The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Overview
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.
Episodes
S01E02 Hugh Hefner
S01E03 Ed McMahon
S01E04 William Conrad
S01E05 Kirk Douglas
S01E06 Bette Davis
S01E07 Barry Goldwater
S01E08 Johnny Carson
S01E09 Wilt Chamberlain
S01E10 Hubert Humphrey
S01E11 Caroll O'Connor
S01E12 Monty Hall
S01E13 Jack Klugman and Tony Randall
S01E14 Zsa Zsa Gabor
S01E15 Leo Durocher
S01E16 Truman Capote
S01E17 Don Rickles
Don 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,...
S01E18 Ralph Nader
S01E19 Jack Benny
S01E20 Redd Foxx
S01E21 Bobby Riggs
Bobby Riggs is roasted as the Man of the Week while Dean is on the dais with guests Vincent Price, Chuck Connors, Leo Durocher, Alex Karras, Wayne Newton, Lynn Anderson, Don Rice III, Jack Carter...
S01E22 Dan Rowan and Dick Martin
S01E23 Henry "Hank" Aaron
S01E24 Joe Namath
S01E25 Bob Hope
S01E26 Sammy Davis Jr.
S01E27 Jimmy Stewart
S01E28 Lucille Ball
S01E29 Jackie Gleason
S01E30 Joan Collins
S01E31 Don Rickels 2
S01E32 Betty White
S01E33 Angie Dickenson
S01E34 George Burns
S01E35 Muhammad Ali
S01E36 Smothers Brothers
S01E37 Telly Savalas
S01E38 George Washington
S01E39 Suzanne Somers
S01E40 Dennis Weaver
S01E41 Gabe Kaplan
S01E42 Michael Landon (Man of the Hour)
S01E43 Jack Klugman & Tony Randal
S01E44 Valerie Harper
S01E45 Mr. T
S01E46 Danny Thomas
S01E47 Ted Knight
S01E48 Dan Haggerty
S01E49 Jack Klugman
S01E50 Redd Foxx (Man of the Week)
S01E51 Joe Garagiola (Man of the Hour)
S01E52 Evel Knievel (Man of the Hour)
S01E53 Peter Marshall
S01E54 Joe Namath (Man of the Week)
Cast
Dean Martin
Self - Host
