Comedy Central Roast

The Comedy Central Roast is a series of celebrity specials done in the comedy style of "roasting," which by definition is where an individual is subjected to public insult, ridicule, stereotypes, but also praise and tribute.

The origin of the Comedy Central Roast began in 1998 when Comedy Central produced and televised the annual roasts at the New York Friars Club. After their five-year agreement to air the roasts expired, the network decided to continue the fashion. The first official Comedy Central Roast was of Denis Leary. It became the most watched non-South Park program in the channel's history. A roasting of a celebrity has now become an annual event.