( CNN ) -- Like many awards shows , buzz surrounding the Golden Globes has long focused on questions like who will wear what , who 's on whose arm and who will win a statuette . But another critical question has emerged since Ricky Gervais first took the stage as the awards show 's host in 2010 : Which celebrity will get roasted ? The British comedian caused quite the stir when he took jabs at Mel Gibson and Sir Paul McCartney at the 67th Golden Globes in 2010 . Jaws again dropped in 2011 when he questioned the sexuality of `` some famous Scientologists '' before revisiting the troubled past of Robert Downey Jr. Judging by the 2012 event poster , which features the third-time host snipping off the gag that covers his mouth , Sunday 's affair may be rife with Gervais ' trademark barbs . Gervais has tweeted about his Globes game plan in the days leading up to the show : `` I keep having to write new jokes as I pick my victims , I mean targets , I mean presenters to introduce . Some great people have confirmed . '' He even assured Twitter followers that he 'll be drinking lager , ad-libbing and speaking his mind : `` No one knows what I 'm going to say until I say it . That was my only stipulation to host again . '' Though he 's already been criticized for offending a slew of big-name celebrities and members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association , which runs the awards show , Gervais should n't -- and would n't -- consider toning down his act , said Gregory Ellwood , the editor-in-chief of HitFix.com . `` I think he actually feels empowered by the reaction every year , '' Ellwood said . Gervais recently told `` Today 's '' Matt Lauer that , despite making such `` offensive '' jokes , he has no trouble sleeping at night . `` I think offense is taken , not given , '' he said . `` If you do n't let yourself be offended , you 're not offended . ... My conscience never takes a day off . Some people are just offended and you ca n't really worry about them . '' Later in the interview , Lauer said the media have referred to the soon to be three-time host as a genius , prompting the comedian to let out a boisterous laugh . But Ellwood said Gervais is certainly something of the sort . `` It 's not as easy to be outrageous and biting and funny at the same time as it might seem , '' Ellwood said , noting that Gervais has pulled it off twice already . `` His Sheen joke was comedy gold for me , '' Ellwood said referencing Gervais ' quip about the former `` Two and a Half Men '' star 's typical breakfast of partying and heavy drinking . `` He could n't avoid it . '' The rest of Gervais ' material , however , was n't so obvious . With the exception of jokes about Ashton Kutcher and , possibly , Katy Perry and Russell Brand , Ellwood says to expect the unexpected at the 69th Golden Globes . Unless the expected is a whole lot of industry jabs , that is . Ellwood said many of the jokes will most likely be at the expense of director Brett Ratner , who stepped down as Oscar producer after making an anti-gay slur , and Eddie Murphy , who made the decision not to host after the controversy . ( Billy Crystal will host the event for the ninth time come February 26 . ) `` He 'll rip the HFPA , Dick Clack Productions and NBC , '' who are involved in a legal row over the TV rights to the awards show , Ellwood said . Gervais went after the Hollywood Foreign Press Association last year when he insulted `` The Tourist '' stars Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp . `` He was n't really knocking ( the actors ) . He was knocking the HFPA ( for nominating the film ) and then ( Jolie and Depp ) for showing up , '' Ellwood said . But , truth be told , Ellwood added , the association most likely wants Gervais to say something that will wind up at the water cooler the next day . Regardless of how many people Gervais offends in the process , he continues to rebuild the Globes ' reputation after a disappointing show in 2008 . A mere 6 million viewers tuned in that year , when the Writers Guild of America boycotted the event . In 2011 , Gervais ' biting humor helped reel in about 17 million viewers . What 's working so well for Gervais had the opposite effect on controversial Oscar hosts David Letterman and Chris Rock , whose bits did n't sit well with critics , Ellwood said . Awards show hosts are n't supposed to insult people in the audience , he added . `` The way Ricky sees it , he 'll never host the Oscars , '' Ellwood said . `` He takes it from that point of view , so he has no problem insulting people . There 's no reason not to . '' Gervais confirmed his no holds barred approach on his blog in December : `` I would say that there 's nothing too offensive in there , but I honestly thought that last year . So I 'm not sure of the rules anymore . '' The comedian 's advice for the easily offended ? `` Do n't worry about it . ''
Gervais caused a stir when he took jabs at Mel Gibson and Sir Paul McCartney in 2010 . His jokes at the Golden Globe awards caused even more of a stir . The official YouTube video shows Gervais taking off the gag that covered his mouth . He 's assured Twitter followers that he 'll be drinking lager , ad - libbing and speaking his mind .