Comedy Central: Roast Of Denis Leary

Acerbic funnyman Denis Leary gets a taste of his own medicine when Comedy Central hosts a celebrity roast in his honor. Dishing out the insults are Leary's friends and fellow entertainers Gina Gershon, Joe Mantegna, Christopher Walken, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, and many more. Hosted by Jeff Garlin (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM).

The celebrity roast is a long-standing show business tradition in the U.S. whereby established performers are paid tribute to with a celebratory evening held in their honour in front of an invited audience of friends and peers from the entertainment world. The twist to this particular form of accolade however (and hence the term roast ) is that the evenings entertainment by way of speeches and spoken contributions from selected guests - takes the form of comedic insults and jokes at the roastees expense. The implication being that the guest-of-honour is an established and successful figure and able to take the jokes in good faith and not be offended. Ultimately then these events become very much a competition between the invited speakers as to who can craft the most acerbic (or profane) put-down !
Roasting originated at the New York Friars Club back in the 1920s and, whilst mainly held in private, due to the often profane language employed , the proceedings were occasionally televised in the Fifties and Sixties on The Dean Martin Show - but these were very much watered down versions of the true events.
More recently, roasts were still pretty much held behind closed doors until Comedy Central struck a deal with the Friars Club in 1998 to produce and televise its Annual Roast. On the expiration of this deal Comedy Central has continued to hold its own televised specials with the inaugural event held in honour of comedian and movie-star Denis Leary!
So light up a cigarette and take your front-row seat to see Denis Leary raked over the coals by those that know him best, because the only thing that can shut Denis Leary up is a taste of his own medicine.
1 hour 34 minutes including DVD extras.
DVD Extras:

• DENIS REBUTTAL (Full-length, uncut and uncensored.)
• RED CARPET OUTTAKES
• UNAIRED FOOTAGE.