Comedian Jo Koy named Golden Globes host in a long-awaited announcement

Comedian Jo Koy will host the 81st Golden Globe Awards, which will air on Jan. 7, 2024.

“We are thrilled to have Jo host the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards and bring his infectious energy and relatable humor to kick off Hollywood’s award season,” Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne said in a statement. “We can’t wait to see what he has in store for the stars in the room and a global audience. We know Jo is bringing his A-game.”

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Koy has released five stand-up specials on Comedy Central and Netflix. His brand of humor regularly highlights his Asian heritage.

He became a regular fixture on the Adam Carolla podcast and a frequent panelist on E!’s late-night show Chelsea Lately, which helped grow his popularity.

“I’ve stepped onto a lot of stages around the world in my career, but this one is going to be extra special,” Koy said in a statement. “I’m so excited to be hosting the Golden Globes this year. This is that moment where I get to make my Filipino family proud. Mahal Kita (Google it)!”

Prior to Koy’s announcement, the award show had remained silent on its host selection as the clock was ticking down to around two weeks left before the broadcast.

Golden Globes executive producer Glenn Weiss teased in a recent Variety interview, “We have to leave some room for some interesting announcements along the way.”

Recent reports suggested that comedian Chris Rock had declined the offer to host.

The void spurred jokes from Barstool Sports with the headline, “CBS can’t find a host for the Golden Globes because everyone is afraid of getting punched in the mouth by Will Smith.”

Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

Netflix’s Ali Wong also reportedly declined to host the Jan. 7 show. Other celebrities Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman were reported to have rejected hosting the show as well.
The Golden Globes achieved historic low viewership earlier this year with 6.3 million viewers, which was a steep decline from 2020 when it had 18.3 million viewers, according to data from Nielsen.

The awards show has grown increasingly political while ratings have declined in recent years.

During this year’s award show, comedian Jerrod Carmichael began the show with a rant about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s problems with lack of diversity.

“I’m here because I’m black,” Carmichael said in his opening monologue.

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“This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which I won’t say they were a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single black member until George Floyd died,” he explained. “So do with that information what you will.”

The ceremony will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 7, 2024. Its previous hosts include Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg, and Sandra Oh.