Spoken Gems

If I’d have to choose my favorite speaker to give a roast, it would be the "merchant of venom", Don Rickles. On the Dean Martin Roasts he had the honor to roast Ronald Reagan.

In 2005, Barack Obama roasted Rahm Emanuel at a benefit dinner for CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy).

Found at CSpanJunkie. You can find a longer recording of the event there.

At the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner both John McCain and Barack Obama had the rare chance to make fun of each other openly.

McCain’s roast starts at 7:45, followed by Obama’s roast at 24:00.

Thanks to CSpan Junkie.

Buster Frooks,… I’m sorry, Foster Brooks on the Dean Martin Roasts for Sammy Davis Jr. showing that he is in worse shape than Dean Martin.

Every time I see it, it reminds me of the comedy sketch "Dinner for one".

After being reminded of the following quote by Randy Pausch, I knew what kind of speech has to come next:

Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I’m dying and I’m having fun. And I’m going to keep having fun every day because there’s no other way to play it.

So I’ll start this week with a hilarious speaker most of you might only know for her acting: Carrie Fisher roasting George Lucas at the AFI Life Achievement Award 2005.