The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
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.
Cast
Dean Martin
Self - Host
Seasons & Episodes
0. Michael Landon (2)
1984-12-07
1. Ronald Reagan
1973-09-14
2. Hugh Hefner
3. Ed McMahon
4. William Conrad
5. Kirk Douglas
6. Bette Davis
7. Barry Goldwater
8. Johnny Carson
9. Wilt Chamberlain
10. Hubert Humphrey
11. Caroll O'Connor
12. Monty Hall
13. Jack Klugman and Tony Randall
14. Zsa Zsa Gabor
15. Leo Durocher
16. Truman Capote
17. Don Rickles
1974-07-02
18. Ralph Nader
19. Jack Benny
20. Redd Foxx
21. Bobby Riggs
1974-03-08
22. Dan Rowan and Dick Martin
23. Henry "Hank" Aaron
24. Joe Namath
1974-04-05
25. Bob Hope
1974-04-09
26. Sammy Davis Jr.
1974-04-12
27. Jimmy Stewart
1974-04-16
28. Lucille Ball
1974-04-19
29. Jackie Gleason
1974-04-23
30. Joan Collins
1974-04-26
31. Don Rickels 2
1974-04-30
32. Betty White
1974-05-03
33. Angie Dickenson
1974-05-07
34. George Burns
1974-05-10
35. Muhammad Ali
1974-05-14
36. Smothers Brothers
1974-05-17
37. Telly Savalas
1974-05-21
38. George Washington
1974-05-24
39. Suzanne Somers
1974-05-28
40. Dennis Weaver
1974-05-31
41. Gabe Kaplan
1974-06-04
42. Michael Landon (Man of the Hour)
1974-06-07
43. Jack Klugman & Tony Randal
1974-06-11
44. Valerie Harper
1974-06-14
45. Mr. T
1974-06-18
46. Danny Thomas
1974-06-21
47. Ted Knight
1974-06-25
48. Dan Haggerty
1974-06-28
49. Jack Klugman
1974-07-02
50. Redd Foxx (Man of the Week)
1974-07-05
51. Joe Garagiola (Man of the Hour)
1974-07-09
52. Evel Knievel (Man of the Hour)
1974-07-12
53. Peter Marshall
1974-07-16
54. Joe Namath (Man of the Week)
1974-07-19