The fraternity of people who’ve hosted national award shows is a pretty tiny one, a connection shared between some few dozens of people who’ve faced the collected stares of TV cameras, the looming eye of social media, and, most especially, the many super-famous people seated directly in front of them. Hence, maybe, why Steve Martin—who’d know, having hosted the Academy Awards on three occasions, in 2001, 2003, and 2010—spoke out today in defense of Jo Koy, who’s generally held to have put up a brick while hosting the Golden Globes this past Sunday.
Writing on social media, Martin offered up some mile encouragement, saying, “I tip my hat to anyone who steps out on stage to host a live awards show. It’s a very difficult job and not for the squeamish. I know because I’m still throwing up from the last time I did it in 2010.”
Martin went on to address Koy directly, noting that even if not all of his jokes landed, he’s still to be commended for getting up and taking the swing. “So, congratulations to Jo Koy, who took on the toughest gig in show business, hit, missed, was light on his feet, and now has twenty minutes of new material for his stand up!”
Koy has come under plenty of scrutiny for his jokes while hosting, including a reference to Taylor Swift that was met with drink-sipping indifference from the musical superstar/NFL promotional machine. The comic has publicly commented on his performance, saying earlier this week that, “It’s a tough room. It was a hard job, I’m not going to lie… I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt. I hit a moment there where I was like, ‘Ah.’ Hosting is just a tough gig.” Chin up, Koy: At least Steve Martin’s got your back.