The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast

src: provenentertainment.com

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast is an NBC television special show hosted by entertainer Dean Martin from 1974 to 1984. For a series of 54 specials and shows, Martin would periodically "roast" a celebrity. These roasts were patterned after the roasts held at the New York Friars' Club. The format would have the celebrity guest seated on a dais, and one by one the guest of honor was affectionately chided or insulted about his career by his fellow celebrity friends.

In 1973, The Dean Martin Show was declining in popularity. The final (1973-74) season of his variety show would be retooled into one of celebrity roasts, requiring less of Martin's involvement. For the 1973-1974 season, a new feature called "Man of the Week Celebrity Roast" was added to try to pick up the ratings. The roasts seemed to be popular among television audiences and are often marketed in post-issues as part of the official Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and not The Dean Martin Show. After The Dean Martin Show was cancelled in 1974, NBC drew up a contract with Martin to do several specials and do more roast specials. Starting with Bob Hope in 1974, the roast was taped in California and turned out to be a hit, leading to many other roasts to follow.

In the fall of 1974, the roasts moved permanently to the MGM Grand Hotel's Ziegfeld Room in Las Vegas and mainly aired Thursdays on NBC. The televised roasts were popular in the ratings; however Martin and NBC declined to extend the 10-year contract. Some segments were taped prior or after the roast, due to considerations with the performer or technical aspects. No roasts were broadcast between 1980 and 1983 (partly due to the MGM Grand fire of 1980), with the specials returning for a final few installments in 1984. The show's official title as a television special would change based on the celebrity, in Jimmy Stewart's case for instance, it would be the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart.

The "Roastees" were also referred to as "Man of the Hour" or "Woman of the Hour" ("Man of the Week" in earlier episodes). Martin roasted two sets of celebrities, Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, and Dan Rowan and Dick Martin. Only one person was honored posthumously, George Washington, who was honored for the upcoming United States bicentennial (veteran historical impersonator Jan Leighton portrayed Washington for the episode while Audrey Meadows portrayed his wife, Martha). Michael Landon, Redd Foxx, Joe Namath, and Jack Klugman were the only celebrities roasted twice; Landon's second time in 1984, being the final roast. For Dean Martin's roast, Don Rickles was host, and assumed the role of Roastmaster. Comedian Nipsey Russell and impressionist Rich Little appeared the most often on the roast with each appearing 24 times. While most of the participants were comedians known for their work in such events, occasionally unexpected participants would be featured, such as British pop singer Petula Clark who was recruited to help roast TV actor William Conrad in 1973.

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts were released on DVD through Guthy-Renker with some of The Dean Martin Show roasts selected as part of the package. The show is one of the most sold video sets of all-time. NBC Universal brought suit against producer Greg Garrison and Guthy-Renker for selling The Dean Martin Show DVDs; the suit did not affect the Celebrity Roasts. All 54 of the Celebrity Roasts are now being sold via television infomercial by Time-Life.

