(CNN) Ricky Gervais is a talented, funny guy. Declining ratings for award shows have prompted various responses, including the Oscars' much-discussed but ultimately rather successful host-free format last year. The main rap on Gervais was that some of the material sounded "mean-spirited," as Robert Downey Jr. described it after his introduction -- which cited the actor's history of substance abuse -- in 2011. In the intervening years, Gervais has only honed his reputation as a comedic provocateur. When criticized for his material, he has returned to the argument that comedy can't be safe or designate areas as completely off-limits.

Source: CNN January 03, 2020 14:37 UTC