Roast

Roast reimagines the roast as a televised comedy talk show where each episode spotlights a single celebrity guest, the roastee. That person invites friends and peers to take turns lampooning them, mixing prepared jokes with on-the-spot quips. Performers range from seasoned comedians to rising personalities, and segments alternate between scripted monologues, playful insults, and candid banter. The show keeps the tone lively and confrontational without aiming for scandal, often circling back to real-life habits, career moments and self-deprecating humor. The result is a social performance that trades polished stand-up for interpersonal comedy and moments of surprising sincerity.

First broadcast in 2017, Roast was created by Li Dan and directed by 谭晓虹, adapting roast-style stand-up to a Chinese variety format with a rotating celebrity lineup and ensemble cast including Li Dan, Qin Hao, Wowkie Zhang and others.

Roast made roast-style comedy far more visible on mainstream Chinese television, and many segments circulated widely online as short clips. The program prompted broader conversations about what counts as acceptable teasing on TV and helped normalize sharper, more personal humor in Chinese entertainment.

Viewer and critic responses have been mixed but generally positive, with a user score of 7.167/10 from 6 votes in the supplied data. Reviewers often note the show's smart writing, strong performers and moments of genuine warmth, while some critics question when jokes verge on inappropriate. Common themes include fame, public image, friendship and accountability, framed through satire and interpersonal ribbing.

No major awards are listed in the provided information, though the series has been influential in variety programming and helped raise profiles for several comedians and contributors. Its format has also encouraged other shows to experiment with edgier, personality-driven humor.