GERVAIS' 9TH — AND FINAL? — TURN LEADS RAUCOUS GOLDEN GLOBES

Ricky Gervais made a big deal Sunday about how this was the fifth and final time he was going to host the Golden Globes.

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Maybe that’s true. Maybe not.

But it’s the frame he used this time for his devilmay-care act of jokes that provoke a swift intake of breath. Harvey Weinstein and Ronan Farrow references. A Felicity Huffman license plate line. A biting commentary that actors would line up for work if ISIS ran a streaming service. A bleeped, bawdy punchline about Judi Dench.

Gervais has a sterling track record; that’s why he’s been back five times. But it was hard to miss the weariness in some of the faces of audience members watching him Sunday.

With two awards to go Sunday and an 11 p.m. Eastern deadline already slipped past, Gervais appeared on the stage and looked at his watch.

“Kill me,’ he said. “We're nearly done.”

Joke or not, and even if most audience members could surely appreciate the sentiment, it’s not the sort of thing you want from a host.

Here are some highlights and lowlights of the annual show:

SIGHT UNSEEN

An awkward by-product of today’s splintered entertainment world is that awards shows frequently honor work that few people know. That’s been true with the streaming services’ takeover of the television awards, as Ramy Youseff immediately referenced when he won best actor ina TV comedy for his self-titled Hulu series. “| know you guys haven't seen my show,’ he said (although his humor and charm will guarantee some will seek it out). This time it reached into the movie category, with director Sam Mendes’ World War | epic “1917” winning best drama even though it hasn't been widely released in theaters. That changes next weekend, and Mendes didn’t miss a chance for some free advertising.