When comedian Andy Dick agreed to be part of The Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson, he thought he and fellow insult comedians were going to spend an evening poking fun at the blonde bombshell. Instead, half way through the roast, Dick finds that the bulk of the material is about him, fellow comedians, host Jimmy Kimmel, Courtney Love and little on the guest of honor. “I thought this was a roast for Pamela Anderson and not for all of us onstage,” he says. 

The comedian is right in this assessment. Once the comedians joke about Anderson’s promiscuity, her anatomy, an infamous sex tape with ex-husband Tommy Lee, plastic surgery, her anatomy, and talent or the lack thereof, there's  not much left that hasn't already been covered by late night hosts and comedians.

The jokes are dated here, and when they are not working the comedians start making fun of each other just to get a laugh. First up is comedian Greg Giraldo, who's virtually unknown but has been called upon to perform in the roast. He doesn't have much material on Anderson and begins mocking Dick, Kimmel, as well as film star Eddie Griffin and rocker Courtney Love. All of them also ridicule Anderson.

The best moment comes from television legend Bea Arthur after fellow comedians establish that Anderson has written two more novels than she's actually read. Arthur proceeds to read from Anderson’s latest novel entitled "Star Struck." Ironically, the story is about a ditzy blonde actress who falls in love with a tattooed rock star. The passages Arthur reads show that even the worst Harlequin romance novel can be viewed as literature in comparison. For a brief moment, the roast is injected with a level of humor lacking during the rest of the program. 

Still, Dick is mildly amusing in his portrayal of Anderson’s plastic surgeon, who speaks about her lack of beauty and rough existence before he began working on her 15 years ago. And some viewers will probably appreciate Tommy Lee's performance of "Good Times," a rock ballad with hooks and an entertaining chorus. 

Despite filthy jokes from all the participants, The Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson failed to connect with my funny bone. Not even Lisa Lampanelli, the insult comedy Queen of Mean, had enough in her arsenal to hit the target and make me laugh.

The methodical direction by Joel Gallen also disappoints me. It's evident that Gallen and the comedians involved lack a firm grasp of their roast subject and of what makes for side-splitting material. Although Comedy Central has crafted many hilarious programs and roasts, their roast of Pamela Anderson, who appeared because proceeds went to PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals), is not one of them.

(Released by Comedy Central; not rated by MPAA.)