Despite what the cowardly media said about Ricky Gervais being too mean to the po’ widdo Hollywood millionaires on Sunday, a lot of the actors present thought he was really funny (because he was). Here’s a quick round-up of the fallout:

  • Gervais’s mid-show disappearance was planned. According to Gervais’s co-writer Stephen Merchant, Gervais told every joke and introduced all presenters as planned. “That was the schedule of the evening,” Merchant said. [NY Times]
  • Gervais doesn’t expect to be back next year. But he had a great time doing it. “For three hours every year, Hollywood is scared to death of me. It’s great.” [Deadline]
  • HFPA President Philip Berk mum on whether Gervais will be invited back. “”He definitely crossed the line. And some of the things were totally unacceptable. But that’s Ricky.” [Hollywood Reporter]

God, I can’t wait for this story to go away. It just doesn’t make sense. What did people expect? He’s RICKY GERVAIS, for God’s sake. He went on Letterman and told jokes about his mother’s funeral, he sure as hell  isn’t going to show deference to Tim f*cking Allen.

UPDATE: Gervais sets the record straight on his blog:

Obviously the rumour that the organizers stopped me going out on stage for an hour is rubbish. I did every link I was scheduled to do. The reason why the gaps were uneven is because when I got the rundown I was allowed to choose who I presented to. I obviously chose the spots that I had the best gags for. They couldn’t move around the order but I could move around however I wanted.

All the same conspiracy theories as last year too… “So and so was offended”… “hasn’t been invited back yet”… exactly the same as last time. “Paul McCartney was furious”…no he wasn’t. And nor was Tim Allen and Tom Hanks. I was drinking with them after.

Why do people have to embellish? They’re allowed to say they hated it. They’re allowed to say they didn’t find it funny, that it was tasteless, over the top, or whatever. But why do they speculate and make stuff up?

Don’t worry, I know the answer. Because it’s more interesting than “it went fine and some people won some awards and then went to a party”. But that’s all that happened.