From Roast to Host: The Year of Nikki Glaser
Published on Feb. 12, 2025, at 6:03 p.m.
by Evie Feinour.
Although she’s been working in the industry for over 20 years, 2024 was definitely the year for comedian Nikki Glaser.
The Ohio native has worn many hats in the entertainment industry throughout her long career: podcaster, actress, radio host and more. At the age of 18, Glaser began honing her true passion — comedy — yet it wasn’t until 22 years later that mainstream media began to truly take notice of her talents.
In May of last year, Glaser’s career took an apparent shift after appearing on Netflix’s “The Roast of Tom Brady.” Her brutally honest comedic style and raunchy insults earned her immediate viral attention, and she became an undeniable standout — even being named “the best roaster on the planet” by IndieWire.
Her jokes ranged from the crumbling family life of the seven-time Super Bowl champion to playful jabs at comedian Kevin Hart’s short stature. The clips quickly went viral, earning Glaser widespread attention across the internet and propelling her career forward at full speed.
Conveniently, her comedy special “Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die” was set to premier just six days after Tom Brady’s roast. In an interview with “The Cut,” Glaser shared that she initially planned just two weeks of press for the special. However, after the roast, many shows that had previously declined her requests started calling back. She quickly made appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and several others.
“Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die” broke records as HBO’s most successful comedy special premiere in over two years and achieved the largest streaming audience for a comedy special in HBO Max/Max history.
This special, the fifth of her career, focuses on her life experiences and what it has been like to reach her 40s, but it wasn’t always viral moments and publicity for Glaser. On “CBS Sunday Morning,” she opened up about the obstacles that have come along with making it to this point in her career. Glaser mentioned her struggles with self-medicating, eating disorders and alcoholism.
In August, Glaser was tapped as the first solo female to host the “Golden Globes” — a prestigious honor with significant potential benefits. However, many questioned her ability to engage both the crowd of A-list celebrities and viewers at home. Concerns were heightened by the previous year’s controversy when Jo Koy faced severe backlash for his crude and insensitive jokes about Taylor Swift and the “Barbie” movie. This left audiences worried that Glaser’s typically harsh humor might spark a similar reaction.
Following the show, however, criticism was scarce. Her lighthearted mix of self-depreciation and snark was praised by both celebrities and regular viewers. At one point she even poked fun at her own reputation, assuring weary attendees, “I am not here to roast you tonight.” Her enthusiasm was palpable and her preparation noticeable — as she has since revealed she practiced her entire set 93 times leading up to the show.
Since her success at the award show, she has been invited back to host again next year.
It may have taken her 22 years, a couple of viral roasts, tumultuous life experiences and lots of dedication, but Glaser’s work ethic and commitment to her passion were recognized as she finished out 2024 being named “New York Times Comedian of the Year.”
