Broadway, brace yourself: The “Roastmaster General” is coming in hot! Comedy legend Jeff Ross, best known for torching celebs in the iconic Comedy Central roasts, is now making his long-awaited Broadway debut. He’s hitting the Nederlander Theatre with his new show, Take a Banana for the Ride. Entertainment journalist from Spectrum News NY1 Frank DiLella caught up with Ross to talk about the meaning behind that eyebrow-raising title, his love of “dangerous jokes,” and why he’s looking to Billy Crystal for this career milestone.
Jeff Ross! Welcome to Broadway!
It’s crazy, right? You must say that to a lot of people, but for me it’s pretty new.
Can you explain the title of your show, Take a Banana for the Ride?
It’s good advice — it’s potassium! When I was a young comic starting out in New Jersey, I lived with my Pop Jack, my grandfather. I would take him to his doctor appointments all day, and then at night I would take the bus into New York City and tried to get on stage at the open mic nights. And my Pop Jack would always give me a few dollars for the bus and a banana. And he would say, “Take a banana for the ride.” That was his way of saying “Be ready for anything in life, and I’m there with you in spirit even though I can’t go with you.”
What does Broadway mean to you?
I can’t even call it a dream come true. Honestly, Frank. It’s like a fantasy come true. I never thought this could really happen even though I always wanted it. I would see Broadway shows, growing up in Jersey. Going to Broadway was a big deal: You got dressed up going into New York for a Broadway show. And I remember all of them. But the one that hit me when I was starting out as a comic was seeing Jackie Mason in his one-person show on Broadway. And I remember the power of that — seeing one person on stage and saying whatever he wanted and making a room full of people just explode with laughter and make them so happy. It was so cathartic and so cool for me. That’s my inspiration for what I’m about to do at the Nederlander Theatre.
Jackie was a regular on Broadway. Did you get to know him?
I shook his hand a couple of times. I was a fan.
You’re playing the Nederlander Theatre. There’s some major Broadway history associated with it: Rent famously opened on Broadway at the Nederlander. In recent years, Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole performed opposite each other in War Paint, Billy Crystal performed there in Mr. Saturday Night, Idina Menzel recently returned to the Nederlander to star in Redwood …
I talked to Idina; she said I could use the Redwood set, so I’ll be climbing a redwood every night. And obviously I was there to see Rent. I saw it Off-Broadway and then on Broadway because Idina and I were good friends back then. I really understand the legacy of the Nederlander.
Your career in comedy spans decades. Needless to say, what was considered acceptable 30 — or even 10 — years ago has changed significantly. How do you approach your material today compared to earlier in your career?
What’s funny is funny, Frank. I don’t over think it. I’ve spent a lot of time in comedy clubs and talking to people, and you just evolve with the times. Am I edgier now? I don’t know. I think I know where the line is, and I always want to scratch the skin, not break it. But if we’re going by Broadway standards, I think my show is going to be pretty edgy.
According to press notes, there are going to be “dangerous jokes” in your show. What do you mean by that?
[Laughs.] Jokes that can get me killed. I don’t hold back on stage, so if you want your comedy gluten-free, this is not the show for you. It’s a crazy world right now and it can be stressful to watch the news, so I want my show to be a cathartic release. Nobody wants their comedy watered down — they want their comedy potent.
I also understand we’re going to get some of your family stories. Both your parents passed away when you were rather young.
I will talk about my parents; my Pop Jack; my great grandmom Rosie, who was this incredible feminist icon in the ’50s in Jersey. She started a catering hall before women had big businesses like that. And my sister, Robyn, who is still my best friend. She’ll be at my opening night. I will give you great family comedy.
So much talk about family. Did you see Billy Crystal’s one-man show 700 Sundays when it was on Broadway?
Of course! I just reread it because it was so darn funny.
Are you pulling from Billy’s show for inspiration?
Billy lost his dad when he was a young man as well. And Billy was my age when he decided to look back and do 700 Sundays. So there is that parallel there. I did ask him for some advice, and he’s been very generous about the prep and how much I’m going to love it when I’m up there. I love his show. That show had a big impact on me as a comedian and as a human being. Billy Crystal is one of the greats.
You’ve had some health challenges recently. Do you believe in healing through comedy?
Yes. I honestly think comedy is a powerful medicine. We talk so much about exercising and taking our pills, but we don’t spend a lot of time thinking about our brain and our mood and our emotions. Laughter is a nutrient — it feeds the brain and keeps the brain healthy and popping and alive. I went through some tough stuff last year with my health, and it was my family and friends who made me laugh that got me through it. Laughter is the best medicine.
At the start of our conversation, you mentioned your Pop Jack giving you the banana when you were a struggling comic back in the day. What do you think he would say about this moment, Jeff Ross on Broadway?
That’s a great question. Knowing my grandfather, he would probably shake his head in disbelief and would say, “Now I see it all. Now I see it all, champ!” He loved to laugh — I get a lot of my sense of humor from my grandfather. I’m wearing his ring right now, which I never take off. He went through a lot in his life but never felt sorry for himself, and I think he would be in the front row every night laughing his butt off.
You can catch Ross in Take a Banana for the Ride, now playing at the Nederlander Theatre.
