Why Ricky Gervais Almost Turned Down Golden Globes Return (Video)

Ricky Gervais stopped by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Wednesday to moan about New Year’s Eve and to share his reasons for returning as Golden Globes host on Sunday.

“Well, at first I really did say ‘no,’” the man who spent the recent “forced fun” holiday with his cat told DeGeneres about emceeing the awards show. “I was editing one film I made this year, and I was about to film another one, and I just thought, ‘I just haven’t got the time.’”

“But they said all the right things,” he added. “They said I could say what I want again.”

Some of that is most definitely liquid courage, the funnyman admitted.

“If I didn’t drink I wouldn’t be brave enough to say some of the things I’m going to say,” Gervais said. “So, ya know, I start at a reasonable hour — ya know, I’m not a maniac. Three or four or something like that.”

Watch the video above, and catch the Golden Globes Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.