THE FRIARS CLUB- SO YOU THINK YOU CAN ROAST!?

THE FRIARS CLUB PRESENTS… SO YOU THINK YOU CAN ROAST!?

A National Online Talent Search for the Next Big Roast Master

Winner to Roast Today Show Co-Host Matt Lauer



New York, July 21, 2008– The Friars Club announced today the launch of So You Think You Can Roast!? (www.friarsroast.com) a national online talent contest for the next big Roast Master. The winner will get a chance to skewer Today Show co-host, Matt Lauer at his roast on October 24th. The Friars Club held preliminary auditions at Gotham Comedy Club and chose eighteen top contenders for So You Think You Can Roast!?



The competition will be broken down into a series of in-house celebrity roasts where these up-and-coming comedians will test their roasting chops in front of a panel of established experts in comedy. The series is set to kick-off on Tuesday, July 29th with the roast of Vincent “Big Pussy” Pastore. "It's a lifelong dream of mine to be roasted by the Friars. Ever since the days of Dean Martin and the early roasts at the Friars Club, I have always wanted to be a part of the party. I am ready for whatever my roasters fish out," Pastore said.



The “roasts” will continue once a month leading up to the final event where the winner will be chosen from the previous outstanding contestants, plus one wild card chosen by the public.



Other expected roastees include George Takai, “Start Trek’s” Sulu (August 19th), who said, "Being roasted by the Friars is the equivalent of being knighted by the Queen of England. I'll be beaming like Scotty never had me beaming." “Apprentice” diva Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth (September 22nd) who noted, “What an honor to be recognized by the prestigious Friar's Club. If you want to be a beacon of light–you gotta be able to take the heat." And Gary Dell’Abate, producer for the Howard Stern Show.



The Friars Club has created an exclusive website where the general public will be able to view candid moments and unabashed comedy of the auditions and roasts online at www.friarsroast.com. The public will also be able to vote for their favorite contestants.



The Friars Club is considered one of the most prestigious fraternal orders in the world and rated among the top clubs in the nation. Since 1904, the Friars Club has been combining the outstanding qualities of show business and the humanities, and its many functions and events covering these areas attract international media coverage. From their infamous Roasts to their Testimonial Dinners, Friars Frolics encompass the building blocks of happiness, through music, laughter and brotherhood. As head of the Friars, Abbot Jerry Lewis, says, “Good fellowship, friendship and fraternity form the basis that makes the Friars Club what it is.”