{"product_id":"ringside-at-roast-battle-the-first-five-years-of-l-a-s-fight-club-for-comedians-paperback","title":"Ringside at Roast Battle: The First Five Years of L.A.'s Fight Club for Comedians - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eTroy Conrad\u003c\/b\u003e (Photographer), \u003cb\u003eJulie Seabaugh\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Every Tuesday night at midnight in a dark corner of the Comedy Store, a beautiful and hilarious fight breaks out. Starving comedians drown their prejudice in comedy. It's scary. It's hilarious. It's completely punk rock. Burgeoning comics and cast-aside performers have moments of heroism, and we all get the rare chance to cleanse our sins in humor.\" - director Jason Reitman \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAccidentally conceived in July 2013 at a small, sweaty Comedy Store open mic to avoid a comedian fistfight, insult-joke competition \u003ci\u003eRoast Battle\u003c\/i\u003e has since become a global phenomenon. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTaking cues from two seemingly divergent insider traditions - Friars Club roasts and urban rap battles - the show melded both into a mainstream format accessible to anyone who dared take the stage. The rules were simple: No subject was off limits, original material only, and at the end of the battle, competitors hugged. Equal parts blood sport and personal catharsis, the show instantly caught on with performers, industry members scouting the next big thing, and audiences who preferred their punchlines off-color. As host and referee, Brian Moses assembled a zany cast of supporting characters including revered Roastmaster General Jeff Ross, who was hooked from his first night. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRoss gave the show instant legitimacy. He also brought his celebrity friends along to judge. Tastemakers like Judd Apatow, Jim Carrey, Jason Reitman, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Kimmel, Snoop Dogg, Sarah Silverman, Seth Rogen, and John Mayer counted themselves among \u003ci\u003eRoast Battle\u003c\/i\u003e's devotees. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe show caught early breaks at the New York Comedy Festival and South by Southwest. Just as a TV deal seemed inevitable, tensions rose and egos flared. Founders squabbled over ownership rights. Factions formed. Friendships were irrevocably broken. But for the creators and competitors who believed \u003ci\u003eRoast Battle\u003c\/i\u003e's potential was bigger than the sum of its (often raunchy) parts, freedom of speech was more than a political talking point. It was everything comedy's most enduring legends fought for since the advent of brick-wall backdrops. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFive years since its inception, \u003ci\u003eRoast Battle\u003c\/i\u003e remains the most adventurous, influential comedy show in the world. Imitators exist in every city with a local comedy scene. In addition to three stateside seasons on Comedy Central, the TV brand has expanded to South Africa, Mexico, and the U.K...the latter of which became Comedy Central U.K.'s most-watched series of all time. Yet despite the growing pains, the L.A. original stubbornly retains its gritty, underground spirit, reaching capacity weekly without a lick of advertising. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e With on-the-scene photos by Troy Conrad showcasing the venues, competitors, riotous cast of characters, and celebrity judges this \"Verbal Boxing\" and \"\u003ci\u003eFight Club\u003c\/i\u003e for Comedians\" has welcomed along the way, longtime comedy journalist Julie Seabaugh's \u003ci\u003eRingside at Roast Battle\u003c\/i\u003e chronicles the emergence of a new fourth pillar of live comedy. From the coming-together of the principal players to the continuing influence the show will wield in years to come, the book explores the organic diversity, DIY nature, and politically-charged atmosphere encouraging a new generation of comedians to laugh in the face of tragedy.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 146\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.31 x 9.02 x 5.98 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 04, 2018\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51794950783264,"sku":"9781983147418","price":16.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/6199b75bdadcb63380678678b27ea3a2.webp?v=1780738523","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/ringside-at-roast-battle-the-first-five-years-of-l-a-s-fight-club-for-comedians-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}