Video The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast

Roastees, Air Date and Roasters

As a segment on The Dean Martin Show

• Johnny Carson, January 11, 1973
  • Roasters: George Burns, Truman Capote, Doc Severinsen, Joey Bishop, Ruth Buzzi, Dom DeLuise, Bob Newhart, Louisa Moritz, Fred DeCordova, Jonathan Winters, Foster Brooks, Dionne Warwick, Rich Little, Barry Goldwater, Bette Davis, Martin Milner, Kent McCord, Redd Foxx, Jack Benny, Joanna Holland, George Gobel, Cliff Robertson
• William Conrad, April 10, 1973
  • Roasters: Phyllis Diller, Nipsey Russell, Petula Clark, Bob Newhart, Jackie Gayle
• Carroll O'Connor, July 12, 1973
  • Roasters: Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Marty Allen, Mike Connors, Elsie Birdwell, Norm Crosby, John Lindsay, Nipsey Russell, Gene Kelly, Joey Bishop, Ward Wood, William Conrad, William Holden, Donald O'Connor, Charles Nelson Reilly, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ruth Buzzi, Barry Goldwater, Cass Elliot, Redd Foxx, Don Rickles, Foster Brooks
• Wilt Chamberlain, August 11, 1973
  • Roasters: Norm Crosby, Happy Hairston, Audrey Meadows, Ken Berry, Nipsey Russell, Bill Shoemaker, Vernon Scott, George Kennedy, Jackie Gayle
• Governor Ronald Reagan, September 13, 1973
  • Roasters: Jackie Vernon, Phyllis Diller, Dom DeLuise, Pat Henry, Mark Spitz, Jack Benny, Jonathan Winters, Nipsey Russell, Nancy Reagan, Don Rickles
• Hugh Hefner, September 20, 1973
  • Roasters: Billy Baxter, Howard Cosell, Jackie Gayle, Dick Martin, Joey Bishop
• Ed McMahon, September 27, 1973
  • Roasters: Pat Buttram, Jackie Vernon, Dionne Warwick, Steve Landesberg, Charo, Jack Carter
• Bette Davis, October 18, 1973
  • Roasters: Pat Buttram, Kay Medford, Nipsey Russell, Joyce Haber, Vincent Price, Army Archerd, Barbara Heller, Henry Fonda, Howard Cosell
• Senator Barry Goldwater, October 25, 1973
  • Roasters: William Conrad, Norm Crosby, Steve Landesberg, Carroll O'Connor, William Holden, Mark Russell, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Donald Rice, Dan Rowan
• Kirk Douglas, November 10, 1973
  • Roasters: Ted Knight, Norm Crosby, Jack Burns, Avery Schreiber, Rich Little, Lynn Anderson, Jackie Gayle, Don Rickles
• Senator and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, November 22, 1973
  • Roasters: Pat Henry, Nipsey Russell, Gene Kelly, Leo Durocher, Mort Sahl, Ted Knight, Mark Russell, Rich Little, Donald Rice, Lowell Weicker, Foster Brooks, Audrey Meadows
• Monty Hall, December 13, 1973
  • Roasters: Bert Parks, Audrey Meadows, Rocky Graziano, Donald O'Connor, Gene Kelly, Birch Bayh, Art Linkletter, Jack Carter
• Jack Klugman & Tony Randall, December 20, 1973
