At a Glance
- Nikki Glaser jabbed Leonardo DiCaprio for dating younger women during her second straight year hosting the Golden Globes on Jan. 11
- She also teased Timothée Chalamet for bulking up 60 ounces for his ping-pong hustler role in “Marty Supreme”
- The comic apologized to DiCaprio mid-monologue, admitting the age-gap joke was “cheap” but said “we don’t know anything else about you”
- Why it matters: Viewers tune in as much for the barbed monologue as the trophies, and Glaser balanced network edicts with audience appetite for A-list ribbing
Nikki Glaser returned to the Beverly Hilton stage Jan. 11 to host the 2026 Golden Globe Awards and immediately served notice that no A-lister was safe-not even the ones she claimed to admire.
DiCaprio Draws First Blood
The 41-year-old comic opened her monologue by praising Leonardo DiCaprio’s nominated turn in “One Battle After Another,” ticking off his résumé highlights.
“It’s insane, so vaping good,” Glaser said, according to News Of Fort Worth. “What a career you’ve had. I mean, countless iconic performances, you’ve worked with every great director. You’ve won three Golden Globes, an Oscar.”
Then came the pivot that has become awards-show ritual.
“And the most impressive thing,” she added, “is that you were able to accomplish all of that before your girlfriend turned 30. I mean, it’s just insane.”
The camera cut to the 51-year-old actor, who laughed and nodded. DiCaprio’s 27-year-old girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, was absent despite the couple’s recent St. Barts vacation.
Glaser immediately undercut her own punchline.
“Leo, I’m sorry I made that joke, it’s cheap, I tried not to,” she continued. “But we don’t know anything else about you, man. There’s nothing else… I searched, the most in-depth interview you’ve ever given was in Teen Beat in 1991. Is your favorite food still ‘pasta, pasta and more pasta’?”
From his table DiCaprio mouthed “yeah” and gave a thumbs-up, confirming the decades-old magazine factoid.
Chalamet’s Muscle Gain Gets Mocked
Next in the crosshairs: Timothée Chalamet, nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy for “Marty Supreme.”
“What a dedicated performance you gave,” Glaser said. “The first actor in history to put on muscle for a movie about ping pong. He gained over 60 ounces, it’s insane.”
The film, which follows a relentlessly self-confident table-tennis hustler, is also up for Best Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy. Co-writers Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein are nominated for Best Screenplay.
Glaser had promised beforehand she would not “go hard” on Chalamet’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner, yet the couple’s headline dominance during awards season proved irresistible fodder.
Julia Roberts Escapes Mostly Unscathed
The host admitted that skewering Julia Roberts-a Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama, nominee for “After the Hunt”-has long been comedy’s white whale.
“Just like ‘Wicked,’ I’m back for a sequel,” Glaser said at the top of the monologue, announcing her return by popular demand. “Just like ‘Frankenstein’ I’ve been pieced together by an unlicensed European surgeon. Just like the podcasters nominated tonight, I should not be allowed to be this close to Julia Roberts.”
Roberts responded with her signature smile, sparing Glaser the sting of a silence that has felled many past Globe hosts.
Balancing Act for Network and Viewers
In a pre-show interview with CBS Mornings’ Gayle King, Glaser outlined the tightrope she faced.
“You have to be very delicate about making jokes that aren’t going to ruin anyone’s night,” she told King, per Cameron R. Hayes. “But you also want to give the people at home something to laugh at, and you want to poke fun at the people that they’re dying for you to make fun of. People at home want you to make fun of the A-listers.”
The Globes aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
Fashion and Couples Steal Spotlight
Beyond the barbs, stars brought high-wattage fashion to the red carpet. Jennifer Lopez, host Nikki Glaser, and “One Battle After Another” winner Teyana Taylor drew early praise for their looks, News Of Fort Worth noted.
Celebrity couples also commanded photographer attention, with galleries documenting every pair from arrival to exit.
KPop Group Makes Globe Debut
The KPop Demon Hunters–Rei Ami, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna-made their first Globe appearance, performing during the ceremony and telling Access Hollywood they felt “honored” to attend. Snoop Dogg joined the trio for a brief on-camera chat.
Key Takeaways
- Glaser’s sophomore Globe stint leaned on familiar targets-DiCaprio’s dating history and Chalamet’s physical transformation-while sparing Jenner sharper jabs
- The host’s self-aware apologies mid-bit signaled both network caution and audience expectation for celebrity roasting
- With “Marty Supreme,” “After the Hunt,” “One Battle After Another,” and “Wicked” among nominated projects, the night showcased a mix of prestige dramas and buzzy sequels
- The ceremony’s dual CBS/Paramount+ broadcast aimed to broaden reach after last year’s widely praised hosting job by Glaser
