The Hot Seat (TV series)

The Hot Seat is a 2024 Kenyan comedy‑roast television series produced by D&R Studios, founded by Eugene Mbugua. The first two episodes debuted on Showmax on December 10, 2024,^[1] followed by weekly releases.

The Hot Seat
Genre	Roast comedy
Created by	Eugene Mbugua
Written by	Various
Directed by	Geoffrey Wanyeki Jessica Mwangi Joel Ndirangu Kelvin Black Charles Winchez
Starring	Emmanuel Kisiangani Ruth Nyambura George Waweru Maina Munene Oluoch Kariuki Bashir Halaiki Marcus Douglas Stan Saleh Tonio Kibz Ty Ngachira
Country of origin	Kenya
Original languages	English and Swahili
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13
Production
Producer	Eugene Mbugua
Running time	40-60 minutes
Production company	D&R Studios
Original release
Network	Showmax
Release	3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) – 25 February 2025 (2025-02-25)

The show features Kenyan celebrities including Sauti Sol’s Savara, Andrew Kibe, content creator Kabi WaJesus, media personality Willis Raburu, musician Willy Paul, and comedians Terence Creative, Eddie Butita, and Eric Omondi.

Plot

The Hot Seat is a Kenyan comedy television series in the style of a roast featuring Kenyan celebrities. The show is hosted by a team of stand-up comedians who present material about a new celebrity guest in each episode.^[1]The roast show features some of Kenya's biggest celebrities and media personalities including comedian Terrence Creative, content creator Kabi Wa Jesus, media personality Willis Raburu, Andrew Kibe, musician Willy Paul, comedian Eddie Butita, Sauti Sol's Savara and more.^[2]

Series Overview

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	13		December 3, 2024 (2024-12-03)	February 25, 2025 (2025-02-25)

Season 1 (2024)

Roastee	Roast master(s)	Original release date
Terrence Creative	Emmanuel Kisiangani	December 3, 2024 (2024-12-03)
Roasters: Marcus Kariuki, George Waweru, Ty Ngachira, Ruth Nyambura, Oluoch Kariuki, and Bashir Halaiki.
Willis Raburu	Emmanuel Kisiangani	December 3, 2024 (2024-12-03)
Roasters: Titus Mutai, Kinuthia SK, Arnold Saviour, Ty Ngachira, Bashir Halaiki, and Prof Hamo.
Kabi wa Jesus	Emmanuel Kisiangani	December 10, 2024 (2024-12-10)
Roasters: Ruth Nyambura, Gakonyo Gathimba, Ty Ngachira, Nathan Rerei, Bashir Halaiki, and George Waweru. Notable audience members: Milly Wa Jesus
Andrew Kibe	Emmanuel Kisiangani	December 17, 2024 (2024-12-17)
Roasters: Bashir Halaiki, Ruth Nyambura, Maina Munene, George Waweru, and Ty Ngachira.
Eddie Butita	Emmanuel Kisiangani	December 24, 2024 (2024-12-24)
Roasters: George Waweru, Nelly Wangeci, Maina Murumba, Ty Ngachira, and Bashir Halaiki.
Savara	Emmanuel Kisiangani	January 7, 2025 (2025-01-07)
Roasters: Stan Saleh, Maina Munene, Tonio Kibz, Ruth Nyambura, Bashir Halaiki, and Ty Ngachira.
Willy Paul	Emmanuel Kisiangani	January 14, 2025 (2025-01-14)
Roasters: Prof. Hamo, Nick Kwach, Maina Munene, Ty Ngachira, Bashir Halaiki, and Jack Nanjero.
Eric Omondi	Emmanuel Kisiangani	January 21, 2025 (2025-01-21)
Roasters: David Macharia, Ruth Nyambura, Bashir Halaiki, George Waweru, and Amandeep Jagde as they go all in on the "President of Comedy" himself, Eric Omondi.
Pierra Makena	Bashir Halaiki	January 28, 2025 (2025-01-28)
Roasters: Mike One, George Waweru, Emmanuel Kisiangani, Maina Munene, and Nelly Wangechi take aim at the multi-talented DJ, actress, and TV personality. From her legendary DJ mixes to her award-winning acting, no topic is off-limits! Will the queen of the decks handle the heat, or will she drop the mic?
YY Comedian	Emmanuel Kisiangani	February 4, 2025 (2025-02-04)
Roasters: Featuring the trailblazing Ruth Nyambura, Nelly Wangeci, Ty Ngachira, George Waweru, Bashir Halaiki, and the roast master Emmanuel Kisiangani; they dish it out cold to YY Comedian on the hot seat. The legendary comedian and media personality's life from dating and career is up for a hot roast!
MC Jessy	Emmanuel Kisiangani	February 11, 2025 (2025-02-11)
Roasters: George Waweru, Adan Abdi, Ty Ngachira, Bashir Halaiki, and Maina Munene.
Mejja	Emmanuel Kisiangani	February 18, 2025 (2025-02-18)
Roasters: Marcus Douglas, David Maina, George Waweru, Ty Ngachira, and Bashir Halaiki.
Frankie Just Gym It	Emmanuel Kisiangani	February 25, 2025 (2025-02-25)
Roasters: Bashir Halaiki, Nelly Nyambura, George Waweru, Maina Munene and Ty Ngachira.

Production

Development

The show was developed by Eugene Mbugua as a follow-up to his 2022 show Roast House, which also debuted on Showmax. Shot at Alloys Bar & Lounge, it features upcoming comedians in Kenya. Emmanuel Kisiangani serves as MC for most episodes, except during the roast of Pierra Makena.^[3]

Critical Response

Stanslaus Manthi of Business Daily Africa described the show as "sharp, unfiltered, and unapologetically Kenyan" in his review, stating: "The Hot Seat is brutal in the best way. It is like a slaughterhouse where egos go to die. The fact that the show is homegrown makes it even better."^[4]