All hail, Jersey boy
Comedian Jeff Ross’ rapid-fire roasting antics hit SoFla.
There are two ways to take in a show by comedian Jeff Ross: Sit in the back and laugh, or be part of it.
“I’ll be speed-roasting,” says Ross, who will perform Saturday at Magic City Casino in Miami. “I’ll look ’ em over and take ’ em apart.”
Ross, 49, is known as Roastmaster General on Comedy Central, where he has roasted, among others, Justin Bieber, James Franco, Joan Rivers, Hugh Hefner, Pamela Anderson, Jerry Stiller, Drew Carey, Shaquille O’Neal, David Hasselhoff, Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump.
“I’m a rapid-fire truth-teller,” he says, adding that speed-roasting is something he honed during Comedy Central’s “The Burn With Jeff Ross,” which aired in 2012-13.
On June 13, Ross premiered a special he taped inside a jail in Bryan, Texas. “Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail” covers his three days at the facility, where he played basketball, sat in solitary confinement and roasted inmates during a performance.
“I never even thought it’d get to the air,” he says. “It took an unusual amount of rigamarole just to get a jail to say yes. I wanted to do something provocative and purposeful, and I finally found one guy in Texas — in Texas! — who kind of got it. They thought they could get something out of it by getting the prisoners to behave for the month before so they could be part of the show.”
Ross grew up in New Jersey, and he says that the fast-paced, gritty life of the Garden State helped him to develop his sense of humor.
“Everybody from New Jersey thinks they’re funny,” Ross says.
Ross was surprised to learn that Magic City Casino is not near the beach and includes a dog track.
“My agent booked me at a dog track,” he says. “If you’re reading this and you’ve wanted to see a roast, this is your chance. If you bring a date, there’s nothing sexier than watching someone get roasted. You’ll get some action afterward, for sure.”
Jeff Ross will perform 9 p.m. Saturday at Magic City Casino, 450 NW 37th Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $30, $75 for VIP. Call 305-460-6579 or go to MagicCityCasino.com.