Comedy Central Roast

Comedy Central Roasts are annual comedy events, featuring the public insulting of prominent entertainers like Denis Leary, Flavor Flav, Pamela Anderson, Bob Saget, Larry the Cable Guy, and William Shatner. Comedy Central began broadcasting the annual celebrity roasts hosted by the New York Friars' Club in 1998. The New York Friars' Club is a private club in New York famous for honoring its most beloved members with risque and often offensive roasts. The first roast was held in 1950, with humorist Sam Levenson receiving the privilege of hearing his dearest friends comically point out his flaws. The tradition continues to this day. The first member to be roasted on Comedy Central was Drew Carey, with Roastmaster Ryan Stiles leading the event. Jerry Stiller, Hugh Hefner, and Chevy Chase all sat in the hot seat in the years following. After 2002, Comedy Central began hosting and producing their own celebrity roasts. These roasts are raunchy and fun, filled with celebrities who are eager to provide their peers with non-constructive criticism of their careers. Roasters have included Christopher Walken, Courtney Love, Sarah Silverman, Leonard Nimoy, and Snoop Dogg. MORE