Golden Globes: Mixed views of Ricky Gervais

RICKY Gervais polarised opinion with his controversial turn as compere of the Golden Globe awards.

The star of The Office, who was presenting the ceremony for the second year running, caused controversy and guaranteed himself some headlines with a series of jibes aimed at some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

"It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking," Gervais began his opening monologue, sipping from a glass of what looked like beer. "Or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast."

The 49-year-old also pretended the Hollywood Foreign Press Association took bribes, suggested Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp were only nominated to ensure they would come to the ceremony, and introduced Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutcher's father.

He also took the time to have a swipe at Mel Gibson and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

Alec Baldwin was seen wiping a tear from his eye at the wisecracks, while Robert de Niro, who was handed a lifetime achievement award, burst into laughter.

But Gervais failed to reappear for large parts of the show and the New York Daily News called him "tasteless, bordering on nasty" while the LA Times said his jokes set "a corrosive tone" for the night.