Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Comedy Central
The “Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin” drew 2.4 million total viewers across six Viacom networks, according to Nielsen data, which is 800,000 fewer viewers — and two fewer channels — from Bruce Willis’ turn in 2018.
The “Willis Roast” in July 2018 earned 3.2 million total viewers across Comedy Central, MTV, VH1 and BET, which made it more-watched than the roasts of Roseanne Barr (2012), James Franco (2013), Rob Lowe (2016), Bob Saget (2008), and Joan Rivers (2009).
Willis’ tally also counted one re-airing on Comedy Central.
The “Baldwin Roast” was simulcast across Comedy Central, CMT, Paramount Network, VH1, MTV, and TV Land — six channels and seven telecasts. The one (counted) rerun was on Comedy Central.
Baldwin’s turn did best Bruce’s on social channels. Views of Sunday’s content across Instagram, Twitter and YouTube grew 151% from the “Willis Roast.”
Comedy Central’s most-watched roast is still Charlie Sheen’s turn in 2011, with 6.4 million viewers. The lowest is Saget’s in 2008, which received just 2.2 million.
That said, without the benefit of the simulcast, which seems to tack on a few extra channels each year, it is very possible that Baldwin’s audience would have set a record low. Only Rob Lowe ranks between Baldwin and Saget.
See how all 17 Comedy Central Roasts to-date have performed via our chart below.
10 Best Jabs at Bruce Willis in Comedy Central's Roast, From Demi Moore to Cybill Shepherd (Photos)
Whether it be jokes about his follically challenged head, his so-so music career or his aging-action-hero persona, Bruce Willis took it like a man when he became the latest target of a Comedy Central roast. His ex-wife picked on him, as did his former leading lady and even an NBA star. Here are the best jokes of the night... including a couple by the man of the hour himself.
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“Bruce Willis is what you get if you drain the white part of Dwayne Johnson.” -- "Looper" co-star and roast master Joseph Gordon-Levitt
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“I look at our marriage like 'The Sixth Sense.' You were dead the whole time.” -- ex-wife Demi Moore
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"Hollywood wouldn’t be Hollywood if they didn’t reward a man for aging into mediocrity." ... AND ... “On 'Moonlighting,' I played a former model, which I was, and Bruce played an asshole, which he is." -- "Moonlighting" co-star Cybill Shepherd
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“Bruce and I live in the same town of Bedford. He has a beautiful house and the interior design is amazing. He wanted everything inside to look mid-century modern, except his new wife.” -- Martha Stewart
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“This is a real personal moment for me, to be here roasting my dead cousin’s second-favorite action star. You had an amazing action film career until Jason Statham started balding.” -- Nikki Glaser
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"If you wanted to be humiliated, clearly we both know you could’ve just released another singing album.” -- Kevin Pollak
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“Comedy Central roasts only the best people. Bruce, Donald Trump, that guy from 'Baywatch.'” -- Dom Irrera
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“I can’t wait to see your next project, 'Die Hard 6: Natural Causes.'” -- Jeff Ross
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"You keep making these bomb movies. But guess what? So does Kim Jong Un. But at least Kim is smart enough not to release his." -- Dennis Rodman
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And, of course, Willis punched back: “Joseph played a younger me in 'Looper.' He couldn’t pull it off. There is one actor who successfully played me. It was Demi Moore.”
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“Cybill, it’s so great to be back on TV with you, honey, on another show starring me.” -- Bruce Willis
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”Die Hard“ superstar took it like a man when he became the latest target of jokes
Whether it be jokes about his follically challenged head, his so-so music career or his aging-action-hero persona, Bruce Willis took it like a man when he became the latest target of a Comedy Central roast. His ex-wife picked on him, as did his former leading lady and even an NBA star. Here are the best jokes of the night... including a couple by the man of the hour himself.