I’ve Got Some Very Loyal Friends

In the 1970’s, Dean Martin would host celebrity roasts. They would have a man or woman of the hour and stars would get up and roast that person. It was much like the Friar’s Club Roasts, but cleaned up for national TV. Roastees included Johnny Carson, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Frank Sinatra and many others.

In recent years, Comedy Central resurrected the celebrity roasts. Because it was a cable channel, the jokes and insults could be a dirty and foul as they wanted to be! Roastees included Bob Sagat, Rob Lowe, Alec Baldwin, William Shatner and more.

I have friendships that are 40-50 years old and we always poke fun at each other, insult each other, and throw barbs back and forth. These things, according to a new study, are probably why we’ve remained friends for so long!

A recent study found that friends who joke around and lightly roast each other are up to three times (300%) more likely to be honest and loyal. The reason actually makes a lot of sense.

This kind of playful teasing is actually a sign of a deep connection, rooted in trust and mutual respect. It shows a level of comfort where both people know it’s all in good fun—and no one gets hurt.

With these friends, nothing is off limits. The jabs are always said in fun and with love. When they call me “cue ball” because of my bald head or “Dago” referencing my Italian heritage, it never bothers me. I laugh along with them. I’ve tossed my own insults at them, too.

Phone calls will usually start with some sort of silly name or jab. Meetings always start with a hug followed by, “Man, you look terrible,” or something to that effect. We’ve all come to expect it from each other.

The old saying goes, “With friends like this, who needs enemies?” We may sound like enemies sometime, but the friendship is loyal and true!