The only thing I love more than unhealthy food is comedy. So when news broke Monday night that comedy queens Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are scheduled to host the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 13, airing on NBC, I had a minor panic attack and then proceeded to high-five a million angels. From the duo’s side-by-side political roles of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton on “Saturday Night Live,” to playing polar opposites in the comedy “Baby Mama,” Fey and Poehler have proven they have flawless comedic chemistry.
For the past three years, Ricky Gervais has hosted the Golden Globes, and before that, the show never had a regular host. Gervais is a pretty funny guy, but it was definitely time to pass the torch. Who better to follow a comedy king than two comedy queens?
Sometimes when an award show has co-hosts who aren’t compatible with each other, it bombs (enter Anne Hathaway and James Franco’s 2011 Oscars trainwreck). The fact that Fey and Poehler are friends and have worked with each other before almost makes the 70th Annual Golden Globes a guaranteed success. It goes without mentioning that the bar of expectations is raised for this duo.
This won’t mark the first time for Poehler and Fey gaining attention at an award show.
Poehler is notorious for planning comedy bits with her fellow nominees at the Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2009, she was nominated for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series,” and when the nominees’ names were read, some of the women sported funny eyewear (Poehler wore an eye patch).
In 2011, Poehler (“Parks and Recreation”) and Fey (“30 Rock”) were both nominated for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.” As the nominees were announced, each woman ran up on stage and joined hands as they waited to hear who won. Melissa McCarthy won for “Mike & Molly,” and along with her Emmy was presented with a crown and bouquet of flowers as if she had just won a beauty pageant. The bit resulted in a standing ovation from the audience.
Poehler’s funniest stunt to date happened at last month’s 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. When Julia Louis-Dreyfus won the award for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series,” Poehler got up to congratulate her and “accidentally” switched Louis-Dreyfus’ acceptance speech with her own. When Louis-Dreyfus made it to the microphone, she began reading Poehler’s speech, prompting Poehler to run up to the stage and switch the speeches back. Poehler had added in a line at the end of Louis-Dreyfus’ speech: “Lastly, isn’t it a shame that Amy Poehler didn’t win?” to which Poehler, with pencil in hand and mouthing the words as Louis-Dreyfus read them aloud, nodded in agreement.
If Poehler and Fey make such a scene at award shows where they are merely nominees, imagine what will happen when they host one together. Pure comedic magic.
Ever since Poehler was snubbed of the title of “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series” for her role as Leslie Knope in “Parks and Recreation” at last month’s Emmys, I’ve been sort of annoyed with award shows. While the bit she performed with Louis-Dreyfus was hilarious, I still think Poehler deserved to win.
But the fact that the organization behind the Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, has answered my prayers and made Fey and Poehler co-hosts for this year’s show has restored my faith in award shows. Adding to the fact that they are arguably the two funniest women of our time, the Golden Globes isn’t exactly the most prestigious or glamorous awards show out there, which will definitely allow the pair to cause more mayhem and, hopefully, incorporate a bit more profanity.
Honestly, Fey and Poehler could be hosting an episode of “Antiques Roadshow” and still have America laughing. While the Golden Globes is still a few months away, having Fey and Poehler host is like having Li’l Sebastian appear at the Pawnee Harvest Festival on “Parks and Recreation” – everyone will have their eyes glued to the main attraction.
