It’s probably a bit premature to be getting excited about next year’s awards season, but the recent announcement that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are going to be hosting the upcoming Golden Globe Awards in January merits discussion. These are two of Hollywood’s best comediennes who happen to have undeniable chemistry. If this does not boost ratings for the Awards, then I don’t know what will.
There is always something witty and clever about their work, so much so that even the person they are making fun of would find it hilarious. It’s almost as if you share an inside joke with them, like you would with a close friend. Their NBC sitcoms, Fey’s “30 Rock” and Poehler’s “Parks and Recreation,” are good indicators of the type of humor that fueled them to become two of the network’s most successful shows.
Plus, Fey and Poehler have the gift of appealing to a wide variety of viewers. Older and younger people are familiar with their work, which is a tough balance to strike. In contrast with the absolute train wreck that was James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting the Oscars, which was meant to increase younger viewership, don’t expect any immature shenanigans from the upcoming Golden Globes. My guess is that these women will keep it classy and clever.
Ricky Gervais has been the host of the awards for the past three years, and has received praise along with loads of criticism. It was initially entertaining to listen to him insult practically every celebrity in the room while expressing his affinity for drinking alcohol, but three years of the same routine started to feel worn out. The awards needed something fresher, something viewers would want to tune in to. What better solution than to get comedy’s dynamic duo to host? Award winners themselves, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are no strangers to the Golden Globes. Their calm, somewhat deadpan comedic styling, is sure to counteract Gervais’ previous method of alternating between cursing and incessant giggling.
In addition to seeing what new material they will bring to the table, the reason I cannot wait to watch Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the Golden Globes does not simply stem from the fact that they happen to be women. Rather, they are just incredibly talented at what they do. They are two of the most well-respected comedic actors in Hollywood, men included. Plus, it’s a rarity that we find two people with impeccable comedic timing who do not have to rely on vulgar or trashy humor to make us laugh.
As much as I enjoy judging the stars’ red carpet fashion choices and rooting for my favorite movies to win, I predict that the real stars of 2013 Golden Globes will be the hosts. In terms of comedy, these two are nothing short of artists. Writing, producing, acting, doing spot-on impressions of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, is there anything Tina Fey and Amy Poehler can’t do? They’re proven stars who have shown that they can hold their own, and they will help to make the Golden Globes a hit in January. I commend NBC executives for their decision to go with Fey and Poehler and I hope everyone has a chance to tune in for a night of comedy in January.
Aishwarya Raje is a freshman Economics major from Princeton, N.J.
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