Ricky Gervais Confirmed as Host of Golden Globes Again

Outspoken comic actor Ricky Gervais will return as host of the Golden Globes ceremony, despite his controversial performance last year during which he took jabs at entertainers that many deemed inappropriate and potentially career-damaging, reports Deadline.

Gervais's return has been a matter of speculation since August, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which puts on the lavish awards each winter, confirmed the news today.

While hosting earlier this year, Gervais made numerous jokes at the expense of nominees in the audience and even one about HFPA president Philip Berk. But the most provocative undoubtedly involved the overlooked gay-themed comedy I Love You Phillip Morris. From the podium Gervais linked closeted actors to the Church of Scientology, joking, "Also not nominated, I Love You Phillip Morris, with Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey, two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay -- the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then." He quickly added, "My lawyers helped me with the wording of that joke."

The 69th Annual Golden Globes will be broadcast live on NBC January 15. Gervais has a new HBO series, Life's Too Short, scheduled to premiere in the U.S. in January.

Watch his opening monologue from this year's awards below.