Photos Provided by Grandstand Media
With over 500 artists, 475 shows, and 45 venues, Netflix is a Joke Festival took over Los Angeles from May 4th to May 10th. UCLA Radio was lucky enough to meet the lovely staff behind it all, who source the talent, publicize the event, and overall bring this historically large Fest to life. Having spoken to some of the Netflix employees, it became clear to me that the week was not only an adoration for comedy, but also a love letter to LA. It’s a week of making Angelinos laugh, something necessary in our current times. It’s a profession of love to the many venues we adore, every staff member involved from ticketing to talent, and most of all, to the city of LA.
When Sunday, May 10th, which happened to be the ever-so-wholesome Mother’s Day, came around, I visited the Kia Forum for the first time. As I walked into the arena, I saw “Netflix is a Joke” in larger-than-life glowing letters. The outer halls of the arena were filled with bars and photo opportunities, along with comedy fans of all demographics. The abundance of people and concession stands lived up to the omnipresent Netflix name, recognized internationally as a pillar of modern media.
At such an arena, it felt as if the roast was a classic sporting event, like a boxing match of words meant to hit one’s weakest points. To those unfamiliar, the language used in the comedy scene is inherently violent. Words such as “killed,” “destroyed,” and “murdered” are terms to express fantastic performance, having the crowd in the palm of their hands. To “bomb” means the opposite — failing miserably — and the list goes on. The aggressive nature of the comedy world perfectly encapsulates the essence of a roast. Having been to comedy shows before, I understood the ruthless nature of the environment — the night really proved to me that nothing is off limits to comedians if it’s funny. The evening opened with musical guest Usher’s roast-style song alongside Kevin Hart, preparing the audience for a star-studded and grandiose night.
Host Shane Gillis introduced the event in his typical blunt fashion — a large responsibility to warm up the audience and millions of viewers at home watching live for the brutal and unhinged evening. As per usual, when it comes to roasts, the lineup was stacked with comics, actors, and other stars. The roast panel included Shane Gillis, Jeff Ross, Na’lm Lynn, Chelsea Handler, Pete Davidson, Draymond Green, Big Jay Oakerson, Tony Hinchcliffe, Sheryl Underwood, and Regina Hall, with surprise appearances from Tom Brady, Lizzo, Teyana Taylor, Katt Williams, Venus and Serena Williams, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The first up to bat was Jeff Ross, also known as “The Roastmaster General” for his fearless insult comedy, which has been beloved for decades. Later was icon and comedy legend, Chelsea Handler, whom I felt overjoyed to witness as she has paved the way for so many female comics…and Kevin Hart, as she mentioned his feature on her show, Chelsea Lately. Handler carried her set with grace, beautifully roasting the men one by one, something I always enjoy listening to. Having grown up in a particularly sarcastic family, the nature of a roast’s directness and, at times, crude insults spoke to a deeper love of the culture of comedy within me. Soon after, a confident Pete Davidson took the podium, a face I’ve rewatched many times during his time on Saturday Night Live.
This roast was my introduction to Tony Hinchcliffe, whom Shane Gillis perfectly called a “sassy bigot.” I quickly gained an understanding of Hinchcliffe, as joke after joke came after his Trumpian views and relationship with everyone’s *favorite guy: Joe Rogan. Although Hinchcliffe took the time to write and master his set, he was funniest when he was the punchline.
*It’s sarcasm
The entirety of the evening, Sheryl Underwood was the victim of many harsh jokes about the death of her husband, to which she laughed at every one. Such jokes must have lit a fire beneath her because when she took the mic, she released the wrath; every word spoken wrapped the audience more and more around her finger, dominating the stage and fans alike. Her set — and sportsmanship — truly embodied the essence of a roast: dark, hilarious, and ruthless.
Next was Regina Hall, whose hilarious delivery was a highlight of my night. She perfectly portrayed an innocent character juxtaposed with the harsh and obscene words she was “receiving” from Kevin Hart’s late mother in heaven. The role she took on commanded the room in a way we hadn’t seen that night, proving her Academy-level acting prowess.
Katt Williams surprised Kevin Hart towards the end of the evening, coming in to stand behind some of the digs he took at Hart in 2024, calling him a Hollywood puppet and claiming Hart had taken Williams’ movie roles after he passed on them. As per usual, Williams captured the crowd with his witty delivery and iconic voice. He swiftly hated on Hart, ending in a heartwarming reconciliation between Williams and Hart.
The greatest surprise had to be, of course, The Rock. The Rock’s entrance was so grand it took us back to his wrestling days, taking the stage with such a fiery demeanor, prepared to make a fool of his best friend. In classic roast fashion, he viciously hurled insults at the comics one by one, always being sure to bring it all back to Hart. What felt like humiliation for Hart also felt heartwarming because of the two’s clear chemistry and love for one another. Just as the belittlement came to a peak, it ceased when Hart took back the mic and responded to the many insults he took that night.
As Kevin Hart took the stage, you could tell he’s a natural. Unlike previous celebrities subjected to roasts, such as Justin Bieber or Tom Brady, Hart is a polished and experienced comedian more than prepared to respond on the mic. He prefaced by telling his brand partners and sponsors to tune out for his closing spiel, warming the audience for his big finale. His sheer joy and energy on stage once again invigorated the audience, as he hilariously roasted those closest to him and his “enemies” alike. As the crowd erupted in applause, Meek Mill, a Philadelphia native just like Hart, came out to perform “Dreams and Nightmares,” which felt like a symbolic tribute to coming from nothing and ending up the star of one of Netflix’s biggest nights.
So much of the experience of live comedy is as a collective. Through clever and astute opinions and jokes, the comic commands the audience with such confidence that the crowd cannot control itself. Just as laughter is contagious, the experience of a roast is one of community. A reminder that laughter and brutal humor unite us all.
Make sure to check out The Roast of Kevin Hart on Netflix.
