Comedian Nikki Glaser, who hosted the 2026 Golden Globes, has revealed a series of cutting jokes she excluded from her opening monologue, including a particularly harsh quip about actress Sydney Sweeney, during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show this week.
Glaser, 41, returned as host for the second consecutive year and used her platform on Stern’s show to share what she called ‘The Stern File’—a list of jokes that didn’t make the final cut for Sunday’s broadcast. One of the most notable was aimed at Sydney Sweeney, referencing her 2025 boxing biopic ‘Christy,’ which underperformed at the box office. Glaser quipped, ‘There was a movie this year where Sydney Sweeney played a lesbian who just bounced around in tiny shorts for two hours and it made $14,’ highlighting the film’s commercial failure.
The joke was ultimately scrapped because Sweeney was not in attendance at the ceremony, a decision Glaser explained was strategic to avoid targeting absent celebrities unnecessarily. This revelation offers a glimpse into the careful calculus behind awards show humor, where hosts balance edginess with etiquette.
Beyond Sweeney, Glaser had prepared barbs for several other A-listers. For Brad Pitt, nominated for his role in ‘F1,’ she wrote, ‘When a man turns 60, he gets to play a race car driver. Meanwhile, after 35, every role for a woman is a tired mom who hates her life,’ commenting on age and gender dynamics in Hollywood. She also had multiple jokes for Sean Penn, including one about his ‘neck veins,’ but settled on calling him ‘a sexy leather handbag’ during the live show to avoid upsetting him.
Julia Roberts was another target, with Glaser crafting a joke about her film ‘After the Hunt’: ‘I don’t know what it’s about, but I’m assuming the hunt was to find someone who’s seen it.’ However, Glaser cut this out of fear of backlash, describing Roberts as ‘untouchable.’ Similarly, she omitted a joke about Jonathan Bailey being the first openly gay ‘Sexiest Man Alive,’ adding context about past winners.
Glaser also shared scrapped jokes involving Timothée Chalamet’s sex life, Jeff Goldblum’s Apartments.com ads, and a cringe-worthy bit about AI actress Tilly Norwood. These disclosures underscore the extensive material comedians generate and the selective process required for prime-time broadcasts.
The producers of the Golden Globes, Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, praised Glaser’s work ethic and humor, noting that her self-deprecating style set a tone that allowed for pointed jokes without malice. They expressed hope for her return in 2027, highlighting her effectiveness as a host who can navigate industry sensitivities.
This behind-the-scenes look not only entertains but also sheds light on the pressures and creative decisions in live television. Glaser’s revelations remind audiences of the unspoken rules in comedy and the fine line hosts walk between satire and sensitivity, making for a compelling post-awards narrative.
