Jeff Ross shines in ‘Take a Banana for the Ride’

‘JEFF ROSS: TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE’: Jeff Ross. Photo: Emilio Madrid.

JEFF ROSS: TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE
Written & performed by Jeff Ross
Directed by Stephen Kessler
Through September 28, 2025
Nederlander Theatre
208 W 41st Street
https://jeffrossbroadway.com/

By Scott Harrah

Raunchy comedian Jeff Ross reveals his surprisingly vulnerable side in his hilarious one-man Broadway show, Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride. He is best known as “the Roastmaster General” for his roasts of celebrities on Comedy Central. The 59-year-old Newark, New Jersey native has become infamous for politically incorrect, foul-mouthed but scathingly funny humor. Anyone who yearns for the glory days of “Borscht Belt” comedians from yesteryear—Jackie Mason, Don Rickles, Rodney Dangerfield, Henny Youngman and Joan Rivers, among others—will enjoy Mr. Ross’s blend of scabrous wit, Jewish sensibility, self-deprecating one-liners and his ability to poke fun at his many personal tragedies.

Despite being renowned as an “insult” comedian, audiences will be surprised at just how vulnerable and—dare I say it?—serious Mr. Ross is throughout the show. He peels back all the layers of his public persona, revealing a man who has faced so much adversity in life.

Bittersweet anecdotes

Mr. Ross’s show is primarily a series of bittersweet but funny anecdotes about his childhood in New Jersey and his early days in Hollywood. His mother died of leukemia when he was just 14. His quirky father ran a catering business in Newark but had a drug problem and died when Mr. Ross was just 19. Ross’s only immediate family member alive today is sister Robyn. So, he learned from a young age to remain positive and find ways to laugh despite personal tragedies.

He was mostly raised by his fun-loving eccentric grandfather Pop Jack, a man who insisted that young Jeff always “take a banana for the ride,” meaning to always be ready for whatever curveballs life throws at you. Pop Jack was a World War II veteran who proudly wore a ring made from a piece of a captured Nazi submarine. His grandfather often said he had “world-beater” energy.

The comedian lost his hair (which he calls his “Jew ’fro”) from alopecia, and now is completely bald and has no eyelashes. He makes countless jokes about his baldness.

Mr. Ross eventually became a star on the comedy circuit, but he had many unpleasant and sad experiences along the way, including losing several fellow comedians who were great friends: Norm McDonald, Bob Saget and Gilbert Godfried.

Proudly Jewish

One of the show’s funniest moments is the song “Don’t F**k with the Jews,” in which he names all the major accomplishments by Jewish people.  In 2025, Jewish people worldwide are facing unprecedented levels of antisemitism, so it’s refreshing to see a Jewish comedian who is unabashedly proud of his faith and heritage.

Colon cancer battle & audience insults

 He shares details of his recent battle with colon cancer. Mr. Ross jokes that having several inches of his colon removed has left him with a “semicolon.” In addition, he recounts how his oncologist tried to soften the bad news with humor. “Jeff, the good news and bad news. The bad news is you’re going to need six months of chemo. The good news is you lost your hair a long time ago.”

Toward the show’s end, he goes out into the audience and randomly makes people stand up, asks their name and then proceeds to make an unscripted, disparaging joke about them.

Jeff Ross isn’t Billy Crystal, but so what?

Don’t come to the show expecting a more structured one-man comic show like Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. There are similarities, of course. Both Mr. Crystal and Mr. Ross use autobiographical stories to talk about their late parents, Jewish relatives and nostalgic family memories. However, while Billy Crystal’s show focused on the short time that he knew his father (Crystal’s dad died when Billy was 15), Jeff Ross is brasher and portrays his dad as a deeply flawed man. No, he isn’t Billy Crystal, but so what?

Jeff Ross has his own unique comic style. He’s loud, raw and shamelessly vulgar (and he never fails to get laughs as a result). He is also sentimental at times, revealing all the pain and insecurities and resilience that have made him who is today. Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride isn’t a perfect show, but if you enjoy his in-your-face humor as much as this reviewer does, it’s one marvelously funny night out at the theater.

Published August 25, 2025
Reviewed at performance on August 19, 2025

‘JEFF ROSS: TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE’: Jeff Ross in various scenes. Photos: Emilio Madrid.