Fresh off her second consecutive Golden Globes hosting gig, comedian Nikki Glaser sat down with Howard Stern to reveal the jokes that didn’t make the cut—and why politics became the elephant in the room nobody wanted to acknowledge.
The conversation, which aired Tuesday, pulled back the curtain on what it takes to balance roasting A-listers while keeping network executives, producers, and millions of viewers happy.
And it turns out, even comedy legend Steve Martin couldn’t crack the code on making political jokes land this year.
For anyone wondering why Sunday’s ceremony felt refreshingly apolitical, Glaser had a simple explanation: the material just wasn’t working.
Why Political Jokes Got Axed
Glaser earned widespread praise for her sharp-witted performance that walked a tightrope between edgy humor and mass appeal. But achieving that balance meant cutting material that felt forced or tone-deaf.
It’s not funny. I was going to come in at some point and say, ‘I’m hearing from the bar that we’re out of ice. And you know, we don’t really need ice. And actually, I hate ice.’ It just felt like, oh, even that’s just being too trivial. That’s what it felt like. This isn’t even that anymore. It’s hard to strike the right tone.
The “ice” reference was a veiled political dig, but Glaser recognized it would fall flat with audiences already saturated with political commentary.
Even mentioning certain names became verboten. A joke about arriving from “Trump Kennedy Center” to the “Trump Beverly Hilton” got scrapped before showtime.
It was like, you just don’t say that guy’s name right now. I just want to give it space.
Steve Martin’s Rejected Contribution
That “Trump Beverly Hilton” joke didn’t originate from Glaser’s writing team. Comedy icon Steve Martin sent it to her ahead of the show.
But Martin himself reached out afterward to validate her decision to cut it, confirming the material simply didn’t work for Sunday’s tone.
The moment illustrates how even seasoned comedians struggled to find the right political angle for awards show audiences in 2025.
The One Political Jab That Made the Cut
Glaser didn’t completely avoid controversy. She landed one pointed dig at CBS, the network broadcasting the ceremony.
Her joke referenced the network’s decision to spike a 60 Minutes segment critical of deportation policies under the current administration.
The award for most editing goes to CBS News. Yes. CBS News: America’s newest place to ‘see B.S.’ news.
Howard Stern commended her for including the line, which proved you could still deliver sharp commentary—if executed with precision and relevance to the entertainment industry itself.
From Babysitter to Collaborator
The wide-ranging interview also touched on Glaser’s upcoming collaboration with mega-producer Judd Apatow on a movie project.
The connection carries special significance: Glaser babysat for Apatow over 15 years ago, a detail Apatow himself shared from the Globes stage.
I remember thinking, ‘this person’s probably never gonna see you as anything other than a nanny,’ or whatever you came in as. I don’t feel like he looks at me that way, and he really respects the process I go through to work on these award shows. He has the same kind of work ethic and obsession with getting it right and having a real respect for these performances.
The evolution from childcare provider to creative partner underscores Glaser’s remarkable career trajectory and Apatow’s ability to recognize talent regardless of context.
What the Hosting Process Actually Entails
Throughout the candid conversation, Glaser revealed insights into her meticulous preparation process for hosting major awards shows.
Balancing multiple audiences presents unique challenges:
- The boozy in-house crowd wants different material than home viewers
- Network executives enforce boundaries around controversial topics
- Producers need the show to move quickly while maintaining energy
- Television audiences expect polished, broadly appealing humor
Navigating these competing interests requires not just writing skills but strategic decision-making about what stays and what goes.
Personal Revelations and Career Plans
Beyond awards show talk, Glaser opened up about personal topics including cosmetic surgery procedures she’s undergone and her decision not to have children.
The comedian is currently performing alongside David Spade in a Las Vegas residency at the Venetian Hotel and Casino.
Her appearance on Stern’s show closed with what might become tradition: sharing the killer jokes that got killed before airtime.
The Art of Knowing What Not to Say
Glaser’s decisions about which material to cut reveal perhaps her greatest skill as a performer: understanding context.
Comedy isn’t just about writing funny lines—it’s about reading rooms, anticipating reactions, and recognizing when a joke serves the moment versus when it undercuts it.
Her instinct to avoid forced political commentary, validated by Steve Martin himself, demonstrates maturity that separates good hosts from great ones.
As audiences continue processing an increasingly complex political landscape, Glaser’s approach offers a blueprint: address what matters when it genuinely connects, but don’t force relevance where none exists.
Sometimes the bravest comedic choice is recognizing that certain topics need space to breathe before they become punchlines again.