The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast is an NBC television special show hosted by entertainer Dean Martin from 1974-84. 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 James 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, 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, James Stewart, Howard Cosell, Jack Benny, Omar Bradley, Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Neil Armstrong, Rich Little, Ginger Rogers, Billy Graham, Johnny Bench, Foster Brooks, Ronald Reagan, Nipsey Russell, Don Rickles, Sugar Ray Robinson, Mark Spitz, Zsa Zsa Gabor, John Wayne, Henry Kissinger, Dolores Hope
- Telly Savalas, November 15, 1974
- Roasters: Angie Dickinson, Don Rickles, Dick Martin, Ernest Borgnine, Dan Rowan, Phyllis Diller, Shelley Winters, Rich Little, George Kennedy, Richard Roundtree, Howard Cosell, Robert Stack, Nipsey Russell, Alex Karras, Dom DeLuise, Peter Graves, Foster Brooks, Darren McGavin, Casey Kasem
- Lucille Ball, February 7, 1975
- Roasters: Jack Benny, Dan Rowan, Don Rickles, Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers, Dick Martin, Totie Fields, Milton Berle, Henry Fonda, Nipsey Russell, Vivian Vance, Rich Little, Foster Brooks, Phyllis Diller, Gale Gordon, Ruth Buzzi, Gary Morton
- Jackie Gleason, February 27, 1975
- Roasters: Phyllis Diller, Art Carney, Gene Kelly, Danny Thomas, Milton Berle, Audrey Meadows, Sid Caesar, Foster Brooks, Sheila MacRae, Jane Kean, Nipsey Russell, Frank Gorshin
- Sammy Davis Jr., April 24, 1975
- Roasters: Freddie Prinze, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller, Nipsey Russell, Danny Thomas, Milton Berle, Dionne Warwick,
Wilt Chamberlain, Joey Bishop, Jan Murray, Frank Gorshin, Foster Brooks, Norm Crosby, Altovise Davis
- Michael Landon, May 15, 1975
- Roasters: Don Rickles, Lorne Greene, Phyllis Diller, Amanda Blake, Sid Caesar, Ernest Borgnine, Joey Bishop, Jan Murray, Cliff Robertson, Euell Gibbons, Norm Crosby, Guy Marks, Victor Sen Yung
- Evel Knievel, November 11, 1975
- Roasters: William Conrad, Don Rickles, Glen Campbell, Barry Goldwater, Ernest Borgnine, Milton Berle, Gabe Kaplan, Jackie Cooper, Isabel Sanford, Cliff Robertson, McLean Stevenson, Georgia Engel, Joyce Brothers, Nipsey Russell, Audrey Meadows, Sandy Herdt, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas
- Valerie Harper, November 20, 1975
- Roasters: Nancy Walker, David Groh, Rich Little, Shelley Winters, Edward Asner, Isabel Sanford, Phyllis Diller, Chad Everett, Milton Berle, Foster Brooks, Georgia Engel, Julie Kavner, Nipsey Russell, Jack Carter, Red Buttons, Eva Gabor, Jack Albertson, Harold Gould, Jamie Farr, Richard Schaal
- Muhammad Ali, February 19, 1976
- Roasters: Howard Cosell, Orson Welles, Freddie Prinze, Gabe Kaplan, Tony Orlando, Gene Kelly, Isabel Sanford, Wilt Chamberlain, Sherman Hemsley, Red Buttons, Rocky Graziano, Georgia Engel, Floyd Patterson, Foster Brooks, Nipsey Russell, Charlie Callas, Billy Crystal, Ruth Buzzi
- Dean Martin, February 27, 1976
- Roasters: Don Rickles (Roastmaster), Bob Hope, Orson Welles, James Stewart, Gene Kelly, John Wayne, Muhammad Ali, Gabe Kaplan, Tony Orlando, Howard Cosell, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, Barry Goldwater, Joe Namath,
Rich Little, Angie Dickinson, Joey Bishop, Hubert Humphrey, Foster Brooks, Paul Lynde, Georgia Engel, Nipsey Russell, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas
- Dennis Weaver, April 27, 1976
- Roasters: Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Rich Little, Steve Forrest, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Shelley Winters,
Milton Berle, George Hamilton, Red Buttons, Martin Milner, Nipsey Russell, J. D. Cannon, Mike Connors, Georgia Engel, William Conrad, Peter Graves, Sheldon Leonard, Jim Hutton, Ruth Buzzi, Foster Brooks
- Joe Garagiola, May 25, 1976
- Roasters: Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Gabe Kaplan, Shirley Jones, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Luis Tiant, Red Buttons, Charlie Finley, Maury Wills, Jack Carter, Norm Crosby, Foster Brooks, Nipsey Russell, Willie Mays,
Orson Welles, Pat Henry, Charlie Callas, Jackie Gayle
- Redd Foxx, November 26, 1976
- Roasters: Joe Garagiola, Steve Allen, Abe Vigoda, Slappy White, Jimmie Walker, Isabel Sanford, Isaac Hayes, Norm Crosby, LaWanda Page, George Kirby, Nipsey Russell, Milton Berle, Marty Allen, Orson Welles, Don Rickles, Liz Torres
- Danny Thomas, December 15, 1976
- Roasters: Lucille Ball, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Charo, Gene Kelly, Jan Murray, Red Buttons, Dena Dietrich,
