
Following the rating-busting premiere of “The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr” in September this year, Comedy Central Africa (DStv Channel 122) is issuing a special double-disc DVD set of this landmark comedy event: the best Christmas present any comedy fan could wish for! “The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr”, distributed by Crystal Brook, will be available at all leading retail outlets and online stores from 26 November 2012, at a recommended retail price of R149.95 (rated R18).
“The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr” was the hottest, liveliest and most talked-about television event of the year – a battle of wits, wills, and four-letter words that left no turn unstoned… and no ego unscathed. The Roast saw South Africa’s most controversial singer, actor, poet, political activist and “father figure” strapped to the hot-seat, while eight of his closest enemies took turns to grill, braai, and fry him into submission. In the grand tradition of the comedy “roast”, in which the celebrities we love to hate are tenderly savaged and lambasted by a panel of their peers, Steve Hofmeyr bravely took the heat…and then it was his turn to fire back. Who won? You’ll have to watch this hysterical, side-splitting, uncut souvenir edition of the hit Comedy Central TV special to find out!
In addition to the full-length, UNCUT “too hot for TV” version – including 45 minutes of previously unseen footage – the bonus features include: a warm-up session with hilarious stand-up comedian Tumi Morake; an exclusive “Roast Mortem” interview with Steve Hofmeyr; highlights from the Red Carpet; the infamous “Bring It On!” music video recorded by Hofmeyr especially for the Roast; and the surprise guest appearance by Leon Schuster, performing his entertaining ‘tribute’, “Ode to Stefanus”.
Get ready to laugh as Roastmaster Trevor Noah marshals his unruly panel of Roasters including John Vlismas, Kuli Roberts, Casper de Vries, Shaleen Surti-Richards, Anele Ndoda, Robert Whitehead, Minki van der Westerhuizen and David Kau, while Steve Hofmeyr watches, “restrained” to his braai “hot seat” with straps. There’s plenty of adult content and language – and that’s just in the celebrity’s dressing rooms…
Taped on 11 September 2012 at The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg, the TV premiere of “The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr” dominated the TV airwaves on National Heritage Day (a.k.a National Braai Day), achieving Comedy Central’s highest ever rating (5.99) among DStv premium viewers aged 20-49. While the Roast was airing (21:00-22:45 CAT), Comedy Central went unchallenged as the highest ranked channel in the DStv bouquet in terms of ratings and audience share, with nearly one in four Premium viewers aged 20-49 tuning in to watch.
More than a month after the taping, the buzz about the Roast continues, while on-going spats between Roast alumni Trevor Noah and Kuli Roberts, and Steve Hofmeyr and John Vlismas have enlivened the Twitterverse for weeks. Here’s some examples of the most famous Twitter contributors:
• To see South Africans, black & white laugh together at jokes about race/ism/ist was one of the most beautiful things ever! #roastza – Gareth Davies @Gareth6D
• Big up to @ComedyCentralAF for putting together a blazing #RoastZA last night! Great production all round & job well done! – Takunda imha @takundabimha
• And that ladies and gentlemen is how you entertain your audience. Well done. – @tPelmir
• Brilliant. F**king brilliant. I have hope for ZA. Thank you. Francois Toerien @FrancoisToerien
• I’ve just got home from the @steve_hofmeyr Roast and it put the US ones to shame! Amazeballs! – craig falck @craigfalck
• The Roast was toooooooo sick, mama @Anele killed it! #roastza@ – keitumetse Naomi N. @KNaomi_N
• Ahhhhhh that Steve Hofmeyr roast just gave me a six pack!!!!!!!! Don’t miss it the 24th!! #RoastZA -l ee- oy right @LeeRoyWright
• Ek het vanaand weer besef hoe baie @casperrasper vir Afrikaans gedoen het, deur net homself te wees. What a guy. – jean ordaan @jeanjordaan
• So #RoastZA is rude, crude and everything else you’d expect! Catch it on Sept 24th at 21h00 on @comedycentralaf! Channel 122! – eople aga ine @People_SA