Jeff Ross talks about the Kevin Hart roast and his favorite cutting jokes

It wouldn’t be a roast without the Roast Master General.

Jeff Ross came out firing during The Impalement of Kevin Hart Live, the second installment of Netflix’s GOAT roast series hosted by Shane Gillis. Former roasters Tom Brady, Dwayne Johnson, Katt Williams and many other stars have come to reduce the size of Hart.

Wearing a replica of Eddie Murphy’s red leather outfit in “Delirious,” Ross spoke to Hart about going to Diddy’s parties, his “shithole” movies and his upbringing.

“Your father was a street hacker and crack cocaine addict,” Ross said. “So I think there’s an addiction to rock orchid in the family.”

Clearly hungover, Ross called Variety magazine to analyze the most exciting moments of the three-hour broadcast, the jokes that didn’t get aired, and who he wanted to taunt next.

Where did you buy Eddie Murphy’s suit? And how much did it cost?

I wish I could have said I called Eddie Murphy and said, “Do you have anything that I can sew together?” My stylist, Roger Forker, has designed all of my outfits for countless roasts. I don’t want to admit how many cows were killed for this roast.

Is there anything that actually hurts your feelings? Do you remember when you were brushing your teeth at night and someone said to you, “You look like the inside of a shellfish?”

As long as the joke is funny and well-crafted, my feelings won’t be hurt. That makes me proud. If the joke falls flat, I’m insulted. Please write better jokes, I’m the roast master!

You were in the bathroom when Kevin grilled you. Did you hear it from backstage?

I panicked because the toilet next to the changing room was locked. I thought I timed it so I could go back to that part of his speech. Imagine literally peeing while listening to the audience laugh at a joke about me. It was one of the most surreal roast moments of my career.

I thought he might move on and come back to you.

I did something really dirty to him and apologized at the after-party. I should have stayed in my seat. But by the time he and Rock drank the brand of tequila for the second time, I whispered to Pete Davidson, “Okay, I’m going to pee.”

What is the atmosphere like at the after-party? Was everyone there?

I think everyone was there. The atmosphere was great. Kevin seemed to be on a cloud. His wife Eniko loved participating in the sport and was also good at it. What a wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day.

Did you feel real tension between someone during the roast?

The only real tension I felt was when Katt Williams appeared out of nowhere and started attacking Kevin. Kevin certainly seemed a little nervous and they may not have seen each other in a long time. But Kevin asked to bury the hatchet, and the tension quickly turned to celebration.

Whose idea was it to have Katt Williams attend the roast?

Kevin is a great comedian, but he’s also a really smart producer. He loves chasing discomfort. If something makes him uncomfortable, it would make for great television. I think this was a group brainstorming about who would be interesting to bring into this thing. And Katt Williams was the match. He came out cloaked like a villain and left like a friend.

So did Kevin and Kat discuss their feud before resolving it on live TV?

I don’t think they really talked until he was on TV.

Can you tell us a joke of yours that didn’t make it onto the roast?

What I’ve been saying all week, but eventually forgot, is, “Kevin, your dad sold crack, and you literally sell everything but crack.” From comedy to tequila to a chain of vegan fast food restaurants, Kevin is always looking for new ways to make people throw up.

What made you laugh the most last night?

Recall some moments. I literally just woke up a little hungover from the afterparty.

Sheryl Underwood was devastated, at least in the room.

I remember her flopping on the floor at one point as she sat down. That’s when I almost fell off my chair. She had one of the best sets of the night. she is a professional. I have worked with Cheryl throughout my career. She often walked on stage carrying a handbag. We worked so badly together that she didn’t trust the staff or the other comics who hid their wallets behind their backs. she is real

Where does this roast rank in terms of crossing the line?

It certainly crossed some lines. The jokes were very pointed. When Tom Brady came out and suddenly started talking about Kevin’s personal life, I thought, “This is just revenge.” In fact, that’s how I first approached Tom about this. We were at a party in Las Vegas and I said, “You know what? “Tom, another party has started.” He said, “I’m never coming back. Why should I come?” I said, “Revenge.” He said, “Who did you catch?” His head was tilted like a puppy waiting for a treat. “Kevin Hart,” I whispered. And his next question was, “When?” He needed a reason to come back. Those jokes were very edgy and you could feel the tension in the room. It was funny, yet realistic.

