James Franco: Comedy Central Roast Packs Some Punch (VIDEO)

Revelers and roasters hit the Red Carpet for The Comedy Central Roast of James Franco with spunk and fervor recently and their target was clear: To poke fun at the eclectic Oscar nominee/filmmaker/artist/Yale student/teacher/esoteric, creative beast.
|
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Revelers and roasters hit the Red Carpet for The Comedy Central Roast of James Franco with spunk and fervor recently and their target was clear: To poke fun at the eclectic Oscar nominee/filmmaker/artist/Yale student/teacher/esoteric, creative beast.

The Roast airs at 10 p.m. (9 p.m. Central) Sept. 2 (Labor Day).

The outing boasts a more youthful demographic with Roastmaster Seth Rogen at the helm alongside SNL alums Andy Samberg and Bill Hader -- watch him bring down the house with his bit. Other notables, including Jonah Hill, Sarah Silverman, Natasha Leggero, Aziz Ansari (nice book deal, man!) and über roast meister, Jeff Ross (aka The Roastmaster General), brought some new zest into the franchise and the show could go down as one of CC's finest--humorous, outlandish and surprisingly grounded.

Things to expect: Roasters ripped Franco for his Oscar hosting performance (easy target!), his varied film roles, his Yale virility, his sexuality, his art and much more.

"It didn't hurt," Franco mused after the show, which was taped at Culver Studios. "If you're going to do this kind of thing, you should just be ready for whatever. It's not like I haven't heard criticism about my performance in the Oscars. Or jokes about my choice of gay roles. I feel great and I feel everyone was awesome."

Interactive play and Social Media fodder won't hurt, either. Comedy Central has unleashed some inventive games and videos on its website. (Hello XBOX!)

I hit the Red Carpet prior to the Roast's taping. Take a look (above) at the gaggle of celebs who zipped by--including Franco's grandmother, Mitzie.

Onward ...

Comedy Central Roast of James Franco: Hit Him WIth Your Best Shot
James of all Trades(01 of08)
Open Image Modal
Franco emerges from backstage with camcorder handy—a "roast" doc in the works?Photo: Comedy Central
Hot Roaster (02 of08)
Open Image Modal
Andy Samberg (left) waits his turn to revel in the roasting.Photo: Comedy Central
Ready to Grill(03 of08)
Open Image Modal
Roasters got their game on: (L-R): Aziz Ansari, Jeff Ross and Natasha Leggero.Photo: Comedy Central
More Applause—Please!(04 of08)
Open Image Modal
Franco hits the stage. The crowd roars.High points of the evening include memorable sets by Sarah Silverman and Natasha Leggero. Watch for Bill Hader (far right) to bring down the house when he takes the podium.Photo: Comedy Central
Franco on the Side(05 of08)
Open Image Modal
Sarah Silverman warms up to James Franco backstage ... after the Roast.
Good Gang(06 of08)
Open Image Modal
Roasters field questions from reporters backstage after the Roast. "Bring it," they say?
The Jeff Ross Posse(07 of08)
Open Image Modal
Jeff Ross ... and his estrogen parade, a fitting parody of Franco's Spring Breakers film.
And What Do You Think, Grandma Mitzie?(08 of08)
Open Image Modal
Jeff Ross interviews Franco's grandmother, Mitzie, prior to the Roast. Oh, the stories she can tell ...

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost