We Come Together Tonight with a Common Goal
The Golden Globes are approaching, and with it, Nikki Glaser’s high-stakes task of delivering a killer opening monologue. To get ready for the gig, Glaser spent a month with her team, developing and refining her jokes, a process she likened to “Making Mean Jokes Nice.”
As host, Glaser faces the obstacle course of pleasing two vastly different audiences: those watching at home and the celebrities in the room. To achieve this, she has set out to “split the difference” and ensure her jokes don’t bomb either way. “Aim to beat them all” is her motto, drawing inspiration from the high standards set by her comedy heroes, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
With a focus on precision and execution, Glaser has crafted a set that balances cleverness and confidence. But as the deadline looms closer, her tone has shifted from performative charm to a more vulnerable and worried tone. Fatigue is starting to set in, and some jokes just won’t take. The set still needs a good pruning to remove excess and sharpen the tone.
Glaser is aware that some of her material may be more divisive, especially the edgy jokes, and is mindful of the room. She is trying to maintain her confidence and isn’t taking kindly to failure as an option. Despite this, she seems aware that manifesting success and pushing through the anxiety will be crucial to making a memorable performance.
In the final days before the ceremony, Glaser will revisit her jokes one last time, seeking the comfort and confidence of her peers in the industry. She hopes that the familiar ritual of telling the jokes one more time will spark a newfound excitement and performance magic. Can Nikki Glaser truly kill it as host of the Golden Globes?