Which topics were actually off-limits? People mentioned that his children were off-limits, but were his infidelities considered off-limits?

People always ask what is off limits and what is not. Kevin never once said to me, “Don’t do this, stop doing that.” To me, there’s sportsmanship in this. You want to scratch your skin, but you don’t want to break it. Nothing was off limits. I don’t think there was a single topic in Kevin’s life that wasn’t covered. It’s really a question of how overt you want to be. Do you want it to be delicate or do you want it smacked over the head with a dollhouse? I don’t know how anyone can look at a roast and say it’s watery.

There are always non-comedians on stage who aren’t ready for the heat. What advice would you give people on how to cope?

I always say, “If you’re having fun, everyone else is too.”

The show is very carefully produced. Of course there are writers, and there are rehearsals. How do you balance that with an element of surprise?

I have to give a lot of credit to my partner, Casey Patterson. He’s very good at not only convincing big stars like Teyana Taylor and Usher to do roasts, but also keeping the guests of honor from doing them so it’s a real surprise when they show up. She writes a false name on the sign in her dressing room, the script is not circulated to the entire staff, and the staff does not read the content of the comic. I don’t know what Chelsea (Handler)’s speech is going to be, and she doesn’t know my speech either. Kevin really doesn’t know what anyone is telling him. It keeps it real. You’re really messing with someone live on TV. There’s a lot to that aspect that never ceases to amaze me.

People often cracked jokes on the teleprompter. What influences the decision to edit yourself in real time?

I hate “skipping” so I try to avoid that. It looks like it’s written that way. But at live shows, it’s sometimes inevitable that people will want to improvise. Or maybe the joke is so similar to a joke from earlier in the night that you don’t think it’s funny anymore. Or maybe non-comics get cold feet about certain jokes.

To be honest, the most important job on the entire show is probably the teleprompter operator. That’s a very dangerous thing to do. There are different types of deliveries, some mumbling, others rushing. Those operators are always by our side. That’s amazing.

Why was Tiffany Haddish on stage and not even mentioned by the selection committee?

I invited Tiffany. she is my good friend. I have performed with Kevin several times. We just wanted to get together on stage with his friends and make him feel comfortable. I wanted him to feel like Frank Sinatra surrounded by a pack of rats.

No one really went after Regina Hall. Was she a last minute addition or was she off limits?

No, nothing was off limits. She came in the same way as the day before, so people hadn’t thought about grilling her by then. She essentially got a free pass, which I think is a pretty strategic move.

Do you think the political climate influences the type of comedy we see on screen? Last night was pretty edgy and I wonder if we would have seen this type of roast on a lineup of comics like this a few years ago.

I think comedy is bigger. Netflix is ​​taking it global in a way no one could have predicted. There’s not a country in the world that you can go to without someone saying, “I saw you at the Tom Brady roast.” The art form has become truly international, and I think roasting reflects that.

But they don’t just reflect comedy, they reflect the political climate and our sensibilities about what’s funny. Last night there was a joke about a very provocative subject covered by an expert. It was a true testament to freedom of speech because people said whatever they wanted to say. It wasn’t just white conservatives, it was liberals as well. And sometimes you don’t even know who’s who, and that’s when the jokes are most impactful.

Will it be difficult to get someone like Tom Brady back in the spotlight? Will we get another “GOAT” in a few years?

I think so. When Kevin is doing it, it opens it up to just about anyone who is at the top of their game and wants to show the world that they are a good sport. It humanized even Kevin, who we feel is a know-it-all. This made him laugh at himself and show weakness. Many celebrities are able to incorporate that kind of laughter into their careers.

Who would you like to grill next?

If you’re a pop star or a rock star, that’s fine. Rappers must be amazing. I could see Drake getting hot and great. One of my all-time favorite ideas is Stevie Wonder. I always say, “Stevie Wonder’s Roast: You’ve got to hear it to believe it.”