The self-effacing British comedian Ricky Gervais couldn't stop laughing Monday or explain why he'd been selected as host of the 67th annual Golden Globes.

"I don't know! Maybe I'm cheap? They're saving on presenters now because they all need goody bags," he said with a giggle. "No, no, someone must have said, 'Is there like a fat schmuck from Britain who doesn't know our ways and would think this is a real honor? Who'd do it for a giant pizza?' My agent overheard them. ..."

But seriously, Hollywood has long counted on Gervais, best known for having co-created and starred in the U.K. edition of "The Office," to perk up awards season. And as awards-watchers know, there are no sacred cows for the comic. He wrestled back his Emmy from Steve Carell in 2008, and during last year's Globes ceremony, he taunted best actress nominee Kate Winslet: "What did I tell you, Winslet? Do a Holocaust movie, win an award."

Gervais said he's been offered hosting gigs before but felt the Globes were best suited to his off-the-cuff style.

High on Gervais' agenda is making sure the Jan. 17 show upholds its rep as the boozy, laid-back sister to the Oscars.

"I think people should be less worried about it being a TV event and more about celebrating the industry," he said by phone from the U.K. "I'm going to give them a roasting. They're there -- including me -- for people's entertainment. I don't think we should take ourselves too seriously. It's got to be a party for the industry, and I think people will want to watch that."

Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol is getting a chance to show off his acting moves on "CSI: Miami."

CBS says Gasol will appear in the Nov. 16 episode of the crime drama, playing a person of interest in the investigation of a terrible car accident.

"CSI: Miami" stars David Caruso and Emily Procter.

Gasol sat out the Lakers' final six preseason games because of a strained right hamstring, and was considered unlikely to play in last night's season opener.

The Spanish-born athlete has other screen credits, including an appearance on the CBS drama "Numb3rs" with teammate Jordan Farmar.

Patrick Swayze's wife Lisa Niemi will give the first one-on-one interview since her husband's death on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" Friday, People.com reports.

Swayze passed away at age 57 in September after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Niemi, his wife of 34 years, will open up to Oprah about their life together, and what it was like to lose him. She will also discuss the book they co-wrote together, "The Time of My Life."

Niemi and Swayze met as teenagers at his mother's dance studio, and their marriage became one of the most enduring relationships in Hollywood.

"Survivor" winner Richard Hatch says he's the victim of a "witch hunt" by federal prosecutors.

Hatch completed a tax evasion sentence earlier this month. He complained to NBC's "Today" show yesterday that he was taken from his sister's apartment while wearing boxer shorts in August and held in solitary confinement for 30 days after granting TV interviews without permission.

He called it "the worst time of my time in prison."

But Barnstable County, Mass., Sheriff James Cummings says Hatch refused to get dressed when deputies arrived to take him to jail. The sheriff also disputes that Hatch was in solitary confinement.

Cummings calls Hatch "a stranger to the truth." A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Providence, R.I., would not comment.

Hatch was convicted in 2006 of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million he won in 2000 on the CBS reality show.

Bill Cosby is feeling reflective after a celebration of his life's work -- making people laugh.

On Monday night, Cosby received the nation's top humor prize at the Kennedy Center in Washington and was saluted by fellow comedians and entertainers.

He was lauded by Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and "The Cosby Show" co-stars Phylicia Rashad and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

Afterward, Cosby said he saw his life pass before his eyes but it was "all right."

Seinfeld and Rock shared the stage. Both said they followed Cosby's comedy as children and it inspired their own careers. But they joked they could never be as funny as him.

That led into a clip of Cosby's famous impression of a visit to the dentist and other highlights from his career.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Sunday vowed to beat prostate cancer after revealing he is fighting the disease.

The theater composer and TV star, 61, began treatment for the disease Saturday night after being admitted to an unnamed private hospital.

The man behind hit musicals "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Cats" and "Starlight Express" has cleared work commitments from his diary for the next month.

He is expected to spend the rest of the year concentrating on treatment and recovery.

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