Golden Globes Preview: Will Ricky Gervais Tone it Down This Year?

Remember when Ricky Gervais poked fun at Scientology, Robert Downey Jr.'s rehab days and called Bruce Willis Ashton Kutcher's father?

That was exactly one year ago, when Gervais was trusted with hosting duties for the second time in a row at the Golden Globe Awards. The year before, the British funnyman talked about his penis size in great length, made fun of actors as being the most important people in the world and singled out Sir Paul McCartney for spending too much money on his nasty divorce from Heather Mills. (McCartney was not amused).

Expect the 2012 edition to be no different.

In November, after the Hollywood Foreign Press Association surprised all by announcing that Gervais had been invited back for a third round of hosting duties, the 50-year-old took to Twitter to warn his potential Golden Globe victims.

It's gonna be biblical, he wrote at the time.

With less than three days to go before the Golden Globes, Gervais has been all over the map, from a lengthy feature in the New York Times Magazine, to a Q&A with Esquire, to an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

I knew what I was doing, Gervais told DeGeneres of last year's epic joke-fest.

It was stand up . . . it wasn't a room full of wounded soldiers. These are the richest, most privileged people in the world, he added.

Also on Thrusday, Gervais shot down a rumor about his jokes being pre-screened by the HFPA.

The rumour that I have to submit my globes gags to organisers is NOT true. And if I did I could submit a toned down version . . . it's live! Ha! he wrote.

Gervais also attached a photo of himself training with his body guard: his dog.

No Samson! Don't bite Sheen, you'll get drunk! read the caption.

By now, Gervais has most likely worked out all the nuts and bolts of his opening monologue, along with the sprinkles of hits and misses he'll deliver throughout the show.

But just in case, here are some topics for last-minute inspiration.

Go ahead, Mr. Gervais, make fun of Hollywood.

The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards are on Sunday at 8 p.m. EST.

Babeyonce:
Expect Blue Ivy Carter, who will be eight days old by the time the Golden Globes take place, to be a prime target on Sunday night. Gervais will have plenty of sub-topics to choose from: her name, her historical Billboard debut, her pricey hospital digs and of course, her famous parents.

Ashton Kutcher/Demi Moore:
Kutcher is actually a confirmed presenter at the show, so while he's munching away on steak or caviar, he won't be able to escape whatever Gervais says about him. From his alleged cheating, to his divorce with Demi Moore, to him replacing Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men, Kutcher should be an easy topic to cover for Gervais. Kutcher also serves as a smooth transition to Charlie Sheen (who was also a target at the 2011 Golden Globes).

Alec Baldwin/Words with Friends:
Baldwin is up for a prize this year: Best Actor in a TV Series (Comedy or Musical) for his role on 30 Rock. Baldwin was also escorted off an American Airlines flight in December for refusing to turn off his game of Words with Friends on his iPhone. Need more Gervais? Baldwin quit Twitter later that week, and returned on Jan. 7.

Kim Kardashian and/or all of the Kardashians:
From Kim's divorce to the latest rumor that Khloe is not biologically related to the rest of her siblings, Gervais will most likely poke fun at reality TV's most famous family. So far, no Kardashian has been confirmed to attend the ceremony.

Jennifer Lopez:
Speaking of couples breaking up, 2011 also saw the separation of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony (no divorce has been filed so far). The juicier angle Gervais could work with is the fact that Lopez is currently dating her much younger back-up dancer, 24-year-old Casper Smart.

Meryl Streep / The Iron Lady:
While the joke might be more about Margaret Thatcher, Streep could still be a target. In front of millions, Gervais could provide his honest criticism on what he thinks of an American portraying the former Prime Minister.

George Clooney:
Triple nominee. Award season favorite. Boyfriend of former professional wrestler Stacy Keibler. Gervais should have no problem working with these very true Clooney facts.

Ryan Gosling:
Double nominee. Tumblr target. Rumored boyfriend of Eva Mendes. See above. Change Clooney to Gosling.

Angelina Jolie's directorial debut:
If Gervais takes Colin Quinn's advice, here's how a joke could go: Hey, Brangelina is here. Brangelina. Sounds like vitamin water, Quinn wrote on Twitter Thursday. (See Quinn's Twitter for more suggestions for Gervais).

The other angle for Gervais? Jolie being nominated in the Foreign Film category, a prize Gervais called a category that no one in America cares about during last year's ceremony.

New Hollywood engagements:
Jessical Biel and Justin Timberlake. Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman. Britney Spears and Jason Trawick. Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman. Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Rounds. Take your pick, Gervais.

Michael Fassbender's nakedness:
Fassbender sure shows a lot of skin in Shame. So don't be surprised if Gervais makes fun of the display, with the Golden Globe nominee just yards away.

Hollywood Foreign Press Association:
Last year, Gervais joked that he had to help Philip Berk off the toilet and pop his teeth in before the HFPA President came out to speak on stage.

He definitely crossed the line . . . and some of things were totally unacceptable. But that's Ricky, Berk told The Hollywood Reporter after the ceremony.

So is the HFPA fine with Gervais doing it again? We'll find out on Sunday.

What do you think of Ricky Gervais hosting the Golden Globes again? Will you watch the ceremony? Share your thoughts below.