Streep, Globe nominee for best actress.

Hollywood will get a bit bubbly Sunday while downing about 9,000 glasses of champagne at the 69th Annual Golden Globes Awards otherwise known as the celebrity-loving event that revels in bad taste.

Ricky Gervais, the acid-tongued comedian, will be back to host the affair, even though he offended just about everyone last year. And he recently warned Matt Lauer on the "Today" show that "I might really be drunk this year."

He's mean enough when sober.

Last year, when introducing the formerly drug-addled Robert Downey Jr., Gervais said, "Many of you in his room probably know him best from such facilities as the Betty Ford Clinic and Los Angeles County jail."

Gervais lobbed another bomb when introducing Bruce Willis by referring to ex-wife Demi Moore's then-husband: "Please welcome Ashton Kutcher's dad."

And when talking about the aging stars of "Sex and City 2," he quipped: "I was sure the Golden Globe for special effects would go to the team that airbrushed that poster."

This year, Gervais will have plenty of celebrities to poke, even though most Americans are probably unfamiliar with the French actors behind the black-and-white silent tale "The Artist," which leads movie nominations with six.

It's competing for best picture in the musical or comedy category with "50/50," "Bridesmaids," "Midnight in Paris" and "My Week with Marilyn."

But the most prestigious category is best drama, and it features a race among "The Descendants," "The Help," "Hugo," "The Ides of March," "Moneyball" and "War Horse."

High-profile acting nominees include George Clooney ("The Descendants"), Leonardo DiCaprio ("J. Edgar"), Michael Fassbender ("Shame"), Ryan Gosling ("The Ides of March"), Brad Pitt ("Moneyball") and Owen Wilson ("Midnight in Paris").

The lead actress and supporting actress categories are also heavy on talent, with Viola Davis ("The Help"), Jodie Foster ("Carnage"), Rooney Mara ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"), Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady"), Tilda Swinton ("We Need to Talk About Kevin"), Charlize Theron ("Young Adult"), Michelle Williams ("My Week With Marilyn") and Kate Winslet ("Carnage").

Then there's the music. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are nominated for "Hello Hello" from the animated tale "Gnomeo & Juliet." Mary J. Blige is competing with "The Living Proof" from "The Help." Madonna will show up as a nominee for "Masterpiece" from her directorial effort "W.E."

Unlike the Oscars, the Globes ceremony also features a television competition — a strategy that usually ups the celebrity quotient.

This year, you can expect to see many of the actors from such series as "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory," "Boardwalk Empire," "Boss," "Californication," "Enlightened," "Episodes," "Game of Thrones," "Glee," "Homeland," "Hung," "Modern Family" and "New Girl."

Cable TV will be the big winner, as those stations have 38 nominations, compared with 17 for the broadcast networks.

Among cable stations, HBO leads with 18, and Showtime has eight. On the broadcast side, PBS leads with five, followed by ABC with four.

Much of the early attention will focus on the red-carpet arrivals, which will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest and his pals on the E! network team.

E! Online is already breathless. To wit: "The 2012 Golden Globes red carpet will no doubt dazzle with gorgeous actresses in fabulous couture! — OMG, so much star power!"

Even the normally subdued New York Times is getting in on the act:

"All across Los Angeles, young actresses from this year's batch of talked-about films — including Felicity Jones ("Like Crazy"), Rooney Mara ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene") and Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants") — are working round-the-clock with stylists, sometimes hastily acquired, to try to come up with 'that one major dress.'"

The style experts for the Times seem to think Jones has the upper leg in the fashion race. "She's been killing it on the red carpet," stylist Ilaria Urbinati said.

Among the men, the fashion race isn't expected to be so heated. Clooney will be dashing; Pitt will complement Angelina Jolie; Gosling will be hip.

And Gervais will be ready to rip.

cealy@statesman.com; 445-3931