Nellie Andreeva

NBC has tapped Ricky Gervais to host the Golden Globes for a second time. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assoc.’ awards show, produced by dick clark Globeslogoprods., had never had a host until this year when Gervais took over MC duties.

As part of that deal with the British comedian, NBC had an option on him for a second year and chose to exercise it well in advance of the January 16, 2011 ceremony. That essentially puts Gervais out of contention for other vacant hosting gigs over the next year, such as the Emmys and the Oscars.

“I can’t believe they invited me back after awful things I said,” said Gervais. “Let’s see how far I can go this time.”gervais gg

While he had been standout as a presented at other awards shows, Gervais’ first hosting gig at this year’s Globes, which featured him drinking and plugging DVDs of the British series The Office, which he co-created and starred in, drew mixed reviews. But the January 17 Globes telecast was up from the year before by double digits, delivering NBC’s highest adult 18-49 non-sports rating in the time slot in five years NBC’s largest non-sports viewership in six years.

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