Comedian Jeffrey Ross knew he would upset some people when he showed up at the taping of the “Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne” dressed as deceased Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.

But when he unleashed a few jokes connected to the recent “The Dark Night Rises” shootings in Colorado, he knew that the jokes would not make the Aug. 12 broadcast. And that’s fine with him.

“Yes, I crossed a line, and that is what the roasts are all about,” Ross told NBC News. “That’s what Roseanne is about -- unapologetic comedy. If I had held back, I would have done her a disservice.”

Ross also told radio host Howard Stern that he had intended the jokes solely for the live audience.


During his routine, Ross turned to fellow roaster Seth Green and said, “Seth, congratulations. You haven’t gotten this much attention since you shot all those people in Aurora. ... I’m kidding. You are not like James Holmes. At least he did something in a theater that people remember.”

Although the joke provoked a few groans, Ross received a large ovation at the end of his routine.

Dane Cook got into hot water last week when he told a joke about the shootings during an appearance at the Laugh Factory. He later apologized, saying he made a “bad judgment call.”

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