  • Roasters: Mike Connors, Gary Burghoff, Ruth Buzzi, Soupy Sales, Jack Carter, Leonard Barr, Jackie Vernon, Loretta Lynn, Doug Kershaw, Laffit Pincay, Jr.
• Redd Foxx, January 3, 1974
  • Roasters: Demond Wilson, Joey Bishop, Nipsey Russell, Foster Brooks, Norm Crosby, Rich Little, Jim Bailey, Jackie Gayle, John Barbour, Slappy White
• Leo Durocher, January 17, 1974
  • Roasters: Gene Kelly, Maury Wills, Bobby Riggs, Dizzy Dean, Chuck Connors, Alex Karras, Jack Carter, Foster Brooks, Gladys Knight
• Truman Capote, January 24, 1974
  • Roasters: Jean Simmons, Ted Knight, Audrey Meadows, Donald O'Connor, Rich Little, Joseph Wambaugh, Rocky Graziano, Foster Brooks, Anna Moffo, Johnny Russell
• Ralph Nader, February 14, 1974
  • Roasters: Jack Klugman, James Brolin, Jane Withers, Steve Landesberg, Mort Sahl, Rich Little, Ruth Buzzi, Jackie Gayle, Foster Brooks, Donna Fargo
• Jack Benny, February 21, 1974
  • Roasters: Jimmy Stewart, Joey Bishop, Florence Henderson, George Burns, Norm Crosby, Zubin Mehta, Pearl Bailey, Dick Martin, Mark Spitz, Wayne Newton, Rich Little, Demond Wilson, Jack Carter, Foster Brooks, Gary Burghoff
• George Washington (portrayed by Jan Leighton), March 15, 1974
  • Audrey Meadows (as Martha Washington), Dick Martin, Leonard Barr, Steve Lawrence (as Washington's aide-de-camp), Corbett Monica, Nipsey Russell, Euell Gibbons, Henny Youngman, Jack Carter, Foster Brooks (as Washington's press secretary)
• Dan Rowan & Dick Martin, March 22, 1974
  • Roasters: Joey Bishop, Audrey Meadows, Arte Johnson, Richard Dawson, Nipsey Russell, Steve Lawrence, Bob Newhart, Ruth Buzzi, Foster Brooks
• Hank Aaron, March 29, 1974
  • Roasters: Joey Bishop, Eddie Mathews, Audrey Meadows, Lou Rawls, Norm Crosby, Jackie Bavene, Lynn Anderson, Nipsey Russell, Dizzy Dean, Jeannie Rineal, Rodney Allen Rippy, Foster Brooks
• Joe Namath, May 4, 1974
  • Roasters: Don Meredith, Weeb Ewbank, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Dick Butkus, Jim Plunkett, Audrey Meadows, David Janssen, Nipsey Russell, Corbett Monica, Angie Dickinson, Fulton J. Sheen, Foster Brooks, Charlie Callas, Joey Bishop, Rich Little, Slappy White
• Don Rickles, July 2, 1974
  • Roasters: Joey Bishop, Phyllis Diller, Lorne Greene, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Casey Kasem, Bob Newhart, Carol Channing, Nipsey Russell, Cliff Robertson, Jack Klugman, Pat Henry, Kirk Douglas, Rich Little, Telly Savalas, Charlie Callas, Foster Brooks, Eugene Cernan
• Bobby Riggs, August 3, 1974
  • Roasters: Vincent Price, Chuck Connors, Leo Durocher, Alex Karras, Wayne Newton, Lynn Anderson, Don Rice, Jack Carter, Rosemary Casals.
• Zsa Zsa Gabor, October 1, 1974
  • Roasters: Donald O'Connor, Charles Nelson Reilly, Sue Cameron, Corbett Monica, Donna Fargo, Lonnie Schorr, Ruth Buzzi, Buddy Hackett, Mel Tillis

