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Kenny comes to Schuster's rescue in Comedy Central Roast

Cape Town – With Comedy Central in crisis the TV channel roped in Kenny Kunene to replace Leon Schuster who suddenly backed out of doing the Comedy Central Roast set for 3 April.

Schuster will no longer sit in the Roast seat after apparently being advised to rest by doctors.

Schuster told Comedy Central (DStv 122) last week that he is no longer doing the Roast. Comedy Central executives immediately called Kenny Kunene and asked him to help - South Africa's "Sushi King" has always been on Comedy Central's radar as a potential roastee.

Comedy Central says Schuster "has been advised to rest by his doctors following an intense work schedule which has seen him shoot two movies back-to-back, and who is awaiting a knee replacement operation".

Schuster says that he's "heartbroken to be missing the Roast and so sorry at any disappointment caused to my fans but unfortunately all those silly movie stunts and some old rugby injuries caught up with me at the ripe old age of 62. I'm going to take some time out for a bit of rest and recuperation and I look forward to coming back fit and refreshed in a couple of months."

The change clearly means new work by Comedy Central to find and secure new local celebrity talent to roast Kunene instead of Schuster. Comedy Central didn't announce who Kunene's roasting panel will be.

'Kenny is a brilliant alternative'

Evert van der Veer, Comedy Central channel director, says he's "excited to welcome Kenny on board as our second Roastee".

Van der Veer told Channel24 on Thursday afternoon that "the decision was made by Comedy Central on the advice of his doctors".

"We think Leon would have made a great roastee so naturally we are sorry that he can no longer participate but he has been told to rest and his health is the most important thing.

"Kenny is a brilliant alternative – a controversial and well-known media figure thanks to his colourful career. Kenny's ability to court controversy and to polarise opinion offers lots of comedic possibilities and make him truly Roast worthy."

Kunene says "You can never roast sushi. Don't even try. But bring it on Comedy Central!"

The Comedy Central Roast of Kenny Kunene will be recorded on 3 April and will be broadcast on the channel on DStv on 28 April at 20:00.

It will be the second South African Comedy Central Roast, based on the American Comedy Central format which kicked off last year with Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr.

Comedy Central tweeted the following when the news was announced:



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