By EMILY PAOLICELLI
Arts Editor
Ray Romano’s comedy special, released on Netflix on Feb. 5, 2019, begins with Romano walking around Greenwich Village, soliloquizing to a camera. The short walk with him is very personal right off the bat. Romano begins by giving a bit of context for the special: he is to return to his home club after not having done a stand-up comedy special for twenty-three years. Interrupting his soliloquy, viewers see his interactions with strangers on the street, some who recognize him, and some who don’t.
The special is split into two sets: the first taking place at the original location of the Comedy Cellar, the club where Romano got his start in stand-up, and the second taking place at the second location of the Comedy Cellar, previously a music club called The Village Underground. After such a successful career, it’s heartwarming to see that his small, unassuming home club still holds a special place in his heart.
The content he delivers is down-to-earth and relatable; despite being a very well-known actor and comedian, he mainly speaks about his wife, his children, and his comical struggles to keep up with them all. If he discusses his fame at all, it’s to poke fun at it, or to bring it to a personal level that is relatable to his general audience. For the first half of the special, Romano discusses the plights of getting older. He highlights the constant medical issues, the advantages to aging, and the quirks of being in a long marriage.
Throughout the second half of the special, Romano endearingly puts his hand on the Comedy Cellar sign, a sweet, perhaps subconscious gesture. In this part, he talks about the absurdities of parenting toddlers, teenagers, and twins. He constantly pokes fun at his sex life, both on screen and off, and how his marriage has evolved over the years in terms of affection, communication, and intimacy, or lack thereof.
While he mainly talks about the struggles of getting older, his material is relatable to audiences of all ages; he gives advice to those that are younger, while appealing to the older audiences who know exactly what he’s talking about.
The small audiences in both locations make it easier for Romano to address his audience, maintaining the up close and personal feel that’s established right at the start of the special. He incorporates newlywed couples, doctors, younger and older audience members, and parents into his jokes, and frequently revisits them as the special goes on.
Romano keeps it extremely real with the audience by directly referencing the camera crew and Netflix’s odd stipulations for the special. It’s obvious that Romano tailors his jokes to his audience on the spot and makes adjustments as he learns new things about them. It’s refreshing to see a comedian who can think on his feet in a time where many comedy shows, especially if they’re televised, have an impersonal and scripted feel to it.
The personal connection that was established right from the beginning carries through the show, and you feel as if you might as well be right there in Comedy Cellar’s audience.
