Comedy Central Roast

Comedy Central Roast
Logo which represents all Comedy Central Roasts.
Genre	Roast, comedy
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	11
Production
Running time	90 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Comedy Central
Picture format	4:3 SDTV (2003-2008) 16:9 HDTV (2009-present)
Original run	August 10, 2003 (2003-08-10) – present

The Comedy Central Roasts are a series of celebrity roast specials which air on the Comedy Central cable network.

History

Between 1998 and 2001, Comedy Central produced and televised the annual roasts of the New York Friars' Club. After the original five-year agreement expired, the network began producing their own roasts in the same spirit.^[1] The first, featuring roastee Denis Leary (and produced by Leary's production company, Apostle), aired on August 10, 2003 and was the most watched program in the channel's history, excluding episodes of South Park.^[2]

Some roastees have stated that certain topics are off-limits. For example, Pamela Anderson had the topic of her Hepatitis C infection as off limits, and William Shatner requested the comics not mention his late wife Nerine Kidd-Shatner's drowning in his swimming pool. Others, however, have had no limits on the topics - David Hasselhoff was one example, and according to Lisa Lampanelli (as per her Twitter feed), Donald Trump was another.^[3] Although Charlie Sheen initially agreed to no restrictions on his roast, he later said during an interview with Jay Leno that he requested jokes about his mother to be edited out of the broadcast.^[4]

