They finally found someone willing to take the job.
Comedian Jo Koy will host the 81st annual Golden Globes after multiple stars, including Chris Rock and Ali Wong, among others, reportedly snubbed offers to emcee the telecast, airing Jan. 7 on CBS.
“I’ve stepped onto a lot of stages around the world in my career, but this one is going to be extra special,” Koy said in a statement. “This is that moment where I get to make my Filipino family proud.
“Mahal Kita (Google it)!”
The Globes, once the domain of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are now produced by Dick Clark Productions after years of being criticized for their lack of racial and ethnic diversity.
Nominees are now chosen by an international group of racially and ethnically diverse voters.
There are now 300 voting members; there were only 87 (none of them black) under the HFPA.
The Globes did not air on television at all in 2022 (online only) after a firestorm of venom aimed at the HFPA; when they returned to NBC in 2023, with host Jerrod Carmichael, the telecast registered only 6.3 million viewers — down 21% from the 2021 telecast.
At one point, the telecast pulled in 19 million viewers.
Koy, 52, has starred in “Easter Sunday” and Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” and voiced the character of Ebndo in “Monkey King” on Netflix — and will reprise the role for the animated feature “Tiger’s Apprentice,” which will stream on Paramount+ (Feb. 2).
Paramount and CBS are corporate cousins.
“So excited to announce that I will be hosting the 2024 @goldenglobes!” Koy posted on Instagram. “Make sure to tune-in on Sunday, January 7 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT – airing live on @cbstv and streaming on @paramountplus #GoldenGlobes.”
“We are thrilled to have Jo host the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards and bring his infectious energy and relatable humor to kick off Hollywood’s award season. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for the stars in the room and a global audience,” said Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes president, in a statement. “We know Jo is bringing his A-game.”
In an effort to attract more viewers, two new categories were added to this year’s telecast: Best Stand-Up Comedian on Television (including Rock and multiple Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais) and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.