Milton Berle, Harvey Korman, Orson Welles, Howard Cosell, Don Knotts, Charlie Callas, Ruth Buzzi
- Ted Knight, February 3, 1977
- Roasters: James Stewart, Georgia Engel, Julie McWhirter, Edward Asner, Red Buttons, LaWanda Page, Paul Williams, Gavin MacLeod, Jackie Mason, Harvey Korman, Foster Brooks, Jimmie Walker, Scatman Crothers,
Jack Carter, Orson Welles, Kelly Monteith, Willie Tyler & Lester, Renée Richards
- Dan Haggerty, February 11, 1977
- Roasters: Denver Pyle, Red Buttons, Jimmie Walker, Marilyn Michaels, Roger Miller, Foster Brooks, LaWanda Page, Abe Vigoda, William Conrad, Rich Little, Tom Dreesen, Orson Welles, Jackie Gayle, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas
- Gabe Kaplan, February 21, 1977
- Roasters: Charo, Johnny Bench, Milton Berle, Ed Bluestone, Red Buttons, Nipsey Russell, George Kirby, Howard Cosell, Joe Garagiola, Billy Crystal, Abe Vigoda, Jimmie Walker, Orson Welles, Alice Ghostley, Liz Torres, Charlie Callas
- Peter Marshall, May 22, 1977
- Roasters: Vincent Price, Red Buttons, Rose Marie, Karen Valentine, Jimmie Walker, Rip Taylor, Paul Lynde, Joey Bishop, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Orson Welles, Jack Carter, Foster Brooks, Ed Bluestone, Jackie Gayle, Wayland Flowers & Madam
- Angie Dickinson, August 2, 1977
- Roasters: James Stewart, Earl Holliman, Juliet Prowse, Cindy Williams, Red Buttons, Jimmie Walker, LaWanda Page, Cathy Rigby, Joey Bishop, Rex Reed, Foster Brooks, Eve Arden, Jackie Mason, Orson Welles, Scatman Crothers, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas
- Jack Klugman, March 17, 1978
- Roasters: Connie Stevens, Tony Randall, Dick Martin, LaWanda Page, Don Rickles, Joey Bishop, Katherine Helmond, Robert Guillaume, Milton Berle, Abbe Lane, Phyllis Diller, Red Buttons, Foster Brooks, Joyce Brothers, Ruth Buzzi
- George Burns, May 17, 1978
- Roasters: Gene Kelly, Connie Stevens, Dom DeLuise, Red Buttons, Ronald Reagan, LaWanda Page, Abe Vigoda, James Stewart, Milton Berle, Tom Dreesen, Don Rickles, Orson Welles, Phyllis Diller, Jack Carter, Frank Welker, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas
- Betty White, May 31, 1978
- Roasters: Peter Marshall, Georgia Engel, Phyllis Diller, John Hillerman, Red Buttons, Bonnie Franklin, LaWanda Page, Jimmie Walker, Rich Little, Dan Haggerty, Foster Brooks, Abe Vigoda, Orson Welles, Milton Berle, Charlie Callas, Allen Ludden
- Frank Sinatra, July 2, 1978
- Roasters: Ronald Reagan, Gene Kelly, Don Rickles, George Burns, Dom DeLuise, Redd Foxx, James Stewart, Flip Wilson, Telly Savalas, Jonathan Winters, Jack Klugman, LaWanda Page, Red Buttons, Milton Berle, Ernest Borgnine, Orson Welles, Rich Little, Peter Falk, Ruth Buzzi, Barbara Marx, Jilly Rizzo
- James Stewart, October 5, 1978
- Roasters: June Allyson, Lucille Ball, Greer Garson, Red Buttons, Barry Goldwater, LaWanda Page, Henry Fonda, Eddie Albert, Foster Brooks, George Burns, Tony Randall, Don Rickles, Rich Little, Janet Leigh, Milton Berle, Jesse White, Orson Welles, Mickey Rooney, Ruth Buzzi
- Suzanne Somers, November 21, 1978
- Roasters: Lee Meriwether, Lorne Greene, Red Buttons, Audra Lindley, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Norman Fell, Paul Anka, Milton Berle, Joyce Brothers, LaWanda Page, Tom Bosley, David Doyle, Rich Little, Bernie Kopell, Norm Crosby, Jackie Gayle, Charlie Callas, Ruth Buzzi
- Joe Namath, January 19, 1979
- Roasters: Lee Meriwether, Angie Dickinson, Milton Berle, Red Buttons, David Doyle, Tom Bosley, Bernie Kopell, Rich Little, George Blanda, Dick Butkus, Mel Tillis, Norm Crosby, Jackie Gayle, Bruce Jenner, Jimmie Walker, Orson Welles, Joey Bishop, Sandy Herdt, Ruth Buzzi, Charlie Callas
- Joan Collins, February 24, 1984
- Roasters: Angie Dickinson, Gavin MacLeod, John Forsythe, Dom DeLuise, Anne Baxter, Bea Arthur, Rich Little, Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller, Aaron Spelling, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Red Buttons, Charlie Callas
- Mr. T, March 14, 1984
- Roasters: Bob Hope, George Peppard, Don Rickles, Gary Coleman, Nell Carter, Ann Jillian, Gavin MacLeod, Ricky Schroder, Howard Cosell, Rich Little, Maureen Murphy, Red Buttons, Dick Shawn, Slappy White
- Michael Landon, July 12, 1984
- Roasters: Merlin Olsen, Brian Keith, Don Rickles, Melissa Gilbert, Rich Little, Dick Butkus, Lorne Greene, Bubba Smith, Maureen Murphy, Vic Tayback, Pat Harrington Jr., Dick Shawn, Orson Welles, Norm Crosby, Slappy White
Maps The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast
See also
- Comedy Central Roast
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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