The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts — Season 1
About this season
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 (55)
0. Michael Landon (2)
Aired 7 December 1984 • 60 min
1. Ronald Reagan
Aired 14 September 1973 • 60 min
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
Aired 2 July 1974 • 60 min
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, Nipsey Russell, Cliff Robertson, Jack Klugman, Pat Henry, Kirk Douglas, Rich Little, Telly Savalas, Charlie Callas, Foster Brooks and Eugene Cernan (Apollo XVII).
18. Ralph Nader
19. Jack Benny
20. Redd Foxx
21. Bobby Riggs
Aired 8 March 1974 • 60 min
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 and Rosemary Casals.
22. Dan Rowan and Dick Martin
23. Henry "Hank" Aaron
24. Joe Namath
Aired 5 April 1974 • 60 min
25. Bob Hope
Aired 9 April 1974
26. Sammy Davis Jr.
Aired 12 April 1974
27. Jimmy Stewart
6.0Aired 16 April 1974
28. Lucille Ball
Aired 19 April 1974
29. Jackie Gleason
Aired 23 April 1974
30. Joan Collins
Aired 26 April 1974
31. Don Rickels 2
Aired 30 April 1974
32. Betty White
Aired 3 May 1974
33. Angie Dickenson
Aired 7 May 1974
34. George Burns
Aired 10 May 1974
35. Muhammad Ali
Aired 14 May 1974
36. Smothers Brothers
Aired 17 May 1974
37. Telly Savalas
Aired 21 May 1974
38. George Washington
Aired 24 May 1974
39. Suzanne Somers
Aired 28 May 1974
40. Dennis Weaver
Aired 31 May 1974
41. Gabe Kaplan
Aired 4 June 1974
42. Michael Landon (Man of the Hour)
Aired 7 June 1974
43. Jack Klugman & Tony Randal
Aired 11 June 1974
44. Valerie Harper
Aired 14 June 1974
45. Mr. T
Aired 18 June 1974
46. Danny Thomas
Aired 21 June 1974
47. Ted Knight
Aired 25 June 1974
48. Dan Haggerty
Aired 28 June 1974
49. Jack Klugman
Aired 2 July 1974
50. Redd Foxx (Man of the Week)
Aired 5 July 1974
51. Joe Garagiola (Man of the Hour)
Aired 9 July 1974
52. Evel Knievel (Man of the Hour)
Aired 12 July 1974
53. Peter Marshall
Aired 16 July 1974
54. Joe Namath (Man of the Week)
Aired 19 July 1974