Host Jo Koy’s Been Charged With a “Celebratory” Golden Globes — That Doesn’t Mean He Can’t Roast

Lacey Rose
·10 min read
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Host Jimmy Kimmel has five months to prepare for the Oscars. When it comes to this year’s Golden Globes emcee, Jo Koy has less than two weeks.

“I haven’t slept,” he acknowledges. “And I’ve never watched this many movies and TV shows in my life.”

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Indeed, while Koy’s family and friends were off enjoying the holidays, he was busy bingeing everything from Oppenheimer to Maestro. But that’s the closest you’re going to come to hearing the Filipino American stand-up complain about an opportunity he calls “surreal.” (It’s a decidedly different take than last year’s host, Jerrod Carmichael, who famously launched head-first into the Globes’ scandal-filled past and his uneasiness with emceeing the show in his monologue.)

Koy has been selling out arenas with his stand-up comedy, but ahead of his 2022 Netflix special, he told The Hollywood Reporter that the industry had been slow to recognize his success. “I just felt like, ‘What are you acting like you don’t see? Or what is it that you’re not seeing? These numbers are clear as day. I’m an arena act. I’m on a list of people that aren’t comics who are selling out arenas. It’s like, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jo Koy and Coldplay. Like, what aren’t you guys seeing?’” he said. “And it hurt. It hurt a lot. And yeah, it was offensive that I still had to convince a lot of people that what I’m saying is relevant and funny.”

With the Globes, which are set to air on CBS (and stream on Paramount+) on Jan. 7, Koy is poised to be in front of the biggest TV audience of his career. And exhaustion aside, he insists he’s ready for it. He took a break briefly in early January to talk about his immediate yes and why his Globes won’t be quite as savage as those of emcees past.

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It seems a little unfair, Jimmy Kimmel gets five months of prep for the Oscars, and you get two and a half weeks.

Less! Less than two and a half weeks, because it still took a day for the contract to go through, and then also the writers, those had to come through. So, we’re looking at, like, nine days. This has definitely been a crash course in how to emcee a major event.

And yet, you’re still smiling …

Oh, I’m super excited. I’ve been smiling ear to ear since the day I found out that I got it. It’s surreal, and I’m enjoying every single moment.

Was it a quick yes or a protracted one? Be honest …

It was a, “Huh?” And then, “Uh, yeah!” I couldn’t believe it.

What was the appeal? Many others have suggested it’s a pretty thankless job … 

It just means so much, and not only to me. I’ve got a lot of weight on my shoulders that I got to carry. I got my family, I got my culture, I got the Asian community, I got the halfers out there — the half white, half Asian, the half black, half Asian, the half Latino, half Asian. There’s a lot of halfers out there that need some representation, and I fill that void. And I know that because when I was a kid, all I did was watch awards shows and watch TV, and the one thing you always sought out to be inspired by was someone who looked like you or someone who said something that kind of sounded like you. And I know that that’s what this moment is for me. I know that there’s going to be a kid going, “Oh, OK. It’s possible. OK, cool. He did that. So, all right, I can do it too.” And to me, that’s everything. That’s all I want.

I want to go back to your initial surprise. When we last spoke, you talked about how, despite being an arena act, there had been a long period during which Hollywood didn’t quite get you, and how that hurt. Is being asked to host the Globes confirmation that Hollywood finally gets you?

I think the first confirmation for me was when Steven Spielberg reached out and said, “I’m a fan and I love that special and let’s work together.” And then he shot that movie, [Easter Sunday.] And I didn’t care about anybody else in this industry, you know what I mean? If anyone else didn’t get it, I’d be like, “I don’t know if you know this, but Mr. Spielberg did, so y’all need to catch up.” And then getting the Globes was just like, “Yes, let’s go, man.” It’s just a beautiful thing, and there are not that many [host] options that they’ve used, and now the options have been broadened. Now there’s a variety, so let’s just keep that going. There’s so much talent out there in this industry that needs to be recognized, and hopefully I’ve opened that door. No, I’m not going to say hopefully. Yeah, I opened it, dammit. Now, let’s see all the other cats out there.

Given the strike delays, the Globes are now set to air in one of the most crowded corridors in awards show history. How will you look to differentiate this one? 

