Nikki Glaser is preparing to host the Golden Globes again, carefully testing her jokes before the live broadcast on CBS this Sunday.
Glaser made history as the first solo female host last year. Her monologue was praised for being sharp, funny, and warm. Celebrities and critics alike loved her balance between roasting Hollywood and celebrating it. Her performance earned her a rare invitation to return.
This year, Glaser initially thought she could push her jokes further. “The celebrities in the room know who I am. They know my comedy style. I thought I could go a little harder,” she said.
But she quickly realized the audience now includes stars who didn’t attend last year, like Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Leonardo DiCaprio. “Julia Roberts is America’s sweetheart. Nobody wants you to joke about her,” Glaser explained.
In the weeks leading up to the Globes, Glaser has been testing material at stand-up clubs. She discovered a clear line: Roberts is untouchable. “Even the lightest, most innocent joke about her doesn’t land,” Glaser said. She plans to walk a tightrope when addressing Roberts, making it one of the hardest jokes she’s ever written.
Other celebrities present different challenges. Sean Penn, she says, inspires both fear and curiosity. “If he doesn’t laugh at my joke, it’s funny in a different way,” she said, recalling how Penn once scolded Chris Rock at the Oscars.
DiCaprio is untouchable in another sense. Glaser describes him as a childhood crush. “How am I supposed to say his name in front of him?” she said. Watching him laugh at Chelsea Handler’s jokes helped her approach the task with more confidence.
Glaser is also considering newer stars, like Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, whose PDA-filled awards season tour has drawn attention. She’s aware of the audience’s expectations and is avoiding jokes that might feel mean-spirited.
She also carefully navigates other sensitive topics. Plastic surgery, once an easy punchline, now requires a nuanced approach. “If I touch on it, it has to be inclusive. I would be like — I’m participating in it too,” she said.
Glaser avoids negativity, tired tropes, and anything depressing. Nepo baby jokes and political controversies are off-limits. Her guiding question: “Would this ruin their night?”
That approach shaped her first Golden Globes monologue. Glaser aims for humor that is sharp but humane. She wants everyone to enjoy the night, including the stars she’s joking about.
While she’s ready to go a bit harder this year, the challenge remains the same: balancing comedy with respect in a room full of Hollywood’s biggest names. How she approaches Julia Roberts, in particular, is still a closely guarded secret.
