Raanan Hershberg “Jokes From The Underground” Comedy Special [Video]

Filmed inside the world famous The Comedy Cellar in New York City, New York, comedian Raanan Hershberg delivers a night of thought-provoking stand-up comedy in the form of his second stand-up comedy special entitled Jokes From The Underground. Mixed with inspiration and perspiration, many comedy critics have considered Jokes From The Underground as Hershberg’s comedic breakthrough performance.

The Comedy Cellar: The Comedy Cellar is a comedy club in Manhattan where many top New York comedians perform. It is widely considered to be the best comedy club in the country. It was founded in 1982 by then stand-up comedian, and current television writer/producer Bill Grundfest. It is located in Greenwich Village on 117 Macdougal Street between West 3rd Street and Minetta Lane. Above the club is a restaurant called The Olive Tree Cafe to which it is connected, where many of the comedians hang out after performing. The club is owned by Noam Dworman, who inherited it from his late father, Manny, and run by booker Estee Adoram, who has developed the club’s talent for nearly four decades. The businesses share the same menu, kitchen, and staff. The Comedy Cellar, like The Comedy Store, uses a showcase format, as opposed to a headline format like most clubs. A show will consist of between five and seven comics performing sets of roughly 10-15 minutes each. Each week consists of three to six shows a night on Sunday through Thursday and ten shows each Friday and Saturday, between both the original room and the larger Village Underground around the corner.

Regular performers there include Louis C.K., Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, Todd Barry, Judah Friedlander, Colin Quinn, Kevin Hart, Jim Norton, Jeff Ross, Mitch Fatel, Darrell Hammond, Michael Mittermeier, Rich Vos, Nick Di Paolo, Artie Lange, Greer Barnes, and Marc Maron.

Rising stars in comedy frequently perform at the Comedy Cellar, including Dov Davidoff, Ryan Hamilton, Robert Kelly, Harrison Greenbaum, Sherrod Small, Keith Robinson, Eric Neumann, Gregg Rogell, Nikki Glaser, Ben Bailey, and Andrew Schulz.

Celebrity comedians Aziz Ansari and Jon Stewart started their comedy careers at the Comedy Cellar, and both continue to occasionally perform there. Other celebrity comics who have performed at the club include Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, Robin Williams, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Bill Burr, and Matteo Lane.