TVSquad

Times have changed in the comedy roasting business. It was only 20 years ago, in November of 1988, that women were allowed into the New York Friars Club before 4 PM, when the Club would host its roasts. Before then, Phyllis Diller once had to sneak onto the premises in drag to see a show.

Now Comedy Central has taken over the roasting business, or at least theirs are the most high-profile regular comedy roasts. And they announced today that they will be roasting one of the first seven women admitted to the Friars in 1988 - Joan Rivers. The Roast will take place July 26 and air Sunday, August 9 at 10 PM.

It's an interesting choice, considering Comedy Central last roasted Larry the Cable Guy, and before him, Bob Saget, William Shatner, Pamela Anderson, and Denis Leary. They haven't really tackled someone like Rivers, whose career started with her seeing a Lenny Bruce show and appearances on The Tonight Show, with Jack Paar. She has a definite link to the old Friars (who have nothing to do with Comedy Central's Roasts), and blasting people roast-style is her most recognizable trademark.

No names have been announced yet, but you can assume some of the regulars like Nick DiPaolo and Greg Giraldo will probably be involved. But there could be a long list of people waiting to get back at Rivers for her celebrity skewering over the years, most notably when she was on red carpet duty. It'll be fun to see who shows up, and how sincere they are on the dais.

A sample of Rivers' work, which is a little Nazi heavy at the beginning: