Jeffrey Ross is a funny guy. A talented writer, actor and stand up comic, he will be at the John Harms Center for the Arts on Feb. 8. Joining him are fellow comedians Greg Fitzsimmons, Jeff Cesario and Otto & George.
The show will be a homecoming for Ross, who is originally from Union. He has performed at New Brunswick’s Stress Factory, but with a busy touring schedule and traveling to Los Angeles for work, he hardly returns to the Garden State. The Feb. 8 show will be his first performance at the John Harms Center.
"If anybody from high school comes to the show, don’t say hi to me. I didn’t like you then, I don’t like you now," Ross joked. "I can’t wait to come back home."
At the show, Ross will read a few of his trademark love poems, and he’ll also take a couple of shots at the crowd. Despite his charming insults at audience members, he does not think of himself as an insult comic. In a 45-minute set, and only five minutes will be insult.
"People love when I make fun of them," he said. "If you sit in the front row, chances are I’ll talk about you."
Born in Newark, Ross lived in Union, where he worked at his father’s catering hall bussing tables, parking cars and cleaning.
"I was taught the importance of hard work at an early age," he said.
After high school, Ross went to Boston University, where he studied comedy writing. His passion and talent for the craft motivated him to try standup. Ross became a comedian because he enjoyed making people laugh. After college he performed at clubs in the region. His first gig was at a Bennigan’s in North Jersey.
"It was one of those things that you just had to do it to get to the next level," he said.
His skills as a comic improved, and during the early ’90s Ross was touring and performing at many college towns. There was a demand for stand up acts throughout the country, and he jumped at the opportunity. Nobody can steal his act, he said, because comedy is about timing.
"What makes a good comic is talent, delivery and work ethic," he said. "Other people can steal my jokes, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be funny."
Before moving to New York City, Ross traveled often to Hoboken with friends to party. He has many memories at the mile-square city, and he visits when he travels to Jersey.
"It’s a great party town. We hung out in Hoboken because we couldn’t afford going into the city," he said.
Today Ross is one of the most sought-after and versatile comedians on the national scene. Ross’s appearances include the Late Show with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, The View, Hollywood Squares, The Howard Stern Radio Show and The Daily Show.
Howard Stern‘s Artie Lange is also originally from Union, and has met Ross several times.
"Ross is a very talented comic, one of the best out there," Lange said in a previous interview.
Ross’s performances at the annual Friars Club Roasts earned him New York magazine’s "Meanest Man in Comedy."
Ross is on the Board of Governors at the Friars and he was instrumental in bringing the black-tie celebrity roasts to Comedy Central, which he produced four years. His favorite roast was 1998’s Hugh Hefner’s "Lifetime Achievement Award."
"I mean, it’s Heff, what more can I say. I got to go to the mansion."
In addition to the roasts, he has written for the 2000 Academy Awards hosted by Billy Crystal and The Man Show on Comedy Central. He stars in the award-winning short Karaoke Knight, which airs regularly on Showtime. He hosted the NBC show Later, in which he interviewed Milton Berle and Ice-T. He also did the PBS special Borscht Belt Confidential, and the variety shows, Tompkins Square on Comedy Central and Late Friday on NBC.
His solo standup specials include Lounge Lizards and Pulp Comics, both for Comedy Central. He had small roles in the feature films Celtic Pride, Brokers, Isn’t She Great, The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, and National Security. He just finished filming a movie starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston.
In 1997, he was awarded top comedy awards from Backstage magazine and from the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Artists. He has performed at every major comedy festival and he donates his talents to many causes every year, including the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. He is currently working on a sit-com pilot for NBC.
Ross will be at the John Harms Center for the Arts on Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $35. The venue is located at 30 North Van Brunt St. in Englewood. For more information call (201) 567-7357 or visit www.johnharms.org. q
(On the cover: Ross (left), with the late Milton Berle (center) and comedy legends Red Buttons and Sid Caesar.)