8220Every Tuesday night at midnight in a dark corner of the Comedy Store, a beautiful and hilarious fight breaks out Starving comedians drown their prejudice in comedy It8217s scary It8217s hilarious It8217s completely punk rock Burgeoning comics and castaside performers have moments of heroism, and we all get the rare chance to cleanse our sins in humor 8221 8211 director Jason ReitmanAccidentally conceived in July 2013 at a small, sweaty Comedy Store open mic to avoid a comedian fistfight, insultjoke competition Roast Battle has since become a global phenomenon Taking cues from two seemingly divergent insider traditions 8211 Friars Club roasts and urban rap battles 8211 the show melded both into a mainstream format accessible to anyone who dared take the stage The rules were simple: No subject was off limits, original material only, and at the end of the battle, competitors hugged Equal parts blood sport and personal catharsis, the show instantly caught on with comedians, industry members scouting the next big thing, and audiences who preferred their punchlines offcolor As host and referee, Moses assembled a zany cast of supporting characters including revered Roastmaster General Jeff Ross, who was hooked from his first night Ross gave the show instant legitimacy He also brought his celebrity friends along to judge Tastemakers like Judd Apatow, Jim Carrey, Jason Reitman, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Kimmel, Snoop Dogg, Sarah Silverman, Seth Rogen, and John Mayer counted themselves among Roast Battle8217s diehard fans The show caught early breaks at the New York Comedy Festival and South by Southwest Just as a TV deal seemed inevitable, tensions rose and egos flared Founders squabbled over ownership rights Factions formed Friendships were irrevocably broken But for the creators and competitors who believed Roast Battle8217s potential was bigger than the sum of its (often raunchy) parts, freedom of speech was more than a political talking point It was everything comedy8217s most enduring legends fought for since the advent of brickwall backdrops Five years since its inception, Roast Battle remains the most adventurous, influential comedy show in the world Imitators exist in every city with a local comedy scene In addition to three stateside seasons on Comedy Central, television versions exist in the U K , Mexico, and South Africa Yet the L A original stubbornly retains its gritty, underground spirit, reaching capacity weekly without a lick of advertising With onthescene photos by Troy Conrad showcasing the venues, competitors, riotous cast of characters, and celebrity judges this 8220Verbal Boxing8221 and 8220Fight Club for Comedians8221 has welcomed along the way, Julie Seabaugh8217s Ringside at Roast Battle chronicles the emergence of a new fourth pillar of live comedy From the coming together of the principal players to the continuing influence the show will wield in years to come, the book explores the organic diversity, DIY nature, and politicallycharged atmosphere encouraging a new generation of comedians to laugh in the face of tragedy