Roasts

Roastee	Roast master(s)	Original airdate
Denis Leary	Jeff Garlin	August 10, 2003
Featured performances and roasts by Jim Breuer, Mario Cantone, Lenny Clarke, Doctor Dre, Dane Cook, Nick DiPaolo, Adam Ferrara, Michael J. Fox, Peter Gallagher, Don Gavin, Gina Gershon, Gilbert Gottfried as Dennis' Irish Wolfhound, Ed Lover, Joe Mantegna, Conan O'Brien, Colin Quinn, Rene Russo, and Christopher Walken.
Jeff Foxworthy	Bill Engvall, Ron White, & Larry the Cable Guy	March 20, 2005
Jeff Foxworthy was roasted by Nick DiPaolo, Lisa Lampanelli, Greg Giraldo, Colin Quinn, Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, Steve Bridges as U.S. President George W. Bush, Christian Finnegan, Gilbert Gottfried as Jeff's cow, Heidi Klum, Patrice Oneal, Anna Nicole Smith, and G.E. Smith. The hip-hop group B.A.M.A. also performed their cover of "Sweet Home Alabama" This is not released on DVD.
Pamela Anderson	Jimmy Kimmel	August 14, 2005
Pamela Anderson was roasted by Courtney Love, Adam Carolla, Bea Arthur, Nick DiPaolo, Greg Giraldo, Elon Gold, Eddie Griffin, Lady Bunny, Lisa Lampanelli, Tommy Lee, Jeffrey Ross, Gilbert Gottfried, Sarah Silverman, Andy Dick, roastmaster Jimmy Kimmel and pre-taped appearances by David Spade and Hugh Hefner. This roast featured a large amount of jokes and satire regarding sex directed from roasters toward fellow roasters, complete with Andy Dick appearing as Pamela's plastic surgeon and groping her breasts as part of his skit. Many of the jokes were also directed at Courtney Love for appearing to be inebriated (but claiming to have been sober for a year), Bea Arthur's masculinity, Andy Dick's ambiguous sexuality and Lisa Lampanelli's full figured body as well as her attraction towards black people.
William Shatner	Jason Alexander	August 20, 2006
William Shatner roast was Executive Produced by Joel Gallen, with Aaron Matthew Lee serving as Head Writer. Jason Alexander acted as roast master with Andy Dick (as the "love child" of James T. Kirk and Spock), Farrah Fawcett, Greg Giraldo, Lisa Lampanelli, Artie Lange, Nichelle Nichols, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Pollak, Jeffrey Ross, George Takei, Betty White, and Fred Willard performing the roasting duties. Special, pre-taped, guest appearances were made by Leonard Nimoy, Sandra Bullock, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, and Clint Howard. The Leonard Nimoy sequence which originally opened the broadcast on Comedy Central (Nimoy and Shatner were shown having an argument over the phone) was omitted from the DVD release, while many pre-taped sequences and jokes told during the roast itself were added back in after originally being cut. Many celebrities were shown prominently in the audience, including Adrian Zmed, David Carradine, Roger Corman, Brent Spiner, Jeri Ryan, Rene Auberjonois, Rosalind Chao, Mark Valley, Carrie Fisher, Scott Hamilton, country music star Brad Paisley, Reno 911! stars Cedric Yarbrough and Niecy Nash, and stand-up comedian Brian Posehn. Women dressed as green Orion slave girls can be clearly seen tending bar. The tagline for this roast was: "The Shat hits the fan." The Roast was nominated for a 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special. The background music for the montage of Shatner was "Everything I Do, I Do with William Shatner" by the Star Trek-influenced rock band, Warp 11.
Flavor Flav	Katt Williams	August 12, 2007
The roasters were Ice-T, Jimmy Kimmel, Snoop Dogg, Greg Giraldo, Patton Oswalt, Lisa Lampanelli, Jeffrey Ross, Carrot Top, Sommore, and Brigitte Nielsen. Celebrities such as the cast of Flavor of Love, Ron Jeremy, comedian Luenell, comedian Red Grant, Scott Adsit from 30 Rock, Nicole "Coco" Austin, Kordell Stewart, Derek Parker, Moonlite BunnyRanch owner Dennis Hof, and Chyna were in the audience. The roast was produced by Joel Gallen.
Bob Saget	John Stamos	August 16, 2008
The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget was announced on June 26, 2008[5] and first aired on August 16, 2008.[6] Saget's Full House co-star John Stamos was the roastmaster. The roast included Susie Essman, Greg Giraldo, Brian Posehn, Jim Norton, Jeff Garlin as fictional Full House executive producer Saul Schwartz (though he broke character at the end), Gilbert Gottfried, Jon Lovitz, Norm Macdonald, Cloris Leachman, and Jeffrey Ross.[7] Pre-taped appearances were delivered by Sarah Silverman, Lewis Black, and Don Rickles. Full House co-stars Lori Loughlin, Jodie Sweetin, and Dave Coulier were shown in the audience along with Growing Pains star Alan Thicke, Rex Lee of Entourage and Quantum Leap star Scott Bakula throughout the roast. Alonzo Bodden was also in the audience. Artie Lange was scheduled but did not show at the roast because he had entered a rehabilitation center. It was later revealed that Saget was highly offended by the jokes aimed at Candace Cameron and The Olsen Twins.[8] The DVD was released on December 30, 2008.
Larry the Cable Guy	Lisa Lampanelli[10]	March 16, 2009
The Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy was taped on March 1, 2009.[9] This marks the first time that a previous roastmaster has become a roastee. On February 12, 2009, the roasters were announced to include Nick DiPaolo, Jeff Foxworthy, Greg Giraldo, Toby Keith, Jeffrey Ross, Reno Collier, Maureen McCormick, Warren Sapp, and Gary Busey. Bill Engvall made a pre-taped appearance. This was the first time that a roast was broadcast in 16:9 high-definition. This is not released on DVD.
Joan Rivers	Kathy Griffin	August 9, 2009
The Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers was taped on July 26, 2009.[11] The roasters included Carl Reiner, Gilbert Gottfried, Mario Cantone, Whitney Cummings, Tom Arnold, Brad Garrett, Robin Quivers, Greg Giraldo, and Jeffrey Ross. Donald Trump and Don Rickles made a pre-taped appearance and Melissa Rivers came from the audience to roast her mother. Other audience members included Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Alan Thicke, TJ Miller, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris. This is not released on DVD.
David Hasselhoff	Seth MacFarlane	August 15, 2010[15]
Roasters included Jeffrey Ross, Pamela Anderson, Lisa Lampanelli, Hulk Hogan, Jerry Springer,[12] Whitney Cummings, Greg Giraldo, George Hamilton,[13] and Gilbert Gottfried, Sharon Osborne and Piers Morgan made pre-taped appearances, and William Daniels reprised his role as the voice of KITT. Seth MacFarlane was the roast master and was his first appearance on the show. The audience included John Slattery, Craig Robinson, Christina Milian, Hasselhoff's two daughters, Hayley and Taylor, Hulk Hogan's son, Nick, and fellow Baywatch alumni Alexandra Paul, Nicole Eggert, Gena Lee Nolin, Traci Bingham, Angelica Bridges and Jeremy Jackson. To close the show, Hasselhoff sang "This Is The Moment" from the musical Jekyll & Hyde, which he formerly starred in.[14] This was also the final roast in which Greg Giraldo participated. Giraldo died on September 29, 2010. The DVD of the special was released in January 2011.
Donald Trump	Seth MacFarlane	March 15, 2011[19]
The Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump was originally taped on March 9, 2011.[16] Roasters included Whitney Cummings, Lisa Lampanelli, Jeffrey Ross, Marlee Matlin (with surprise "assistance" from Gilbert Gottfried), Anthony Jeselnik, Larry King, Snoop Dogg, and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.[17] Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Ice-T, Russell Simmons, John Legend, Lindsay Lohan, and David Foster were in the audience. The roast consisted of jokes toward Trump's hairstyle, his show The Apprentice, and his family. Jokes were also made about Jeselnik's fame (or lack thereof), Matlin's deafness, King's age, and Jersey Shore. Several roasters paid respect to Greg Giraldo, a Comedy Central Roast regular, who died on September 29, 2010. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was highly criticized for his performance; as a result, Comedy Central pulled several of his jokes from the television airing of the roast.[18] This roast was dedicated in memory of Greg Giraldo. This was also the first time someone served as roastmaster more than once, as Seth MacFarlane also roasted David Hasselhoff. This is not released on DVD.
Charlie Sheen	Seth MacFarlane	September 19, 2011[20]
The roast was taped in Los Angeles on September 10, 2011, and was broadcast on September 19, 2011, exactly one hour after the premiere of Ashton Kutcher's first episode of replacing Sheen on Two and a Half Men.[20] Roasters included Mike Tyson, Jeff Ross, Anthony Jeselnik, Steve-O,[21] William Shatner, Kate Walsh, Jon Lovitz, Patrice O'Neal and Amy Schumer. Slash made an appearance playing his guitar during Sheen's entrance.[22] Harvey Levin from TMZ.com was scheduled to appear but ended up not doing so. During an interview on The View, Sheen's ex-wife, Denise Richards stated that she hadn't been invited to appear and, while she thought roasting her ex-husband could be humorous and that he would be able to take it, she feared it would have a negative impact on their daughters.[23] Sheen's famous family members, Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen, were unable to attend as they were promoting their film The Way,[24] although Martin appeared in a commercial for the roast, spoofing his film Apocalypse Now. Brooke Mueller, Aaron Paul, Corbin Bernsen, Duane "Dog" Chapman, Michael Boatman and Richard Kind appeared in the audience. Seth MacFarlane made his third appearance as the roastmaster. A montage of Sheen's film and television work were featured, though due to legal reasons, clips of his tenure on Two and a Half Men were never used. In the UK and Turkey, on the network which Two and a Half Men airs, The Roast of Charlie Sheen aired directly after Kutcher's first Two and a Half Men episode. With 6.4 million viewers in its original debut, this roast was the highest rated Comedy Central Roast ever.[25]

Cancelled roasts

In 2008, a roast for musician Willie Nelson was planned to coincide with the release of his box set, One Hell of a Ride, but was indefinitely postponed.^[26][27]

A roast for musician Kid Rock was announced in November 2010 and scheduled for January 2011, but was later replaced by the Donald Trump roast.^[28] Rock's roast was rescheduled for August 2011,^[29] but was replaced again, this time by Charlie Sheen.^[20]

International

The first international roast aired on Comedy Central New Zealand on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 and the roastee was prominent Māori comedian, Mike King.^[30] Also roasted in New Zealand was rugby commentator, ex rugby player, and ex of Miss Universe Lorraine Downes, Murray Mexted.

See also

• Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

References

1. ^ Frank DiGiacomo (2003-10-12). "Jack Carter, Smothers Brothers at Rip-Roaring Friars Roast". New York Observer. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/bios/index.jhtml?pg=milestones. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 
2. ^ "Comedy Central Milestones". Comedycentral.com. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/bios/index.jhtml?pg=milestones. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 
3. ^ Emma Rosenblum (2010-08-16). "Lisa Lampanelli on Last Night’s David Hasselhoff Roast: ‘I Only Make Fun of People That I Like’". nymag.com. http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/lisa_lampanelli_on_last_nights.html. Retrieved 2010-10-17. 
4. ^ Jay Leno. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - All Videos - Newest - Video". NBC.com. http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/thursday-september-15-2011/1355738/. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
5. ^ Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget Announced | Comedy Central Insider - The Comedy Blog for Comedy Fans
6. ^ The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget Official Site | Comedy Central
7. ^ Matt Tobey (2008-07-14). "BREAKING: John Stamos Announced as Bob Saget Roast Master!'". ccinsider.comedycentral.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080725164419/http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/cc_insider/2008/07/john-stamos-ann.html. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
8. ^ Daly, Sean (2008-08-04). "BOB SAGET ROAST 'OVER THE TOP'". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_u8sT3rp1eL3CG17Duc4jKJ. Retrieved 2010-08-24. 
9. ^ Comedy Central to Rip More Than Flannel Sleeves - Network to Roast Larry the Cable Guy
10. ^ Official site
11. ^ "COMEDY CENTRAL TO ROAST COMEDIC ICON JOAN RIVERS" The Futon Critic. April 8, 2009
12. ^ Seth MacFarlane will lead David Hasselhoff Roast
13. ^ Meet the Roasters | The Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselfhoff | ComedyCentral.com
14. ^ The Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff; Comedy Central; August 15, 2010
15. ^ Enter your name. "Breaking: Comedy Central Announces Roast of David Hasselhoff! | Comedy Central Insider | Funny, TV and Comedy Blog". Ccinsider.comedycentral.com. http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2010/06/09/breaking-comedy-central-announces-roast-of-david-hasselhoff/?xrs=synd_share. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
16. ^ "Comedy Central to Roast Donald Trump - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/12/16/comedy-central-to-roast-donald-trump/75786. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
17. ^ Larry King, Snoop Dogg and The Situation Among Donald Trump Roasters
18. ^ "The Situation's Trump roast jokes pulled". Naomi Rainey. http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/news/a309408/the-situations-trump-roast-jokes-pulled.html. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
19. ^ "Home | Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump". Comedy Central. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/roast-donald-trump/index.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
20. ^ ^{a b c} Tobery, Matt (July 5, 2011). "Comedy Central to Roast Charlie Sheen". Comedy Central Insider. Comedy Central. http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2011/07/05/comedy-central-to-roast-charlie-sheen/. Retrieved July 5, 2011. 
21. ^ Tobey, Matt (August 29, 2011 (2011-08-29)). "Mike Tyson, Jeffrey Ross, Steve-O, Anthony Jeselnik, and Harvey Levin Announced for Charlie Sheen Roast". Comedy Central Insider. http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2011/08/29/mike-tyson-jeffrey-ross-steve-o-anthony-jeselnik-and-harvey-levin-announced-for-charlie-sheen-roast/. Retrieved September 1, 2011 (2011-09-01). 
22. ^ Basker, Ken; Serpe, Gina (September 8, 2011 (2011-09-08)). "Charlie Sheen's Celebrity Roasters Revealed—Did an Ex-Wife Make the Cut?". E! Online. http://www.eonline.com/news/charlie_sheens_celebrity_roasters/262520. Retrieved September 8, 2011 (2011-09-08). 
23. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
24. ^ om een reactie te plaatsen! (2011-08-22). "Martin Sheen & Emilio Estevez Talk Charlie Sheen". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ter8zpmUEic. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
25. ^ Seidman, Robert (20 September 2011). "Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen Averages 6.4 Million Viewers". TV By the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/20/comedy-central-roast-of-charlie-sheen-averages-6-4-million-viewers/104354/. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
26. ^ Halperin, Shirley. "Willie Nelson Comedy Central roast is postponed", Entertainment Weekly, March 11, 2008
27. ^ "COMEDY CENTRAL(R) IS HIGH ON WILLIE NELSON! NETWORK TO ROAST AMERICAN ICON", The Futon Critic, February 5, 2008
28. ^ "Kid Rock plans 40th birthday roast", San Francisco Chronicle, November 3, 2010
29. ^ "Comedy Central to Roast Kid Rock". Comedy Central Insider. Comedy Central. May 9, 2011. http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2011/05/09/comedy-central-to-roast-kid-rock/. Retrieved May 9, 2011. 
30. ^ "Roast of Mike King | Show | Comedy Central New Zealand". Comedycentral.co.nz. 2010-11-23. http://www.comedycentral.co.nz/shows/comedy-central-roast-of-mike-king. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 

External links

Comedy Central Roast at TV.com Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump at the Internet Movie Database Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen at the Internet Movie Database

Official website (Dennis Leary) Official website (Jeff Foxworthy) Official website (Pamela Anderson) Official website (William Shatner) Official website (Flavor Flav) Official website (Bob Saget) Official website (Larry the Cable Guy) Official website (Joan Rivers) Official website (David Hasselhoff) Official website (Donald Trump) Official website (Charlie Sheen)