Golden Globes Setbacks: Ricky Gervais and Lawsuits

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is having a bad day, and a bad year. First of all, it does look like NBC is forcing them to take Ricky Gervais back as host. Gervais was spotted in Paris having lunch with NBC’s Doug Vaughn (we love Doug, who started out at Newsday on a gossip column), and the new president of the HFPA. Bringing Ricky back will mean high ratings. But the HFPA will have to endure the jokes he makes about them and about Hollywood stars. The public loves it. The HFPA does not. But NBC foots the bill, and it looks like they’re enforcing the rules. Good for them! At the same time, a judge has ruled that the lawsuits against the HFPA from their former publicist and from a charity can go forward. The suits are for breach of contract and for defamation. Discovery and depositions will now take place. It’s doubtful that the HFPA will do anything but settle the cases because, really, if their practices made it to deposition and trial, the whole thing would be over. All those years of letting Michael Russell do their dirty work means he has everything on them. (Their current publicist, Sunshine Sachs, should take note.) Circle January 15th, 2012–it’s going to be quite a night on NBC. Ricky, don’t lose that number! PS Also circle December 15th, 2011 for the Golden Globe nominations. Last year, the big gaffe was a nom for the awful movie “The Tourist” with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. Let’s see what they come up with this year…