7 Strategies for Roasting
Insights From Episode 4 of Kevin Hart's "Funny AF" (Comedy Resources #20)
A roast episode?! Yup! Episode 4 of Kevin Hart’s Funny AF is a roast of NFL star Marshawn Lynch. And this one’s different than the first few beyond just the roast format. For instance, there’s a four-month gap leading up to this one. That already changes the feel of it because the comedians had quite a bit of time to write, refine, and sit with their material. Also, by their own admission, many of these comedians were stepping into something they hadn’t done before. Here are some of the main things that stood out to me from this episode.
Takeaway #1: Roasting requires using a different set of comedic muscles. That gets said a few times, but it also becomes obvious watching it play out. Some comedians who were comfortable in their own style suddenly started looking unsure of themselves. Many of them didn’t want to come off as mean or offensive. Others, however, leaned into it. Roasting is about being sharp in a very specific way.
Takeaway #2: Contrast is key. One of the most interesting dynamics in this episode, as noted just above, is how much stronger a joke can be when a “nice” comedian delivers hard material. There’s something about that contrast that works. When someone who doesn’t seem built for aggression steps into it, the tension is thick and palpable. The seeming “meanness” feels less expected, which makes the jokes land differently.
Takeaway #3: Maintain your persona. The judges keep pressing one idea that I think is easy to miss: Don’t change who you are. That sounds simple, but it’s not. In a format like roasting, there’s pressure to match the tone of everyone else. The comedians who do best are the ones who bring their own style into it instead of trying to become something or someone else for five minutes.
Takeaway #4: Writing is so important. Contrary to what some may think, good roasting requires strong writing. While it might look like friends just raggin’ on each other, that’s not the case at all. So, writing shows up in a pretty focused way in this episode. Olivia, for instance, worked on her material for months, and it showed. The jokes in such sets feel intentional, and the structure holds. Roasting might feel loose on the surface, but the ones that land are anything but random because a lot of thought went into the writing.
Takeaway #5: Find the balance. There’s a lot of talk in this episode about going hard, which is actually different than just being harsh. Going hard is about finding something real to aim at. Nikki Glaser, for instance, brings up the idea of identifying weaknesses in someone’s self-image. But that’s also where things get tricky. If it’s too general, it won’t land but if it’s too forced, it’ll feels off. The balance is where the work is.
Takeaway #6: Know your stuff. I found it interesting that note cards were in play in this episode. I know at big shows comedians or those speaking often use teleprompters. But I would’ve thought for comedians, who use zero notes in any of the other episodes, there’d be none of that here. Interestingly, the one comedian I saw with notecards didn’t make it on to the next round. I get that with roasts the material is dense, and in this situation, the stakes were high, but it was still surprising.
Takeaway #7: Welcome the response. One thing that stood out about this roast was that Marshawn Lynch, the man of the hour, didn’t roast back, which is usually part of the format. That changes the dynamic a bit because it puts all the pressure on the comedians to carry the moment without the back-and-forth. It also makes the writing and delivery stand on their own in a different way. I wish Lynch would’ve roasted back.
Also, at the end of the day, this episode keeps circling back to persona. The comedians who stand out aren’t the ones who try to match the room or change based on the event. They’re the ones who stay grounded in who they are, what they already do, and push all that into a new space. That said, here are 7 insights I’m taking from the roast episode:
Roasting requires using a different set of comedic muscles;
Contrast is key;
Maintain your persona;
Writing is so important;
Find the balance;
Know your stuff; and,
Welcome the response.
I’ll say this, too: Watching this as a comedian who only works clean added another layer for me. Roasting usually leans into shock humor, and it’s easy to assume that’s the only way it works. I don’t really think that’s true. The same principles of comedy still apply here: a) Clear setup, b) strong turn, and c) a point of view that holds. The angle or format might look different, but the structure doesn’t change. So, I definitely think there’s a space for clean comedians in roasting.
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