Ricky Gervais back as Golden Globes host; third time not likely to be charm(ing)

Ricky Gervais will be back as host of the Golden Globes in 2012. So if you're planning to attend the awards, make sure your egos are well-padded.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association made the official announcement Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 16), re-hiring Gervais despite (or maybe because of) the sometimes scathing jokes he's directed at the assembled showbiz luminaries the past two years.

Gervais said last week that the idea of hosting the Globes again was "very tempting" but added he hadn't made up his mind yet.

His presence at the awards pretty well ensures that there will be at least a handful of hilarious/cringeworthy moments in the telecast, which thereby will drive ratings, which will make everyone, save perhaps a few thin-skinned movie stars, happy. Gervais alluded to his take-no-prisoners approach on Twitter Wednesday, posting a picture of himself with Oscar host Billy Crystal with the text, "Just told Billy Crystal he'd better not use any of my holocaust or pedophile material at The Oscars. He agreed (true)."

He followed that up with a photo of himself lighting a cigar against a backdrop of flames.

The Golden Globes are set to air Sunday, Jan. 15 on NBC.