The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast
Season 1
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts is a 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 in New York City. The format would have the celebrity guest seated at a banquet table, 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 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 1973, The Dean Martin Show was declining in popularity. The final 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.
54 Episodes
- Ronald Reagan
E1Ronald ReaganGovernor of California and former actor Ronald Reagan is roasted by Dean Martin and his friends. On the dais with Dean are Jack Benny, Jackie Vernon, Jonathan Winters, Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles, Dom DeLuise, Pat Henry, Audrey Meadows, Nipsey Russell, Mark Spitz and Ronald's wife Nancy Reagan. - Johnny Carson
E8Johnny Carson'The Tonight Show' host Johnny Carson is roasted by Dean and his friends. Roasters include 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 and Joanna Holland. - Hubert Humphrey
E10Hubert HumphreyCurrent Democrat senator Hubert H. Humphrey, formerly the losing candidate in the 1968 Presidential race, is roasted by Pat Henry, Nipsey Russell, Gene Kelly, Leo Durocher, Mort Sahl, Ted Knight, Mark Russell, Rich Little, Donald Rice, Lowell Weicker, Foster Brooks, and Audrey Meadows. - Don Rickles
E17Don RicklesDon Rickles, resident member of the roasters is roasted himself in this episode. Dean is accompanied on the dais by Joey Bishop, Phyllis Diller, Lorne Greene, Rowan & Martin, Casey Kaseem, Bob Newhart, Carol Channing, Nipsey Russell, Cliff Robertson, Jack Klugman, Pat Henry, Kirk Douglas, Rich Little, Telly Savalas, Charlie Callas, Foster Brooks and Eugene Cernan (Apollo XVII). - Jack Benny
E19Jack BennyJack Benny, legendary comedian of vaudeville, radio, and television, is roasted by 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, and Gary Burghoff. - George Washington
E38George WashingtonThe fanciful roast of a historical figure, in this case George Washington, victorious general and first President (played by Jan Leighton). Roasters: Leonard Barr, Foster Brooks (as Washington's press secretary), Jack Carter, Euell Gibbons, Steve Lawrence (as Washington's aide-de-camp), Dick Martin, Audrey Meadows (as Martha Washington), Corbett Monica, Nipsy Russell, Henny Youngman.
