Leon Schuster has pulled out of Comedy Central’s first ‘roast of the year’ on his doctor’s advice, who told him to rest up after shooting two movies back to back, and who is waiting to undergo a knee replacement operation.
His place in the hot seat has been taken up by “larger-than-life entrepreneur, politician, party starter, reality TV star, and former guest of the government of the Republic of South Africa, Kenny Kunene”, the channel announced.
The Comedy Central Roast of Kenny Kunene Fired up by Nando’s will take place on 3 April at the Lyric Threatre in Johannesburg, and will premiere on television, on channel 122, later that month, on 28 April.
“You can never roast sushi. Don’t even try. But bring it on Comedy Central!” Kunene said.
The former English teacher, often referred to as the ‘sushi king’ for his penchant for eating the Japanese delicacy off the bodies of barely-dressed women, is an entrepreneur and owner of the ZAR nightclub chain in South Africa. Kunene is also a well-known media figure thanks to his reality show called ‘KK – So What’ and his brief involvement with the Economic Freedom Fighters, which he left to join the Patriotic Alliance.
To celebrate Kunene’s involvement in the Roast, Comedy Central has committed to supporting him in realising a vital social upliftment project in Alexandra, close to where he lives.
Following in the singed footsteps of 2012 ‘Roastee’ Steve Hofmeyr, Kunene’s life and works will be “honoured” by a panel of peers, friends, enemies, critics, comics and entertainment personalities, as they line up to subject him to a humorous barrage of praise, criticism, abuse, jokes and downright lies.
“We are excited to welcome Kenny on board as our second Roastee. The Comedy Central Roast of Kenny Kunene” offers all the elements of a great Roast – a larger-than-life personality who polarises opinion and whose life and career has had many convoluted ups and downs. There’s enough comic material in Kenny to populate at least 3 Roasts and our only issue will be picking out the juiciest bits!” says Evert van der Veer, channel director, Comedy Central, Africa.
Nando’s agrees, saying the company is “always up for a laugh”. “we commend Kenny for being a good enough sport to volunteer to be laughed at. We look forward to converting him from sushi to flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken, served a little more conventionally, but still a talking point,” he said.
Schuster said he was “heartbroken” to miss out on the roast and sorry for any disappointment caused to his fans. “ Unfortunately all those silly movie stunts and some old rugby injuries have finally caught up with me at the ripe old age of 62. I’m going to take some time out for a bit of R&R and I look forward to coming back fit and refreshed in a couple of months. In the meantime I look forward to putting my feet up and watching Kenny Kunene getting the Roasting he well and truly deserves!”
To join the conversation about the next SA Roast, please add #RoastZA to your tweets.