As The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast

• Bob Hope, October 31, 1974
  • Roasters: Flip Wilson, Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, Ginger Rogers, Foster Brooks, Jimmy Stewart, Milton Berle, Billy Graham, Rich Little, Howard Cosell, Jack Benny, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Nipsey Russell, Omar Bradley, Phyllis Diller, Neil Armstrong, Henry Kissinger, Don Rickles, Dolores Hope, Johnny Bench, Sugar Ray Robinson, Mark Spitz
• Telly Savalas, November 15, 1974
  • Roasters: Phyllis Diller, Howard Cosell, George Kennedy, Dom DeLuise, Peter Graves, Casey Kasem, Shelley Winters, Ernest Borgnine, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Foster Brooks, Richard Roundtree, Robert Stack, Nipsey Russell, Rich Little, Angie Dickinson, Don Rickles
• Lucille Ball, February 7, 1975
  • Roasters: Phyllis Diller, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Ruth Buzzi, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Gary Morton, Gale Gordon, Totie Fields, Rich Little, Henry Fonda, Ginger Rogers, Foster Brooks, Nipsey Russell, Jack Benny, Vivian Vance, Don Rickles
• Jackie Gleason, February 27, 1975
  • Roasters: Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Audrey Meadows, Gene Kelly, Nipsey Russell, Sandy Herdt, Sid Caesar, Sheila MacRae, Art Carney, Frank Gorshin, Foster Brooks
• Sammy Davis, Jr., April 24, 1975
  • Roasters: Milton Berle, Wilt Chamberlain, Freddie Prinze, Norm Crosby, Dionne Warwick, Joey Bishop, Nipsey Russell, Phyllis Diller, Jan Murray, Frank Gorshin, Foster Brooks, Don Rickles, Altovise Davis, Danny Thomas
• Michael Landon, May 15, 1975
  • Roasters: Amanda Blake, Ernest Borgnine, Sid Caesar, Phyllis Diller, Euell Gibbons, Lorne Greene, Guy Marks, Jan Murray, Don Rickles, Cliff Robertson, Victor Sen Yung, Joey Bishop, Norm Crosby
• Evel Knievel, November 11, 1975
  • Roasters: Gabe Kaplan, Isabel Sanford, Ernest Borgnine, Milton Berle, William Conrad, Barry Goldwater, Glen Campbell, Georgia Engel, Jackie Cooper, Nipsey Russell, Joyce Brothers, Charlie Callas, Cliff Robertson, McLean Stevenson, Sandy Herdt, Audrey Meadows, Ruth Buzzi, Don Rickles
• Valerie Harper, November 20, 1975
  • Roasters: Rich Little, Isabel Sanford, David Groh, Red Buttons, Phyllis Diller, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters, Milton Berle, Ed Asner, Richard Schaal, Harold Gould, Eva Gabor, Chad Everett, Julie Kavner, Nipsey Russell, Georgia Engel, Foster Brooks, Jack Carter.
• Muhammad Ali, February 19, 1976
  • Roasters: Freddie Prinze, Gabe Kaplan, Red Buttons, Tony Orlando, Wilt Chamberlain, Georgia Engel, Billy Crystal, Floyd Patterson, Howard Cosell, Ruth Buzzi, Gene Kelly, Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Rocky Graziano, Foster Brooks, Orson Welles, Nipsey Russell
• Dean Martin, February 27, 1976
  • Roasters: Don Rickles (Roastmaster), Orson Welles, Paul Lynde, Joe Namath, Barry Goldwater, Angie Dickinson, Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Stewart, Gabe Kaplan, Gene Kelly, Hubert Humphrey, Charlie Callas, John Wayne, Joey Bishop, Rich Little, Ruth Buzzi, Tony Orlando, Georgia Engel, Nipsey Russell, Foster Brooks, Howard Cosell, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Bob Hope
• Dennis Weaver, April 27, 1976
  • Roasters: William Conrad, Shelley Winters, Steve Forrest, Red Buttons, Rich Little, Mike Connors, Milburn Stone, Ruth Buzzi, Nipsey Russell, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Georgia Engel, Amanda Blake, Peter Graves, Foster Brooks, Milton Berle
• Joe Garagiola, May 25, 1976
  • Roasters: Red Buttons, Orson Welles, Luis Tiant, Pat Henry, Nipsey Russell, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Norm Crosby, Shirley Jones, Mickey Mantle, Jack Carter, Stan Musial, Maury Wills, Charles O. Finley, Charlie Callas, Jackie Gayle
• Redd Foxx, November 26, 1976
  • Roasters: Milton Berle, Isabel Sanford, Isaac Hayes, LaWanda Page, Jimmie Walker, Slappy White, Liz Torres, George Kirby, Norm Crosby, Steve Allen, Joe Garagiola, Nipsey Russell, Don Rickles, Marty Allen, Abe Vigoda, Orson Welles
• Danny Thomas, December 15, 1976
  • Roasters: Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Gene Kelly, Jimmie Walker, Red Buttons, Harvey Korman, Charo, Charlie Callas, Ruth Buzzi, Nipsey Russell, Dena Dietrich, Howard Cosell, Jan Murray, Don Knotts, Orson Welles
• Ted Knight, February 3, 1977
