Nikki Glaser shares the untold stories and boundaries of roasting Tom Brady, shedding light on the off-limits and the cutthroat humor that never made it to the stage.
- May 9, 2024
AceShowbiz - Comedy, especially the kind tailored for celebrity roasts, is often a delicate balancing act between the hilariously offensive and the respectfully off-limits. Nikki Glaser, known for her razor-sharp wit and boundary-pushing humor, recently gave fans a peek behind the curtain of roasting one of the NFL's most high-profile figures, Tom Brady.
During an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show", Glaser divulged the complexities of navigating personal jibes, especially when they involve family members who didn't choose the limelight.
In the nuanced world of comedy, some topics are mutually agreed upon as off the table. For Glaser and her fellow comedians, the line was drawn at Brady's children. "I think we all collectively just decided not to involve his kids too much in anything, because they didn't ask for that," Glaser explained.
"So I couldn't say, you know, 'Tom, hopefully, we make out at the afterparty. You can pretend I'm your son.' You know, like the reference to him kissing his son. … We all just agreed, 'Let's not throw the kids under the bus.' Even though I just did here," she quipped.
This collective decision showcases a rare moment of restraint in an arena known for its ruthless jabs. Despite the restriction, Glaser cheekily admitted to crossing the line during the interview, revealing the thin ice upon which such decisions skate.
The cutting room floor of a comedy special is often littered with jokes that were either too time-consuming or lackluster compared to the chosen material. Glaser shared some of the barbs that didn't make the cut, including pointed remarks towards the audience and the NFL.
She initially planned to say, "Thank you all for being here tonight and taking some time away from cheating on your wives. Hey, it's not their fault, it's their wives fault for aging naturally."
Another such unused zinger took aim at the league's handling of CTE, a serious brain condition associated with repeated head injuries. "All the proceeds are going towards CTE research and the NFL's coordinated effort to cover it up. People don't know, but it costs millions to murder those doctors who know the truth," Glaser quipped, hinting at a darker side of comedy where humor meets reality.
Glaser's revelations to Howard Stern not only illuminate the thought process behind a comedy special but also humanize the figures who, despite their public personas, negotiate personal and collective boundaries in pursuit of laughter. In an age where the lines between public and private, humorous and harmful, are increasingly blurred, Glaser's candor offers a refreshing glimpse into the conscientious side of comedy that rarely takes center stage.
