What is the purpose of a roast (not the food)?

Question

I was just watching the roast of Bob Saget on Comedy Central. I'm curious, what is the actual purpose of a roast? I mean, yeah, some of it was funny, but why do people want to have roasts for the sole purpose of saying mean things about their friends? I don't get it.

Answer 1

To tell you the truth, I didn't think it was funny at all. I changed the channel to American Dad.  "Roasting" is a waste of time and its rude.  

Answer 2

mostly entertainment. and then usually all the money goes to some charity.

Answer 3

It's a way of honoring them.  Comedians today are pretty mean-spirited in a cynical, irreverent sort of way.  Although what they say could be construed as "mean" it's generally all done in good fun and as a tribute to the person being roasted.  It's kind of like putting them on a pedestal and then trying to kick it over.  The person being roasted generally has a good time as well and can usually be seen laughing along at most of the jokes.  After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

However, the quality of the Comedy Central Roasts has gone down in recent years.  They get more and more asinine.  Flava Flav?  Pamela Anderson?  Really, these people are jokes in themselves; who wants to see a bunch of comedians make the same jokes over and over about them?  I am interested in seeing the Bob Saget Roast though cause he's pretty debaucherous and I'm sure his Roast was probably much in the same vein.

Answer 4

A lot of times they sell tickets and the person being roasted [Bob Saget, in this case] picks a charity to donate the funds to.

Answer 5

i saw it too i don't really know but its funny i guess thats why they do it

Answer 6

Cause its funny. you think about it too much just watch and enjoy

Answer 7

to punish the fans.

no seriously it's like a "this is your life" where people make fun of the people they respect and admire.

I practically had one sunday (my 34th birthday)