Jimmy was at Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, LA on August 27th 2016, to participate in the Roast of Rob Lowe (Comedy Central).
Apart from Rob himself the people on the stage (roasting Rob and each other) were:
- Jimmy Carr
- Ann Coulter (there to promote her book)
- Peter Davidson
- Nikki Glaser
- Jewel
- Ralph Macchio
- Peyton Manning
- Rob Riggle
- Jeff Ross
- David Spade (as Roastmaster)
At the time it went largely un-noticed that Jimmy was supported by some famous musical friends in the audience – Brandon Flowers (The Killers) and Robbie Williams (with wife, Ayda).
One of the milder burns, from Jimmy was:
Rob has been involved with four lawsuits with former nannies. He’s the only person I know who books a babysitter for a night in. But seriously, Rob says he didn’t (have sex) with those nannies, and I believe him, because he’s either telling the truth, or he’s the best actor in the world.
Popular opinion was that Jimmy had been the hit of the night. One joke that shocked many was a 9/11 joke about Pete Davidson’s dad (who was a fireman, that lost his life in 2001). Many were shocked on Pete’s behalf – but JC had performed at The Comedy Store on August 23rd (Main Room) and 24th (Original Room) and (possibly also watching Anthony Jeselnik) on the 26th, testing out this material. Word went around that Pete had been present one night, listening to Jimmy tightening his material, for the roast, and had guffawed from the back of the room. Meaning Pete was not quite so “taken aback” as this Chortle story had surmised.
Getty Images have a ton of pictures from both backstage and the show – here.
In the clip, below, showing a little of Jimmy’s routine (not many clips exist online) – notice how, when he roasts Payton Manning, Pete Davidson (sitting behind Payton) spits out his drink. And Jeff Ross playing along with the burns aimed at him, hamming it up at the end (they are friends).
The Wrap wrote, after broadcast, of how Producers had to turn up the laughter for Ann as, when she took to the podium, her material resulted in either dead silence – or boos. The Wrap also followed up with details of the jokes (written by Mike Lawrence and Earl Skakel) that she’d turned down.
Jimmy was perhaps at his most brutal with his unflinching eye contact, during one of his lines, aimed towards Ann. THAT is how you deliver a roast!!
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