In a return to the Golden Globes stage on Sunday night, Nikki Glaser presented a monologue that oscillated between sharp critique and softer comedic touches. Early in her opening remarks, Glaser took a bold approach by alluding to celebrities whose names might appear on heavily redacted lists related to Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting the tension among stars in attendance.
Turning her attention to the broadcaster airing the show, CBS, she emphasized recent controversies surrounding the network. Specifically, Glaser referenced the suppression of a "60 Minutes" investigation involving the Trump Administration's actions of relocating immigrants to a detention facility in El Salvador. Quipping that the "award for most editing" belonged to CBS News, she labeled it "America's newest place to see BS news," combining cynicism with comedic timing.
Despite considering mentioning Venezuela during her routine, Glaser opted not to include it, concerned that the topic might be perceived as outdated given the rapid pace of current events. Notably, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also absent from her remarks.
When it came to notable personalities such as Julia Roberts, Glaser encountered difficulties crafting effective jokes. She shared that test audiences at her comedy club did not respond well to attempts at humor involving Roberts, largely due to the actress's widespread admiration and respect in Hollywood. Eventually, Glaser delivered a humorous aside comparing herself, like other nominated podcasters, with a warning against proximity to Roberts, which elicited warm laughter from the audience.
This was Glaser's second time hosting the Golden Globes, having been rehired swiftly after a positively received debut last year. Initially brought on following her incisive performance at the Netflix roast of Tom Brady, Glaser’s tone at the Globes was comparatively tempered, though her wit retained an edge.
In discussing Leonardo DiCaprio, Glaser addressed the well-known commentary about his relationships with younger women. She remarked on his impressive career accomplishments, including multiple Golden Globes and an Oscar, before wryly noting his ability to achieve these before his girlfriend reached the age of 30. Subsequently, she apologized for the straightforwardness of the joke, candidly acknowledging the lack of widely known personal information about him, a moment that generated ample laughter, even from DiCaprio himself.
Glaser also targeted Timothée Chalamet's physique with a joke about the actor needing to gain muscle for his role in "Marty Supreme," humorously citing a gain of "over 60 ounces" to underline the small scale of the transformation required for a movie themed around ping pong.
During her set, Glaser took her performance into the audience, humorously outlining the seating arrangement in the ballroom. She noted the clustering of nominees from projects such as "Hamnet," "All Her Fault," and "Bugonia," dubbing the vicinity "traumatized woman alley," while speculating on the absence of a similar area for men, attributing it to their reticence. Continuing her thematic humor, she attempted a deliberately low-brow musical number, feigning a mix-up of titles before shifting to an athletic outfit and blending the themes of "Marty Supreme" and the winning "KPop Demon Hunters" song "Golden."
This playful moment was cut short by co-star Fran Drescher, who, using her distinctive nasal voice, humorously scolded Glaser for singing, citing an annoyance with her vocal performance.
In reciprocal humor, Glaser was the subject of a joke from Judd Apatow while he introduced the best director award. Apatow recounted that Glaser once babysat for him and his family, noting the contrast between her comedic style involving adult themes and her role as a caretaker, leading to the end of her babysitting duties.