Netflix’s Take Over of the Comedy Scene

Picture this: a roaring crowd of 17,000 fills the stadium, their cheers and laughter echoing through the air, while an astounding 2 million more tune in from their couches, eagerly awaiting the spectacle. After two years in the making, the long-anticipated roast of the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady finally unfolds in all its glory. 

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Hosted by Netflix and streamed live on May 5, 2024, 'GROAT The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady bursts onto screens, quickly claiming its place among the Top 10 most-viewed shows of the week. And get this - it seizes the sixth spot in less than half a day! 

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Tom Brady, with a successful 23-year career in the NFL, endured a marathon of roasting that delved deep into his legacy. Over three hours, the event served as an exhibition for making humour of Brady’s many years of controversy, conflict, and relationships, from interpersonal clashes to power struggles, all under the glaring microscope of public scrutiny. 

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Who Attended?

This marked the debut of Netflix's foray into live broadcasts, with hopes of boosting audience engagement and revenue. Drawing inspiration from the much-loved roasts showcased by Comedy Central, the event boasted a stellar lineup of seasoned roasters such as Kevin Hart who hosted, and Nikki Glaser, infusing the event with laughter and clever banter. Alongside them, a slew of familiar faces close to Brady such as former teammates and elite comedians, took the stage to deliver their jokes; though Brady's kids remained off-limits as a topic. Around 20 roasters took the panel at the star-studded event, including appearances from notable figures like Kim Kardashian, Ben Affleck, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft. 

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Viral Roast Moments 

During the lively three-hour show, roasters seized the spotlight one after another, poking fun at the seven-time Super Bowl champion for a variety of topics, including his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen, past business decisions, and his notable football career. Laughter filled the arena as jokes flew, including playful jabs at Brady's collection of rings, especially considering one may have been returned during his divorce. But the humour didn't stop with Brady; no one was safe from being teased and taunted. 

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Surprise moments abound at the Brady roast, leaving NFL fans on the edge of their seats. Perhaps none more shocking than the unexpected reunion of Belichick and Kraft, sharing a shot on stage with the coaxing of Kevin Hart. And with the roast airing live, suspense hung thick in the air, as viewers braced themselves for the unexpected.

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During the roast, Bert Kreischer stirred up quite the commotion with a daring segment. In a now-deleted clip, he teased a drug joke, presenting what seemed to be a bag of cocaine, before revealing it was actually nicotine patches, prompting a mix of laughter and relief from the crowd. Despite the no-limits atmosphere, one moment raised eyebrows as Brady was visibly uncomfortable at a joke from Jeff Ross about New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. But continued to smile through the rest of the three hours, and cracking his own jokes. 

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The event had plenty of comedic highlights but one that lost the audience was when Ben Affleck started to ramble about online haters. He spent most of his time on the internet troll ”Tall Boy Henry” than roasting Brady. 

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One of the most buzzed-about highlights from the roast, which remained a hot topic for days afterward, was the moment when Skims business owner, Kim Kardashian received boos from the audience as she stepped up to the podium. Despite the backlash, Kardashian gracefully brushed it off and launched into her roast, earning applause from the crowd. Yet, many fans are left wondering why Netflix chose to omit this moment, along with several others, from their final edit of the show. The Vice President of stand-up and comedy formats at Netflix, Robbie Praw, recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter stating “Post edits are standard practice for comedy specials and happen in live broadcasts, whether that’s subtitles, adding things or removing things that we can’t do when it’s streaming live. It’s part of, quite frankly, the fun of watching it live to not miss those things. But I will just say this, in addition to that, that no talent were consulted as part of that.” 

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Fame That Followed 

Nikki Glaser, a seasoned comedian with over two decades of experience, skyrocketed to viral stardom after her fearless roast of Brady. Poking fun at the retired NFL player’s past relationships and retirement. It was a pivotal moment that launched her career to new heights overnight. Glaser reflects on the rarity of such rapid virality in today's saturated content landscape. Interestingly, her first encounter with Brady occurred at the very moment she stepped up to the podium, which made it easy for her to go harder.

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More From Netflix 

The G.R.O.A.T. took center stage among a plethora of comedic happenings during the Netflix is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles, California. This festival boasts over 400 shows spread across 35 venues, running non-stop for a dozen days. The Tom Brady roast was one of three live-streamed events hosted by the streaming service, including the Katt Williams stand-up special which received over 4 million views by the end of May 5. It's clear that Netflix is fully dedicated to upholding this cherished television tradition, drawing inspiration from various series to craft their own unique spin. 

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Discussions are already underway, sparking debates on who should be the next target for a celebrity roast. Could Netflix be emerging as the premier platform for celebrity roasts and stand-up comedy?

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