If jokes about fat people, masturbation and anal sex were banned, the modern celebrity roast would be about two minutes long.

But in this era where raunch is right, the door is wide open for specials such as The Comedy Central Roast Of William Shatner, which airs for the first time in Canada tonight (Comedy Network, 10 p.m.).

Shatner, of course, is the legendary Canadian actor best known for his role as Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek. He's 75 now, but that doesn't mean there's anything old-fashioned about the humour directed his way by the roasters.

This thing isn't as funny as it could be. The roasters aren't A-listers, but rather "a veritable 'who's that?' of comedy," as host Jason Alexander says. Everyone tends to go for the cheap laugh, via vulgarity, rather than coming up with something truly clever.

But that's not to say there isn't the odd line that will have you howling, and also wondering, "Oh my lord ... can they say that on TV?"

For example, comedian Greg Giraldo singles out fellow roasters Nichelle Nicols (Ohura on Star Trek), Betty White and Farrah Fawcett and goes into Jeopardy mode by saying, "Uh, I'll take women I would masturbate to 30 years ago for a thousand, Alex."

Roaster George Takei -- who played Sulu on Star Trek and recently revealed publicly that he's gay -- actually takes more abuse than Shatner. As White puts it, "We all know Shatner's nuts, but George has actually tasted them."

Sheesh, Betty, weren't you a Golden Girl?

The roast of Shatner comes on the heels of an even more crude roast of Pamela Anderson. As comedian Jeffrey Ross observes, that makes it twice in a row that Comedy Central has roasted "a bad actor with big tits."

Some of this material falls very flat. But if you dare, tune in for some humour that seriously would make Dean Martin blush.


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