Historical Roasts season 1, episode 3 recap: Anne Frank

In episode 3 of Netflix series Historical Roasts, Jeff Ross looks at the life and legacy of Anne Frank, fearing that a comedic angle could end his career.

Even if you don’t like it, Historical Roasts was a bold concept from the get-go. This time Jeff Ross addresses the thorny issue of the Holocaust, through the story of Anne Frank (Rachel Feinstein). Famous for keeping a diary of her life while hiding from the Nazis, few respectable people would find Frank as a source for a ready supply of humor. However, Jeff Ross and his team of comedians are among the few who can do this while maintaining their respectability. In fact, with a supportive crowd and tone celebrating the life of Anne Frank, the episode may not be as shocking as some might think.

Much depends on one’s sensibilities. Some Jewish organizations expressed outrage over the episode, others were far more receptive. For example, a writer for Haaretz, the longest-running newspaper in Israel, said: “This is a sensitive 30 minutes, compassionate, funny and historically accurate. The roast does everything it can to honor the 6 million using humor.” Like with anything controversial, there are varied responses.

Ross being frank on Frank

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Understandably, Ross wonders aloud if he’s out of his mind for attempting the episode. However, he notes how Anne Frank’s diary helped him (and countless others) better understand the world. He also discusses how racism and genocides take place still, all these years later. He also brings up people still getting separated from parents and imprisoned. To him, Anne Frank represents victims worldwide.

He also notes how, in her book, The Diary of a Young Girl, Frank said the following: “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

The additional historical characters: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Jon Lovitz), Adolf Hitler (Gilbert Gottfried), Don Rickles (Mindy Rickles), and God (Fred Willard).

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FDR vs. Hitler

With Gilbert Gottfried as Adolf Hitler, you pretty much have to expect Historical Roasts to get a little dark. Those ought to all be seen in context. However, like Jeff Ross says: “Every joke today is too soon.” When FDR, America’s 32nd president, hits the stage, he does his best to obliterate Hitler, noting how he failed to get into art school and hitting him with a barrage of testicle jokes.

At the same time, FDR is hit back with mention of his Japanese internment policy — demonstrating that “Historical Roasts” really does have history lessons. It’s also quaint that FDR had 4 terms as President. When he flips Hitler off, most people will forget his own shortcomings, thinking, “He may have been bad in some ways, but was he Hitler bad?”

Hitler himself

After Mindy Rickles gets done singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag” dressed like her father, famous insult comic and WW2 veteran Don Rickles, Hitler invades the stage. Ross introduces him as a veteran, dog lover and newlywed. The audience jeers. However, Gottfried does bring the laughs. One of his best lines: “After watching Jeff Ross’s set tonight, you at least kind of get my whole deal, right?”

In the best tradition of comedy, he notes a number of uncomfortable parallels between Nazi Germany and the United States. For example, the “greatest generation” was also largely racist and anti-gay. He also argues that America didn’t care about “him” until Pearl Harbor (plus, Hitler declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941, giving us practically no choice but to pay attention).

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God and some final notes

With Fred Willard as God, Jeff Ross asks how he could let the holocaust happen. He basically sidesteps the issue, saying “I work in mysterious ways, like the internet in a hotel.” It’s as good an answer as Historical Roasts could ever provide (or, for that matter, any serious theologian). The end message is to stand up to hate as Anne Frank has her turn. Rachel Feinstein has the necessary charisma and jokes to turn the tables on Hitler and his ilk, noting how Hitler is being played by a Jewish comedian.

Despite the controversial nature of the topic, most people can simultaneously grasp the seriousness of the issues while having humor. It’s not necessarily an either/or equation.

What are your thoughts on Historical Roasts? Let us know in the comments!

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