Give me a break

American stand-up comedian, Jeff Ross is known as the “Roastmaster General” for his withering witticisms and cutting one-liners, delivered during high-profile celebrity appearances on Comedy Central. At an unusual roast special for tickled inmates of a Texas jail, a great noise suddenly interrupted the comic proceedings prompting Ross to immediately deadpan: “Wait, are you guys laughing extra loud because someone’s trying to build a tunnel right now?”

A comedy roast is a traditional American event in which a particular guest or “roastee” is joked about, roundly insulted and made fun of, normally in front of an appreciative audience. It is considered a great honour especially when famous commentators are on the bill. For instance, Ross quipped to his laughing lawbreakers: “The good thing about a jail show is, nobody gets up and walks out.”