This is the fun one! And don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of every single awards show. It’s just in our blood as far as Filipinos are concerned, we’re addicted to awards shows. We’re addicted to talent shows. Growing up as a kid, we would watch awards shows as a family and we would bet who’s going to win what category. And out of all the awards shows, this is the one that everyone enjoys watching. There’s more than just, “And the winner is …” It’s like, “K, are they still eating? Oh, he’s definitely drunk.”

The producers recently suggested the show would be focused on positivity and celebrating success, which would be a real tonal shift from the past when you had folks like Ricky Gervais or Tina Fey and Amy Poehler or, more recently, Jerrod Carmichael as emcees. What have been your marching orders?

By the way, I’m a fan of everyone that’s hosted this show. I’d be lying if I said differently, and in no way am I replacing anybody. This is just a beautiful opportunity that came my way, and the cool thing about it is that they literally said, “Be you. We like what you do and onstage, so let’s try and bring that to the Globes.” And I love that because I don’t want to change myself — I want to do what I do onstage.

What is the worst-case scenario for you: getting called out for playing it too safe or crossing a line and upsetting people? 

One thing that I want to make sure that everyone in the room knows is that this is a celebration, man. The industry got hit hard. Really did. And there are a lot of us that were affected by it, including myself. I had to put my career to a halt. And there was a point in time where I was like, “Is this going to come back?” It was scary. And now we’re back. So, let’s remind ourselves of what happened and let’s celebrate that we’re back. No more picket signs, no more fear of losing a job to a computer. So that’s going to be my job: making sure that everyone’s reminded that we have the greatest job in the world, and we’re being celebrated for it, so let’s enjoy this moment.

So, there won’t be any roasting at all?

Oh, I’m still going to do what I do! I want to do it in a celebratory way, and I want to have a good time, but I am still going to make fun of a lot of people. (Laughs.)

And not that you’ve had a ton of time to do this, but …

I’ve had no time!

OK, in your no time, have you reached out to or heard from past awards show hosts with advice?

Yeah. It was sweet to talk to Seth Meyers, who made sure to let me know that the same nerves that I’m feeling, he felt, which is kind of crazy. I was like, “Wait, you felt these too?” And then I took his hyper-focused approach as well. This is a huge responsibility — I have a lot of weight on my shoulders, and I’ve got to be aware of that. So, I didn’t celebrate New Year’s Eve. I didn’t do anything. Going out and partying is not an option. Hanging out till 4 in the morning at a comedy club and chopping it up with my friends, that’s not an option. I need to lock myself in and hyper-focus on the Globes, and so that’s all I’ve been doing. Just watching TV shows and movies. And there’s nothing crazier than waking up at 9 in the morning and watching Oppenheimer, you know what I mean? (Laughs.) I want to make sure I’m prepared, which was another note that I got from Ali Wong. The one thing she said was, “Just prepare yourself, Jo.” And Chris Rock, we talked for an hour, which was amazing.

What kind of advice did Chris Rock give you?

Chris is just so generous. He and I have had maybe two conversations in our lifetime, and it was literally just complimenting each other and me telling him, like, “You’re king, and thank you for being there for me indirectly” and all that. And then him complimenting my special, which was just jaw dropping for me. So, for him to come on the phone and talk about hosting and giving me his pointers and suggesting writers, like, “This guy’s a beast,” and, “You need to use this guy,” it was incredible.

Did he also give you advice on what to do if someone were to, say, come up onstage?

No. No. (Laughs.) But of everything that he said to me, this one stuck out the most. He goes, “Fuck the wardrobe. Fuck the costume change. Watch the show. Watch the entire show, man.” He goes, “You don’t know what’s going to happen. That way, you’re ready. If someone says something wrong, you’re not going to walk out onstage and act like you saw it, you saw it, and you can react to it. Be prepared.” And when he said that, I was like, “He’s right. Out of the entire room, I need to make sure I’m prepared. I need to make sure I watch the entire show.” It was great advice. And I literally have one costume. That’s it.

Finally, I’m hoping you’ll complete this sentence: The night will be a success if …

Everyone’s happy, including myself.

Golden Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.

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