In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Glaser revealed that legendary actor and comedian Steve Martin once pitched her a joke — and then quickly advised her not to use it.
According to Glaser, Martin passed along a line through one of her writers, a gesture she described as both generous and exciting. But shortly afterward, he followed up with a change of heart.
“He said, ‘Actually, tell her: don’t do that joke. That’s too far,’” Glaser recalled. After thinking it over, she agreed with his assessment. “I did love the joke, but I don’t think I could say that.”
Glaser clarified that the gag wasn’t crude or offensive in the usual sense. Instead, it touched on politics — an area that can be risky territory for a live awards show watched by millions.
“It wasn’t really dirty or anything,” she explained. “It was just a political joke that probably isn’t right for the show.”
Rather than feeling disappointed, Glaser said she appreciated Martin’s honesty and self-editing. As a comedian who constantly receives new joke ideas, she found his decision to pull back refreshing.
“I love that he corrected himself,” she said. “He was like, ‘Actually, don’t do that joke.’ That was really thoughtful.”
The exact wording of the joke remains a mystery, and Martin has not commented publicly on the exchange.
Martin, who currently stars in Only Murders in the Building, has been openly critical of Donald Trump and his allies in the past, though he has also said he has toned down political humor in recent years.
For Glaser, the moment highlights the balancing act of hosting a major awards show: being funny and bold, while also knowing when a line might be better left unsaid.
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