Jokes from the Underground

Raanan Hershberg is the kind of comedian who thrives on the nervous energy of a cramped room, and his second self-produced hour shows exactly why his club-set timing works. Filmed at the Comedy Cellar in New York City on April 11, 2022, the special finds Hershberg working through his trademark neuroticism with a loud, aggressive pacing that matches the basement venue’s atmosphere. He avoids the slick, overproduced sheen of typical streamer specials in favor of pure, joke-dense stand-up.

Rather than relying on vague social commentary, Hershberg builds routines around specific absurdities. His best bit tracks the public cancellation and subsequent apology of Jimmy Fallon for an old Saturday Night Live sketch, culminating in a mock statement of forgiveness from Chris Rock that has a fantastic twist. Other highlights include a lengthy, anxiety-riddled breakdown of flying through plane turbulence, a look at his mother’s potential dementia during a painful mobile-banking phone call, and an awkward explanation of pegging.

Originally self-released on YouTube in September 2022, the set earned significant critical praise despite its low-budget presentation. New York Times critic Jason Zinoman named it the funniest YouTube special of the year, pointing to its replay value and Hershberg’s punchy club rhythm. The release capped a breakthrough year for Hershberg, who had made his debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier that January.