Rickey Gervais brings sharp tongue as host of Golden Globes

photo In this image released by NBC, host Ricky Gervais speaks during the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 in Los Angeles.

NEW YORK (AP) - Three time's the charm - if that's not the wrong word for Ricky Gervais' third year as scathing steward of the Golden Globes.

His monologue didn't shock quite the way it did last year, but it had its share of barbs.

"Nervous? Don't be," he grinned at the room-full of glitterati at the top of the show, aired by NBC on Sunday. "Tonight you get Britain's biggest comedian, hosting the world's second-biggest awards show on America's third-biggest network." He corrected himself: "It's fourth."

"The Golden Globes are to the Oscars," he went on, "what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton - a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought - allegedly."

After last year's shindig, when Gervais insulted nearly everyone in sight, an invitation back for the British wag seemed doubtful.

But the Globes loves to court outrageous behavior. That meant another turn for Gervais as host. He explained he had been warned by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that were he to insult anyone on hand, or "offend any viewers, or cause any controversy whatsoever - they'll definitely invite me back next year as well."

Then Gervais went on to praise a nominated HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire."

"I love that show," he said. "It's about a load of immigrants who came to America about a hundred years ago, and they got involved in bribery and corruption and worked their way up into high society. But enough about the Hollywood Foreign Press."

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