Nikki Glaser kicked off the 2026 Golden Globes with her signature humor during her second year as host. In her opening monologue, she joked, “Just like Wicked, I’m back for a sequel.”
She faced a tough challenge when crafting material about Julia Roberts, who was nominated for Best Actress in a Film Drama for After the Hunt. Testing her jokes at Los Angeles comedy clubs, Glaser found audiences protective of Roberts. “No one wants you to make fun of America’s Sweetheart,” she remarked. So, she cleverly shifted the focus in her monologue, saying, “Just like the podcasters nominated tonight, I should not be allowed to be this close to Julia Roberts,” which got a good laugh.
While she tread lightly around Roberts, Glaser didn’t hold back when roasting other nominees like Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio. She humorously pointed out DiCaprio’s dating history, saying, “What a career you’ve had… the most impressive is that you did it all before your girlfriend turned 30!” This line got laughs, and Glaser quipped, “Leo, I’m sorry for that joke. It’s cheap! But we don’t know anything else about you.”
Aside from the nominees, Glaser tackled serious topics, mentioning the Trump administration and its redactions regarding the Epstein files. Her punchy line about the Golden Globe nominees included, “There are so many A-listers, and by A-list, I mean a list that has been heavily redacted.”
She even took a jab at CBS, referencing their withdrawal of a segment from 60 Minutes. “And the award for most editing goes to CBS News… America’s newest place to see BS news,” she said, sparking laughter while shining light on a serious issue.
A fun addition this year was the Best Podcast category. Glaser spoofed a popular ad, humorously portraying the highs and lows of podcast listening. “That indescribable feeling when the episode starts to play,” she began, only to be interrupted by frustrating ads—a relatable moment for many.
Towards the evening’s end, she performed a musical bit, blending elements from two nominees. With a ping pong paddle as a mic, she sang, “I won’t give up, up, up on this song, yeah,” until Fran Drescher humorously asked her to stop, claiming her voice was annoying. Glaser cleverly replied, “No. I was going to rap in Korean.”
With her sharp humor, Glaser highlighted the absurdities of celebrity culture and current events, bridging the gap between laughter and reflection.
For more details about the Golden Globes and the latest celebrity news, you can check reputable sources like Deadline.
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Nikki Glaser, Golden Globe Awards, Getty Images, Julia Roberts, opening monologue
