Friday night, I attended one of the five best events I have been to in my life -- and that takes into account a lot of events over the years. I bought a ticket to the celebrity roast honoring Jim Krenn on his 20 years on WDVE.


I consider Jimmy a friend and one of the nicest people on the planet. True, he never answers his cell phone and I don't think I have ever seen him drive himself to anything, but deep in his heart, he is a caring and concerned individual whose dedication to his wife and pets is commendable.


I wondered how this "roast" at the Lexus Club at PNC Park would go. I mean, how do you roast somebody who everyone likes? More to the point, how do a group of celebrity roasters rip on Jim when they themselves have no experience in actually "roasting" someone?

Channel 4 Action News Sports Anchor Jon Burton "roasting" WDVE's Jim Krenn


Much to my amazement, it was not only a fun time, it was laugh out loud funny. Part of the reason I was doubled over in laughter most of the night was because this thing got raunchy in a hurry. Nothing was out of bounds and if you did not know George Carlin's legendary "7 words you can't say on television", you certainly knew them by heart at the end of the evening.


While it would be both impossible to remember and unwise to repeat what was said, I can tell you there more than a few great lines from those on the dais: DVE sports guy Mike Prisuta, the PG's Gene Collier, DVE DJ Sean McDowell and comedian Billy Gardell just to name a few.


Jon Burton managed to poke fun at everyone -- including myself -- without saying one naughty word. Sally Wiggin did the same, though you could tell she was walking on eggshells. Perhaps the funniest bits of the night were on tape: Joe DeNardo and DVE newswoman Val Porter were showed no mercy in skewering Mr. Krenn.


But perhaps nothing caught me by surprise quite like the performance by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Not known for his humor and often monotone in his daily delivery, the mayor put on a show for the ages. While his script was likely written in advance by someone else, his delivery was so good -- and his willingness to joke about his own missteps so shocking -- that the mayor may have won himself some street cred.


Overall, it was truly a night I wish you all could have been there. It also reminds me that I doubt I'll be roasted when I hit my 20 years of service to WTAE. While I'm sure people could find plenty of ways to tease me, I doubt I will be as beloved as Jim Krenn.


Happy 20th Jimmy!