  • Roasters: Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Georgia Engel, Jimmy Stewart, Orson Welles, Jimmie Walker, Jack Carter, Harvey Korman, Jackie Mason, Red Buttons, LaWanda Page, Paul Williams, Foster Brooks, Scatman Crothers, Kelly Monteith, Willie Tyler & Lester, Julie McWhirter, Renée Richards
• Dan Haggerty, February 11, 1977
  • Roasters: Denver Pyle, William Conrad, Harry Morgan, Pat Harrington, Roger Miller, Orson Welles, Abe Vigoda, Rich Little, Ruth Buzzi, Red Buttons, Jimmie Walker, Charlie Callas, LaWanda Page, Foster Brooks, Marilyn Michaels, Jackie Gayle, Tom Dreesen
• Gabe Kaplan, February 21, 1977
  • Roasters: Nipsey Russell, Liz Torres, Billy Crystal, Red Buttons, Charo, Jimmie Walker, Orson Welles, Howard Cosell, Johnny Bench, Ed Bluestone, Alice Ghostley, Joe Garagiola, Charlie Callas, Abe Vigoda, George Kirby, Milton Berle
• Peter Marshall, May 22, 1977
  • Roasters: Joey Bishop, Rose Marie, Red Buttons, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Orson Welles, Rip Taylor, Vincent Price, Karen Valentine, Ed Bluestone, Foster Brooks, Jimmie Walker, Jackie Gayle, Paul Lynde, Jack Carter, Wayland Flowers & Madam
• Angie Dickinson, August 2, 1977
  • Roasters: Jimmy Stewart, Eve Arden, Earl Holliman, Orson Welles, Joey Bishop, Juliet Prowse, Jimmie Walker, Cindy Williams, Red Buttons, Cathy Rigby, Jackie Mason, Scatman Crothers, LaWanda Page, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas, Foster Brooks, Rex Reed
• Jack Klugman, March 17, 1978
  • Roasters: Tony Randall, Milton Berle, Katherine Helmond, Dick Martin, Red Buttons, Abbe Lane, Joey Bishop, Phyllis Diller, LaWanda Page, Ruth Buzzi, Robert Guillaume, Kay Medford, Connie Stevens, Foster Brooks, Don Rickles, Joyce Brothers
• George Burns, May 17, 1978
  • Roasters: Gene Kelly, Connie Stevens, James Stewart, Milton Berle, Jack Carter, Phyllis Diller, Ernest Borgnine, Joey Bishop, Norm Crosby, Euell Gibbons (posthumous), Guy Marks, Jan Murray, Cliff Robertson, Lorne Greene, Sid Caesar, Amanda Blake, Victor Sen Yung, Don Rickles, LaWanda Page, Abe Vigoda, Dom DeLuise, Ronald Reagan, Orson Welles, Charlie Callas, Ruth Buzzi, Frank Welker
• Betty White, May 31, 1978
  • Roasters: Peter Marshall, Jimmie Walker, Bonnie Franklin, Orson Welles, Red Buttons, Charlie Callas, Abe Vigoda, LaWanda Page, Foster Brooks, Phyllis Diller, Rich Little, John Hillerman, Georgia Engel, Dan Haggerty, Milton Berle, Allen Ludden
• Frank Sinatra, July 2, 1978
  • Roasters: Ronald Reagan, Gene Kelly, Don Rickles, George Burns, Dom DeLuise, Redd Foxx, Jimmy Stewart, Flip Wilson, Telly Savalas, Jonathan Winters, LaWanda Page, Red Buttons, Milton Berle, Ernest Borgnine, Orson Welles, Rich Little, Barbara Marx, Jilly Rizzo, Ruth Buzzi, Peter Falk
• Jimmy Stewart, October 5, 1978
  • Roasters: Lucille Ball, June Allyson, Greer Garson, Red Buttons, Barry Goldwater, Henry Fonda, Eddie Albert, Foster Brooks, George Burns, Tony Randall, Don Rickles, Rich Little, Janet Leigh, Milton Berle, Jesse White, Orson Welles, Mickey Rooney, LaWanda Page, Ruth Buzzi
• Suzanne Somers, November 21, 1978
  • Roasters: Milton Berle, Lorne Greene, Joyce Brothers, Audra Lindley, Norman Fell, Norm Crosby, Lee Meriwether, Charlie Callas, Bernie Kopell, Red Buttons, LaWanda Page, Paul Anka, Ruth Buzzi, Tom Bosley, Rich Little, Jackie Gayle, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Alan Hamel
• Joe Namath, January 19, 1979
  • Roasters: Joey Bishop, Lee Meriwether, Bruce Jenner, Dick Butkus, Jimmie Walker, Angie Dickinson, Norm Crosby, Charlie Callas, Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Jackie Gayle, Don Meredith, Rich Little, Orson Welles, Mel Tillis, Bernie Kopell, David Doyle, George Blanda
• Joan Collins, February 24, 1984
  • Roasters: John Forsythe, Aaron Spelling, Gavin MacLeod, Beatrice Arthur, Red Buttons, Phyllis Diller, Angie Dickinson, Charlie Callas, Rich Little, Anne Baxter, Don Rickles, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dom DeLuise, Milton Berle
• Mr. T, March 14, 1984
  • Roasters: Bob Hope, George Peppard, Gary Coleman, Ann Jillian, Red Buttons, Rich Little, Rick Schroder, Gavin MacLeod, Slappy White, Dick Shawn, Howard Cosell, Maureen Murphy, Don Rickles, Nell Carter
• Michael Landon, July 12, 1984
  • Roasters: Melissa Gilbert, Brian Keith, Lorne Greene, Merlin Olsen, Vic Tayback, Maureen Murphy, Rich Little, Pat Harrington, Dick Butkus, Bubba Smith, Dick Shawn, Norm Crosby, Orson Welles, Don Rickles, Slappy White

Maps The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast

See also

• Comedy Central Roast

src: s2.dmcdn.net

References

Source of article : Wikipedia