If Ricky Gervais doesn't host the Golden Globes

Ricky Gervais has made friends and enemies these past three years hosting the Golden Globe Awards, with his penchant for feisty, frisky barbs and tongue-in-cheek British wit, but who else could fill the comedian’s shoes as host of the most fun awards show of the season?

“As of now, there are currently no plans for Ricky to host,” a rep from Gervais’ agent William Morris tells EW.com. Following Tuesday’s announcement from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that next year’s 70th annual Globes, airing live on NBC, will take place on Jan. 13, 2013, the field is open for an array of would-be hosts. Here are a few of our suggestions:

Margaret Cho: If celebrities have good naturedly cowered from Gervais’ quips (“Nervous? Don’t be,” he sneered to the crowd at this year’s Globes), then Drop Dead Diva actress and standup comic Cho would make Gervais look like a doe-eyed Santa Claus. The bawdy, tattooed Dancing with the Stars alumna, passionate about her love of belly dancing and support of same-sex marriage, is known for jokes about sex and beyond that can make even a burlesque dancer blush. Too edgy? She has the kind of sass to keep Globe nominees on their toes, if not hiding under their seats guzzling pinot grigio.

Eddie Murphy: Murphy quit his gig as the host of this past year’s Oscars after producer Brett Ratner exited following ill-made remarks, but America loves a comeback story, so why wouldn’t Murphy jump ship to the Globes? “He walked out on them. Good for him. When the man who says ‘yes’ to Norbit says ‘no’ to you. You know you’re in trouble,” snapped Gervais, about Murphy, at this year’s Globes. However, the Tower Heist actor’s loud, boisterous guffaw and general comic timing could get some love in a room full of his longtime peers, as well as the TV-viewing audience. Murphy may have the last laugh.

Steve Carell: The former star of The Office, following in the footsteps of former British Office star Gervais, could add some heart and soul, as well as self-deprecatory jokes, as host of the Globes. It doesn’t hurt that Carell dominates both TV and film as an aw shucks protagonist with mass audience credibility (ie. Crazy, Stupid, Love, The 40-year-old Virgin). He wouldn’t strike fear into nominees, but he could charm them with a little peppery gusto underneath.

Wanda Sykes: Stand-up comic Sykes has risen through the ranks of young and old comedians with an amazingly dry, on-it delivery in TV shows such as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and The New Adventures of Old Christine that could serve well at the Globes. Sykes announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last September she had been diagnosed earlier in the year with “stage zero breast cancer” and had a bilateral mastectomy. A lesser known personality than Carell or Murphy, she’s ripe to strut her stuff within a big market environment.

Kirsten Wiig 2 — Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Kristen Wiig: Last year was Wiig’s year with ensemble comedy Bridesmaids, and now that she’s left Saturday Night Live, hosting the Globes could be a sweetly etched notch on her belt. “Farting, burping, cursing, performing wild sex acts, even pooping in the sink. I heard for research they spent the weekend with Dame Helen Mirren,” joked Gervais at the Globes, of the raunchy, all gal Bridesmaids. Wiig’s got a knack for superb impressions, so watch out Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt! She could deadpan a scene from Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

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