Steve Martin Commends Jo Koy for Tackling the Challenging Role of Golden Globes Host
Steve Martin praises Jo Koy for his role as the 2024 Golden Globes host, acknowledging the challenges of the tough gig
Steve Martin understands better than anyone the challenges of hosting, which is why he's giving Jo Koy some grace after the 2024 Golden Globes.
"I have great respect for anyone who takes on the task of hosting a live awards show," shared the 78-year-old Martin via Threads on Tuesday, January 9. "It's a tough job and not for the faint of heart. I can attest to that, as I'm still recovering from the last time I did it in 2010."
The star of Only Murders in the Building also mentioned Jo Koy's impressive stand-up performance, saying he took on a tough gig in show business, delivered some hits, and now has twenty minutes of new material. Steve Martin hosted the Academy Awards solo in 2001 and 2003, and cohosted with Alec Baldwin in 2010. Koy made his hosting debut at the 81st annual Golden Globes on January 7.
Many of his opening monologue jokes failed to land, which Koy, 52, addressed promptly. "I only got this gig 10 days ago! You want a perfect monologue? Yo, shut up," he told the crowd. "I wrote some of these jokes, and those are the ones making you laugh."
Koy stunned guests and viewers at home by making fun of Barbie and appearing to completely miss the movie's message of female empowerment. "Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and Barbie is based on a plastic doll with big boobs," the comedian said.
Jo Koy speaks onstage at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. Rich Polk/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images
Barbie director Greta Gerwig responded to the awkward joke on BBC Radio 4’s Today by noting, "He's not incorrect. She's the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he's not wrong. I think the project of the movie was so unexpected because it's about a plastic doll."
At the awards show, Koy also took a swipe at Taylor Swift, who was defeated by Barbie in the Cinematic Box Office Achievement category for her film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.
There's a big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL. At the Golden Globes, we don't have as many camera shots of Taylor Swift. I promise," Koy remarked as the camera panned to Swift, 34, who has been frequently featured during Kansas City Chiefs games while supporting her boyfriend Travis Kelce. "There's just more to cover."
Swift was seen making a disinterested expression in the audience before taking a sip of her drink. While Swift has not publicly addressed her now-viral reaction, Koy has commented on his joke. "It was meant as a compliment," Koy told Extra after the awards show, clarifying that he simply meant Swift "could be more private tonight, that's all."
During an appearance on GMA3: What You Need to Know on Monday, January 8, Koy confessed that he did feel bad about his Swift jab. “It was a weird joke, I guess,” he said.
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Koy's performance on stage received a range of reviews, but some actors, particularly those who have hosted awards shows, defended him. Whoopi Goldberg shared with her cohosts on The View, "These hosting gigs are brutal. They're just brutal. If you don’t know the room, if you’ve not been in these rooms before and you’re thrust out there, it’s hit or miss."
Goldberg, a four-time host of the Oscars, admitted that he couldn't determine if it was the venue or the jokes that didn't resonate with him. However, he did acknowledge that the comedian is top-notch when it comes to stand-up. He emphasized that stand-up comedy is a tough job, drawing from his own experiences of facing harsh reviews and challenging performances.
