Roastmaster General

Comedian Jeff Ross has now become synonymous with celebrity roasts. Surpassing Dean Martin’s whiskey-fueled association with the comedic tributes, he is now the “Roastmaster General” and as such has made quite a career as star and producer of Comedy Central’s celebrity roasts as well as his short-lived show The Burn With Jeff Ross in which he brought his witty and scathing roasts to pop culture and otherwise-unknown individuals in different manners. Maybe it’s the droopy-eyed look of an eternal stoner that has made his insult comedy accepted and sought after; maybe it’s his quick wit and intuition for weakness that he mines for comedic gold. In any case, Ross has certainly chiseled himself into comedy’s history books by popularizing the genre to newer generations. Ross is also an actor, writer, director, and, for one brief and not-so shiny moment, a dancer in season seven of Dancing With the Stars, where he bowed out in the first week when his cha-cha-cha failed to impress. Watching Ross live carries the certainty of being spotlighted for a quick roasting, but the nerve-wracking ordeal is worth it as he only “roasts the ones he loves.” Ross’ three-day, five-show stint at the West Palm Improv at CityPlace, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach, starts Friday at 8 and 10:30 p.m., continues Saturday at 7 and 9:45 p.m., and concludes Sunday at 7 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $22, plus a two-drink minimum. You must be 21 or older. Call 561-833-1812, or visit palmbeach.improv.com.
Fri., Jan. 23, 2015