Roasts Are More Like A Simmer Lately

I watched the Roast of Roseanne last night and while funny, these comedy central toasts seem to be missing something lately. What I think they are missing, is funny comedians.


When you think of classic roasts, you have to think of the Dean Martini celebrity Roasts, yes I am referring to those late night infomercials. They had top list actors, movie and tv stars, musicians and most importantly comedians. These comedy central roasts seem to be lacking all of the above.

The “dais” for the Roseanna roast was filled with people who had something to do with Roseanna. Carrie Fisher and Ellen Barkin, were people that they she worked with, I think. That’s the point, we should have got John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf or one of the kids from her show to talk about Roseanne on set or the differences in her as the show went on and they got older. There should have been someone who could have talked about Roseanne during those years where she really was on top of the comedic world. Instead, we got Katey Sagal, who was actually funny, but she was playing a similar character on a competing show.

The other part of the dais was made up of comedians and roast regulars such as, Gilbert Gottfried, Wayne Brady, Seth Green, Anthony Jeselnik, Amy Schumer, Tom Arnold, Jeff Ross and Jane Lynch hosting.

Each had their good jokes no one was bad but there is still something missing from these last few roasts. One of my main problems with them is that they seem tamer, like the real funny stuff is being edited out. Comedians are being censored more lately because God forbid a comedian would say something offensive. Now I am not saying some of the things comedians said lately were not a little over the line. Dane Cook made a rape joke that was directed towards a heckler. Dane’s joke was a little over the top, but most of Dane’s jokes are pretty bad. I get it hecklers are probably awful to deal with. The last two stand-up shows I went to had hecklers and it was getting annoying. But the stand-ups didn’t really insult them, well maybe a few whore jokes but that’s what you get.

Jeff Ross made a joke about the Aurora shootings that was censored by Comedy Central. I didn’t really have a problem with his joke: “Seth, congratulations. This is actually a great night for you. You haven’t gotten this much attention since you shot all those people in Aurora…I’m Kidding. You are not James Holmes. At least he did something in a movie theater that people will remember.”

Now obviously what happened that night in Aurora was a terrible tragedy. I personally don’t have a problem with this joke, it was more making fun of Seth Green then it was the shooting. Does it push that decency line? Yes. Is it insensitive? I don’t think so. When I read it, I laughed and said that’s bad but funny. Ross also showed up to the event in Penn State gear with half naked men. Again the Penn State situation is awful and I believe everyone got what they deserved. But what Ross did was funny.

Ross and Gottfried were the best part of the roast. I guess my problem is these “daises” are getting people we never heard of. I think people like Jeslnik and Schumer are funny but they aren’t that funny. They both had jokes that were good but I didn’t think some of their jokes were that funny. And Wayne Brady and Seth Green? I actually like Seth, he does funny stuff but I don’t think he is the best choice for a roast. I want to see more in your face, top of the line comedians on these daises. Bring in Artie Lang, Dave Attell, Joe Rogan, Louis CK, Patton Oswalt, Robin Williams, DL Hughley, Martin Lawerence or Jim Gaffigan. I know some of those I named have been on some roasts before but Comedy Central needs to bring in some better talent. I think that has been what was missing from Charlie Sheen, Roseanne and Donald Trump’s Roasts. The talent they get is good but I want it to be better, just like the show. I enjoyed the roasts but they are not as funny as they have been in years past.

The last three have been lackluster and I would like to see them get better because Roasts are funny. And I hate to say it but bring back Whitney Cummings.