Comedian Jeff Ross is known as the celebrity Roastmaster General. Now he's targeting fans on his "Jeff Ross Roasts America" tour, which stops at the Fillmore Charlotte on Thursday.

Ross - who will be "speed-roasting" audience members during the show - spoke to the Observer last week about taking shots at everyone from people with disabilities to Whitney Houston, and touring with a post-meltdown Charlie Sheen.

Q. As a kid, were you always hurling cutting comments in class, or busting on your friends?

I'm from New Jersey, where everybody thinks they're a comedian. Insults begin at an early age there. My dad was a caterer, and I was the boss's son working in the kitchen. I had to learn to defend myself verbally. You need to be able to protect yourself when you're the butt of the joke. I didn't even know I was funny until I left New Jersey. I'm not even the funniest guy in my family. That's Uncle Murray. He's 90.

Q. How do you gauge what's appropriate?

Nothing's appropriate and nothing's inappropriate. If someone doesn't get pissed off somewhere, you're not doing it right. They don't want me to water it down.

Q. Do you remember at some point realizing that you had developed a thick skin?

I'm still not sure I can take it. I welcome people to make fun back at me at the roasts. I try to let the jokes go in one ear and out the other.

Q. What makes someone want to be roasted?

Everybody loves to be the center of attention, even when there's a target on their forehead.

Q. Is there anything you stay away from, say someone in a wheelchair or something like that?

The day after I see you guys in Charlotte, I'm going to Bethesda Naval Hospital to see wounded soldiers. They want to be roasted as much as anyone else. People with handicaps have the thickest skin. They're used to self-deprecating humor and insult comedy. It's an awful feeling when you're treated differently. Quite often, I get people with weird-looking bodies or weird-shaped heads that are begging me to be made fun of.

Q. Have you made any Whitney Houston jokes this week?

Somebody yelled out during my show in Toronto Saturday, "Whitney Houston just died." By the end of the show, we'd made 10 jokes about it that are probably too harsh for your newspaper.

Q. You co-wrote a script that is being turned into a movie (titled "The Comedian") that will star Robert De Niro and Kristen Wiig and is being directed by Sean Penn. What can you tell us about it?

It's a big break for me. It's very top secret.

Q. Do you think you'll work with Charlie Sheen again?

I hope so. He had a Super Bowl party last week and I went.

Q. Was touring with him as crazy as one might expect?

It was insane. People always ask, "Is Charlie really that nuts?" He's more nuts. He tones it down for the public. He's very full of life. And he lives every moment to the fullest. It's kind of fun to watch.