Nikki Glaser Reveals the Golden Globes Jokes She Didn’t Tell

Nikki Glaser is turning behind-the-scenes candor into a tradition: after hosting the Golden Globe Awards, she shares the jokes that never made it to the stage.

Appearing on The Howard Stern Show on Jan. 13, the 41-year-old comedian talked openly about hosting the Globes for the second year in a row and the careful balance required to be funny without crossing the line.

One cut joke was aimed at Brad Pitt, who would have been nominated for his role in the racing film F1. Glaser said she considered a line poking fun at Hollywood’s age standards: that men over 60 get to play racecar drivers, while women over 35 are often cast as exhausted moms. She also had a string of jokes teasing Pitt’s driving skills, including a punchline about his blinker being on the whole time.

Glaser told Stern that choosing what to say — and what to cut — was nerve-racking. She and her writers prepared several jokes about Sean Penn, but ultimately used just one during the ceremony, describing him as looking like “a sexy leather handbag.” Other unused jokes poked fun at his intense screen presence, including comments about his neck veins and lower eyelids.

“Once I got past the Sean Penn joke, I could finally loosen up,” Glaser said, admitting she didn’t want to upset him early in the night.

She also revealed jokes she had ready in case other stars attended. For Jonathan Bailey, she planned a line about him being named PEOPLE magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive and why the phrase “openly gay” still gets used. For Sydney Sweeney, Glaser had a joke prepared about the state of movie theaters and a low-earning film the actress starred in.

Even with her fearless reputation, Glaser said some celebrities felt off-limits. Julia Roberts, a Globe nominee, was one of them. Glaser admitted she wrote a joke about Roberts’ film After the Hunt but decided it would have sparked backlash if delivered onstage.

Before the Globes, Glaser told PEOPLE that her goal was to surprise the audience rather than deliver the obvious punchlines. Her opening monologue still included playful jabs at Leonardo DiCaprio, CBS News, and her own admiration for Michael B. Jordan.

When it comes to roasting celebrities, Glaser says respect is key. As long as the jokes come from a place of admiration, she believes audiences — and stars — are more willing to laugh along.

“It really does come from a place of love,” she said.