Jo Koy is set to host the 2024 Golden Globes, bringing his brand of observational humor to the oft-maligned awards show. However, Koy was only offered the gig after a different San Francisco Bay Area comedian reportedly turned it down.
While not from the Bay Area originally, Koy based his 2022 film “Easter Sunday” in Daly City. The South Bay suburb thanked the comedian for the honor by granting him the keys to city.
Koy has spoken glowingly about his connection to the region, especially to the Bay Area’s Filipino American population, which he featured in “Easter Sunday.”
“You all have been giving me love since the beginning,” he said during an appearance on local radio station KMEL-FM. “I used to play [San Francisco comedy club] Cobb’s and I’d play it for two and a half weeks straight. I was doing shows on a Tuesday! We couldn’t get enough shows. It was to the point where we needed to go to the arena. … The bay was the one where I was like, yeah, we need to do the arena. … That’s the love the bay has been giving me, dude.”
Koy is taking over hosting duties at the Golden Globes during a time of upheaval for the awards show. Following complaints of racism and dysfunction, the Globes broke with its longtime voting body, the Hollywood Foreign Press earlier this year. The situation had gotten so bleak that NBC didn’t televise the 2022 show.
Amid the controversy, several high-profile names reportedly passed on the chance to host. According to CNN, San Francisco-born comic Ali Wong, who is finishing up a mini residency at San Francisco’s Masonic, declined to host. Comedian Chris Rock and “SmartLess” podcast hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes also reportedly turned down the offer.
After a change of leadership, the Globes completely overhauled its voting block this year, putting an emphasis on diversity. Per the organization’s website: “The voting body for the Golden Globes currently numbers 300 and is made up of experienced entertainment journalists representing 75 countries. The voting body is 47% female with 60% self-identifying as racially and ethnically diverse: 26.3% Latinx, 13.3% Asian, 11% Black, and 9% Middle Eastern.”
The Golden Globes are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and will be aired live on CBS.