said Senior Rebecca Toskey.
When it comes to being an award show host, Rock is known for firing shots at the Hollywood industry and using comedic satire to bring attention to any misconduct. In the 2004 Oscars, Rock pointed out the fact that only four African American actors were nominated for an award and how a majority of those who attend the show aren’t “stars”, nothing more than just popular people. It’s these shots at the industry that makes him favorable to the common viewer, making him relatable to the public.
Ricky Gervais is a known actor, director, writer, as well as a standup comedian. Gervais mostly uses what is called “cringe comedy” to embarrass others in his stand up. When hosting an awards show, Gervais leaves everyone on his or her toes. What will he do? What will he say? His humor can be described as “witty” and “quirky”, putting attendees and those nominated down in a light-hearted way. Being shocking and unpredictable is what makes Gervais so popular. Sometimes people just need a little shock or slap in the face, and that’s exactly what Gervais gives.
Rock and Gervais are both different and similar in various aspects. They are both expected to “wow” the crowds and viewers at their award shows. These men have been in the industry long enough to know what they can and can’t say, whether the limits are meant to be pushed or not, and constantly take chances in order to bring attention to what goes unseen. The anticipation of both the Golden Globes and The Oscars will continue to build until the upcoming New Year.
“Both shows are lucky to have them” said Spanish teacher Anne Wynne. “They’re open to criticism which makes them better at what they do.”