j
seeing her on TV," he says. He has
appeared at one other Gilda's Big
Night Out event, in New York's
Catskill Mountains.
The Jewish News caught up with the
busy Ross via cell phone as he and a
comedian friend were driving from Los
Angeles to Anaheim for an Angels-New
York Yankees baseball game. Earlier
that day, he had taped a Friar's Club
roast of Yankee manager Joe Torre,
which featured Milton Berle — "still
hilarious at age 92" — and CNN's
Larry King as emcee. And he was
bristling with his signature roasts jokes.
"But I don't think you can use [the
Friar's Club] jokes in a family newspa-
per like the Jewish News," notes Ross,
whose material generally ranges from
good-naturedly sharp to squeaky clean,
depending on the audience. He has
developed a talent for pleasing every-
one, with a fresh and endearing style.
Ross, 33 and single, grew up in the
Newark area, and had the "bar mitz-
vah of the century" because his father
was a kosher caterer who went all out
to feed every delicacy to the 300
guests. "Martin Scorcese directed the
video," quips Ross. "I mean this party
was really big. We did everything
except go on a safari."
On his own at age 19, Ross gradu-
ated from Boston University's broad-
cast and film school, was a radio disc
jockey, did some video production
work, then, on a whim, took a class in
standup comedy and writing.
"My comedy career took off from
there," he says. "I guess you could call
it a happy accident that I ended up in
comedy. For a while, I thought I would
spend my life in the catering business."
Ross paid his dues at several of
Manhattan's seedy clubs and bars
before headlining in such well-known
comedy clubs as Catch a Rising Star
and the Improv. He won the Back
Stage magazine Bistro Award in 1998
and appeared on the late-night talk-
show circuit with David Letterman,
Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien.
He achieved even bigger success on
No one will show up. Anyway, we just
cable TV's Comedy Central, helping to
pulled into the stadium parking lot."
roast comics Drew Carey and Jerry
Michael Radner, Gilda's only sibling,
Stiller, and doing standup specials Pulp
is a vice president of Gilda's Club Metro
Comics and Lounge Lizards, as well as
Detroit, which was founded in 1993 by
The Man Show, for which he also writes.
eight local women affected by cancer,
Ross maintains apartments in Los
then moved into a renovated three-story
Angeles and New York — "actually
building two years ago. "The club is a
two closets and two piles of mail," he
fulfillment of Gilda's dream to create a
muses of his hectic life. He spent New
gathering place where people living
Year's Eve in Havana, Cuba, where "I
with cancer could develop social and
almost got traded for Elian Gonzalez."
emotional support as a supplement to
He has a cameo
role in the upcom-
ing film The Rocky
Bullwinkle
Movie, with Robert
DeNiro, Renee
Russo and Whoopi
Goldberg. He plays
a lawyer.
The comedian
says he always
writes his own
"shtick" and even
served on a five-
person comedy
writing team for
the recent Academy
Awards production.
The team helped
The late Gilda Radner: "Gilda loved everything rec4
supply emcee Billy especially candy, like licorice. So, its important that we
Crystal with his
keep the red door [of Gilda's Club] open to support people
opening material,
with cancer," says her brother, Michael Radner.
and stayed back-
stage to provide
Crystal and the presenters with "adlib"
medical care," Radner explains.
jokes as the TV show progressed (to
The club offers weekly supper/lec-
more than four hours).
tures, networking events and work-
"But Billy's own adlibs are the best,"
shops in art, meditation, guided
declares Ross, whose favorite young
imagery, creative writing, yoga and
comedians are Jerry Seinfeld, Gary
more. "Members share collective wis-
Shandling, David Attel and his pal,
dom, which Gilda said helped her
Bruce Srnimoff. He also has a soft spot
regain control of her life and reclaim
for some of the veterans, such as Buddy
her gift for laughter," says Radner.
Hackett, "who is semi-retired, but very ,
Gilda's husband, Jewish actor Gene
sharp and often sends me one-liners," he Wilder, helped found the New York
says. 'And, of course, they're all Jewish."
City club in 1995. Five more clubs are
Asked to provide a sneak preview of in existence around the country, with
his performance at Gilda's Big Night
eight more opening soon in the U.S.,
Out II, Ross says, "I don't want to
Canada and London.
blow my. whole act in the Jewish News.
Each building has a symbolic red
door to follow the pattern of the red
door that "just happened to be on the
first Gilda's Club building," says
Radner. "Gilda loved everything red,
especially candy, like licorice. So, it's
important that we keep the red door
open to support people with cancer."
Wilder, now suffering from non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma, keeps in touch
with his brother-in-law and the Gilda's
Club program. "-He's aware of the
clubs' progress and we often exchange
notes," says Radner.
Several other Jewish families are
involved in Gilda's Big Night Out II.
The event will honor the memory of
Linda Kozlowski, who gave many hours
of volunteer time to Gilda's Club before
dying of breast cancer in 1996. The
"Women Alive" fund is devoted to her.
The "It's Always Someone Special"
award will be presented to the family
of comedienne Alyce Faye, who died
of lung cancer in November. She
helped raise funds for Gilda's Club
through annual comedy performances.
Honorary chairpersons are Linda's
husband, Dr. Jay Kozlowski of
Commerce; Evelyn Kasle of Franklin,
and Lisa and Gary Shiffnian of West
Bloomfield. ❑
Gilda's Big Night Out II will
be held Wednesday, May 3, in
the main sanctuary of Temple
Beth El, 7400 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Township.
Beginning at 6 p.m., there will
be a silent auction and strolling
supper. Comedian Jeffrey Ross
will perform at 8 p.m. Ticket
categories are: Donor, $125;
Patron, $200; Corporate, 10
tickets for $3,000; and
Benefactor, 10 tickets for
$5,000. The money supports
Gilda's Club Metro Detroit. For
tickets and more information,
call (248) 577-0800.
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2000
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