Jo Koy, the Filipino-American comedian, faced an extraordinary challenge as he took on the role of hosting the Golden Globes, and unfortunately, his performance stood out for all the wrong reasons, even among a history of less-than-stellar hosts at award shows. Assuming the role of an award ceremony host is frequently compared to maneuvering through challenging situations, comparable to professions such as sanitation workers and medical professionals specializing in gastrointestinal issues. These roles demand adept handling of less-than-desirable scenarios.

The Academy Awards had experienced a series of lackluster hosts, prompting a brief hiatus from the tradition before returning to the safe choice of Jimmy Kimmel. Hosts typically fall into two extremes—either overtly offensive, as seen with Ricky Gervais and Seth MacFarlane, resulting in boredom, or excessively inoffensive, exemplified by hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, leading to a lack of excitement. The infrequent but outstanding hosts, exemplified by individuals like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Billy Crystal, stand out as a clear indication of the general lack of excellence in the hosting arena.

Jo Koy, announced as a last-minute pick for the Golden Globes just two weeks before the event, found himself quickly facing outright hostility at the Beverly Hilton, reminiscent of the public’s reaction to Richard Nixon’s infamous tantrum. Koy’s attempts at humor, including a joke about Barbie’s breasts, faced a chilly reception, prompting him to passionately defend himself on stage. He emphasized the spontaneous nature of his selection, disclosing that he had personally penned some of the jokes. Expressing surprise, he couldn’t believe the audience’s response to those particular lines.

The comedian’s jokes about Taylor Swift, the length of the film Oppenheimer, Barry Keoghan’s anatomy, and the aforementioned Barbie joke all fell flat, drawing reactions ranging from icy stares to visible discomfort from prominent celebrities like Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, and Selena Gomez. Accounts from the occasion depicted a scene of rebellion in the room, as attendees openly voiced their dissatisfaction, characterizing the situation as nothing short of a disaster.

Interestingly, the highlights of the evening seemed to emerge from unscripted moments, such as Kieran Culkin’s unexpected burp into the microphone, Lily Gladstone’s heartfelt acceptance speech, and spontaneous interactions like Yorgos Lanthimos informing Bruce Springsteen of their shared birthday. The noticeable disparity between these authentic, unscripted moments and Jo Koy’s rehearsed attempts at humor became more apparent. Surprisingly, even Paul Giamatti succeeded in eliciting more genuine laughter with his spontaneous, chaotic approach. The prevailing sentiment indicated that hosting events of this nature is undeniably an immensely challenging task.