The
Dean Martin Roasts evolved from the 1970's variety series in which Dean Martin negotiated, which at that time was one of the largest contracts for that time, between a network and a star. Several of these shows were "roasts," set at a banquet table, in which the quest of honor is showered with hilarious insults by other celebrities. Because of it's initial success, it was spun off into a series in 1975 with Dean Martin acting as
roast master. And continued until 1984 where it became a fixture on the NBC Thursday
night lineup.