It was 2013. A weird year. James Franco was everywhere—directing obscure indies, teaching at NYU, writing poetry, and somehow still starring in blockbusters. He was the ultimate "Renaissance man" or the world's most pretentious actor, depending on who you asked. Then Comedy Central decided to put him in the hot seat. Looking back at the roast of james franco full lineup, it wasn't just another TV special. It felt like a graduation party for the Apatow crew.
Seth Rogen was the Roast Master. Obviously. He and Franco go back to Freaks and Geeks. The stage was packed with their actual friends: Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Aziz Ansari, and Nick Kroll. It wasn’t just professional roasters like Jeff Ross; it was a group of guys who actually hung out. That made the insults hit different. Some were brutal. Others were surprisingly sweet in a twisted way.
What Actually Happened During the Roast of James Franco Full Broadcast?
The vibe was loose. Maybe a little too loose. Most of the roasters seemed like they’d just stepped out of a hazy trailer. Seth Rogen opened the night with a joke about how high he was, which, honestly, surprised no one. He looked at the dais and called it "Hitler’s wet dream" because of the mix of Jews, gays, and "whatever Aziz is." It set the tone immediately.
People expected Franco to be the target. He was. They destroyed him for his squinting, his "experimental" art, and that infamous Oscar-hosting disaster with Anne Hathaway. "I feel like I'm co-hosting the Oscars with you," Rogen told him while Franco sat there doing nothing. It was a layup, but it worked.
But a funny thing happened about twenty minutes in. The roast stopped being about James. It turned into a relentless pile-on of Jonah Hill.
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The Jonah Hill Factor
Jonah had just become a "serious actor." He had Oscar nominations. He was losing weight. The roasters smelled blood. They mocked his ego, his new "prestige" status, and his fluctuating size. Sarah Silverman joked that Jonah had come a long way from being "Sonny and Cher's daughter." Brutal. Even Jeff Ross, the "Roast Master General," went after him for sixty seconds straight.
Hill took it like a champ, but you could see the cracks. He kept apologizing after his own sets. It was a weird peek into the insecurity of a guy trying to transition from the "funny fat kid" to a Hollywood heavyweight.
Best Jokes and Standout Sets
If you watch the roast of james franco full episode now, a few performances still stand out as legendary. Bill Hader didn't just tell jokes. He showed up as a character: "The President of Hollywood." Wearing a red tracksuit and a gray wig, he looked like a 1970s producer who’d seen too much. He taunted everyone for their career choices. It was high-concept comedy in the middle of a gutter-humor show.
Then there was Andy Samberg.
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Samberg did something nobody expected. He did an "anti-roast." Instead of insulting people, he gave them backhanded compliments or told jokes that were intentionally terrible. He was channeling Norm Macdonald’s legendary Bob Saget roast. He told Jeff Ross, "You have a lot of friends, and you're a nice guy!" with the intensity of a man screaming an insult. It was awkward. It was brilliant. It was the most "Samberg" thing ever.
The Women Won the Night
Honestly? Natasha Leggero and Sarah Silverman carried the actual roasting. Leggero destroyed the room. She called Aziz Ansari "too ugly to be a genie." She mocked Nick Kroll for having "one fan." While the guys were busy patting each other on the back, the women were actually trying to end careers.
The Controversy: Was It Too Much?
Looking at it through a 2026 lens, the special is... complicated. At the time, critics at Salon and Slate pointed out the sheer volume of gay jokes. It was the primary "bit." Since Franco’s sexuality was a constant tabloid topic, every roaster leaned into it. Hard.
Aziz Ansari actually called it out mid-set. He noted that the roasters were using "gay" as a synonym for "bad" or "weak," which felt outdated even then. He joked that if you read a book and take a shower, these guys think dicks are going to fly into your face. It was a rare moment of self-awareness in a show that mostly thrived on being politically incorrect.
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Where to Watch the Roast of James Franco Full Today
If you’re looking to revisit this piece of 2010s pop culture, it’s not as easy as it used to be. Streaming rights shift like sand.
- Paramount+: Usually the home for Comedy Central content. They keep the roasts in their library, though some edits might exist for music rights.
- Digital Purchase: You can find it on Apple TV and Amazon. Usually costs a few bucks.
- YouTube: Comedy Central’s official channel has the "best of" clips. Finding the roast of james franco full unedited version often requires a subscription or a deep dive into VOD services.
The Aftermath of the Franco Era
The roast felt like a peak. Shortly after, Franco’s career took several strange turns. He won a Golden Globe for The Disaster Artist, but then came the allegations. In 2018, several women accused him of inappropriate behavior. By 2021, he settled a lawsuit for $2.2 million related to his acting school.
Because of this, the roast feels different now. When you hear Seth Rogen joke about Franco’s "creepy" vibe, it doesn't feel like a joke anymore. It feels like an omen. The "inner circle" vibe of the dais—the idea that these guys were all best friends—shattered. Rogen eventually stated in interviews that he no longer planned to work with Franco.
The special is a time capsule of a specific brand of "dude" comedy that was about to go extinct.
How to Watch Comedy Roasts Like a Pro
If you're diving back into the world of celebrity roasts, don't just watch the Franco one and stop. The format has evolved. To get the most out of the experience, try these steps:
- Watch the "Anti-Roasts" first: Check out Norm Macdonald roasting Bob Saget to understand why Andy Samberg did what he did. It adds a layer of appreciation for the craft.
- Compare Eras: Watch the Joan Rivers roast or the William Shatner one. The humor is different. The stakes feel higher.
- Look for the Writers: Check the credits. You'll see names like Tony Hinchcliffe or John Mulaney. These guys wrote the "meanest" stuff for the celebrities who aren't actually comedians.
- Check Local Listings: Comedy Central often marathons these during holiday weekends if you still have cable.
To find the most current streaming home for the roast of james franco full episode, check your local version of JustWatch or a similar streaming aggregator, as licenses for 2010s Comedy Central specials frequently rotate between Paramount+ and Hulu.