Ricky Gervais talks about Golden Globes hosting gig

Ricky Gervais, creator and star of the original version of ‘The Office’ and executive producer of the U.S. version, will host the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 17th.

(The nominations will be announced early tomorrow morning by Justin Timberlake, Diane Kruger, and The Office’s John Krasinski.)

Ricky fielded questions from the press last week; here’s a hilarious condensed version of the transcript, courtesy of NBC.

NBC: Ricky is going to be hosting the 2010 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 17, we’re broadcasting it live coast to coast from 5:00 to 8:00 pm Pacific and 8:00 to 11:00 pm Eastern live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

This is the first time we’ve had a host since 1995, so we’re very excited about it. And judging from the great press turnout we’ve had for this call, we’re guessing everyone is excited as well about Ricky.

Q: Do you have a specific TV comedy that you’re rooting for this year?

Ricky: Well obviously, I’m involved with The Office and I think they’ve done a great job. If the show wins, then I win. I think it could be my only chance to win anything …

Q: Any chance you might be back on board with the show maybe directing, writing, anything like that in the works?

Ricky: Well, I’m executive producer on it and I wrote one episode. But I think that after 100 shows, it’s really found its own feet. It’s certainly gotten out of the shadow of the UK version …

So I think maybe I could pop up for a bit of fun, maybe a little cameo, maybe David Brent bumps into Steve Carell at a world conference. I don’t know. But, yeah, it would be fun. But I’m enjoying its success from a distance to be honest.

I love the fact that it’s probably the only successful UK remake for about 30 years. I think the last one that really worked in comedy was probably Sanford and Son or All in the Family. So I’m very proud of it.

But, you know, it’s their hard work. The idea coming from me and I won’t let Steve Carell ever forget that. But they’ve all done an amazing job from Greg Daniels down to, you know, every member of the cast.

… I don’t want Steve Carell ever to take a holiday. I’m working him like an old horse. He’s going to collapse before I end that show.

Q: Which celeb are you looking most forward to roasting?

Ricky: Anyone who’s younger and thinner and richer and more attractive than me, they’re the ones I’m going for. Rainn Wilson is safe again, Steve Carell is on the cusp.

Q: You think at some point you’re going to be maybe roasting yourself for getting involved in this thing?

Ricky: I think you could be right. I don’t do well with anything that’s even close to hard work. So it could go one of two ways, well go one of three ways.

I could go up there and be pleasant and do a wonderful job and be professional about it.

I could go up there aim to do that but then get a little bit annoyed and start berating everyone including myself for ever thinking I could do this, that’s the other way.

Or three, I decide to start drinking early. And then I’ll have a good time at least.

So I sort of hope it’s just the first one. I hope I go out there and do a pretty good job. This doesn’t effect me either way if I’m being honest, I’ve never done anything to further my career or up my profile or as a stepping stone to something else. I’ll probably never do this again.