“It was a little naive”: Nikki Glaser Knew Where Jo Koy Went Wrong in the Golden Globes That She Vowed to Not Repeat

Last year, Jo Koy’s turn as Golden Globes host didn’t exactly wow the crowd, critics called out everything from awkward jokes to a lackluster writers’ room. It even sparked the big question, do award shows really need a host anymore? Well, Nikki Glaser had the perfect answer to that, a resounding yes! And she proved it in under ten minutes. Known for her razor-sharp wit and fearless roasts, Glaser hit the stage and delivered an opening monologue that was just perfect!

From perfectly timed burns to actual good jokes that had the audience laughing, Glaser owned the night. Thus, let’s dive into how she did it followed by some of her best mic-drop moments that made her the MVP of the evening!

Nikki Glaser’s Takeaway from Jo Koy’s Hosting Hiccup at the Golden Globes

After Jo Koy’s rocky stint hosting last year’s Golden Globes, Nikki Glaser knew she had a big job ahead of her, and she didn’t disappoint. This year’s ceremony was brimming with charm, energy, and, most importantly, sharp, laugh-out-loud jokes (which is going to be discussed soon).

Fresh off her comedy special Someday You’ll Die and her viral, no-holds-barred performance on Netflix’s The Roast of Tom Brady, she felt the timing was perfect for her to step into the spotlight as host. She was ready, prepared, and knew exactly how to make it work.

In an interview with Variety, Glaser revealed the key lesson she took from Jo Koy’s missteps, she explained,

It taught me the importance of contextualizing yourself to the room as a comedian. Comedians, we would love to be thought of in the same light as these A-listers, but we just aren’t. His monologue would have gone a lot better had he acknowledged, “Who am I?” He’s a guy that kills harder than anyone I’ve seen kill before — to his audience. So I think he thought that would be the vibe there. And it was a little naive.

She further added,

I’m going the other way and not assuming anyone knows who I am, and making sure they’re introduced to me before I start making jokes about them.

In the end, it showed exactly what she learned, and what she boldly made her own. Her performance wasn’t just a win, it was a masterclass in how to host. And the reviews say people absolutely loved her!

Top Moments from Nikki Glaser’s Golden Globes Hosting!

Nikki Glaser took the Golden Globes stage and wasted no time setting the tone for the night. Welcoming the A-listers to “Ozempic’s biggest night!”, immediately cracking up the room and proving she came ready to roast. Her opening monologue was an absolute breath of fresh air, packed with clever, topical jokes that left the audience in stitches and reminded everyone why a great host is worth their weight in comedy gold.

To name a few, Harrison Ford got a mention, Benny Blanco’s engagement to Selena Gomez earned a cheeky nod, and Timothée Chalamet’s mustache didn’t escape unscathed either. The jokes didn’t stop there. She threw out zingers like,

“Denzel Washington is here for Gladiator II, Cynthia Erivo is here for Wicked, and Martin Short is here because we have cameras.”

“Zendaya, you were incredible in Dune. I woke up for all of your scenes.”

“Tilda Swinton is nominated for her role as Timothée Chalamet.”

“I’m sorry, Joker 2, where’s their table? Oh, they’re not here.”

Here is what the fans are saying about her performance,

Nikki Glaser just did an Adam Sandler impression of Timothée Chalamet's name…and then got Adam Sandler join in lol#GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/p1BOnbgR9u

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) January 6, 2025

nikki glaser reminding us why we should never have a male awards show host ever again

— zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) January 6, 2025

nikki glaser when she got the call to host this year’s #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/mTTbcZrI8N

— A.J. (@ajhisnandez) January 6, 2025

2 minutes in and nikki glaser already outsold jo koy #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/DsXOc7PCld

— vala 💋 (@prfctromantics) January 6, 2025

Nikki Glaser I was NOT familiar with your game pic.twitter.com/8x25ZyT7ir

— tarek (@cIitarek) January 6, 2025

Glaser also did not shy away from tackling Hollywood’s glaring double standards with,

There’s been a lot of talk about comebacks—Pamela Anderson, Demi Moore. If you’re a woman over 50 in a lead role, they call it a comeback. If you’re a man over 50 in a lead role, congratulations, you’re about to play Sydney Sweeney’s boyfriend.

Even the trickiest moments landed smoothly. Case in point, when she called Adrien Brody a “two-time Holocaust survivor,” referencing his role in The Pianist and his current nomination for The Brutalist. It could’ve fallen flat, but Brody laughed and blew her a kiss, proving Glaser knew how to take risks and stick the landing.

Throughout the night, she kept the energy high with sharp quips about everyone from Ben Affleck to Diddy. By the end, it was clear that she didn’t just host the show, she owned it. With her pitch-perfect delivery, she reminded everyone why the right host can make or break an awards show. And this one? She absolutely crushed it.

Watch her full opening monologue here: