Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner

In the 2019 Netflix Original special, Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner, famed comedian and actor Ray Romano steps back in front of the stand-up microphone after a long stint away from the genre that kick-started his career. The special features around an hour of non-stop humor, packed to the brim with Romano’s signature deadpan wit and keen awareness of the comedic potential found in everyday life.

The title, Right Here, Around the Corner, isn’t just catchy because of its simplicity and familiarity, it's also reflective of the format of the show. This unique stand-up special sees Ray Romano perform two half-hour sets back to back, in two different venues right around the corner from each other, in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village, i.e. the Comedy Cellar and the Village Underground. It's a novel take on the format, adding a layer of novelty to the already energy-packed special, and one that pays homage to the refreshing reality of stand-up comedy- unpredictable, spontaneous and physically close to its audience.

Ray Romano is a veteran in comedy, an Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles on the television shows "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Men of a Certain Age." Despite his multiple on-screen successes, in Right Here, Around the Corner, Romano reinhabits his original mold as a stand-up comedian with impressive ease. There's an unmatched simplicity about all of Romano's jokes, whether he's joking about marital disputes, the pitfalls of aging, or the vicissitudes of ordinary suburban life. The observational humor that brought him to fame is alive and well, as he navigates the ups and downs of life – with just the right tinge of self-deprecation.

One commendable part of this special resides in the relatability of Romano’s humor. His mirth-inducing anecdotes often revolve around his personal experiences and intricacies of his family life, digging in the sandbox of topics like parenthood, marriage trouble, kids leaving home, friends passing away, and getting older. While these might seem like the common fodder of stand-up routines, Romano’s distinctive delivery and uncanny ability to find hilarity in mundane life events set him apart, making the familiar territory feel both fresh and personable.

Ray Romano’s comedy journey becomes even more apparent when we see him basking in the spotlight on stage, building a strong connection with his audience. There's an immediacy and intimacy to how he interacts with his live audience, that feels like a throwback to a simpler time when humor was a way of bonding rather than an act seen on stage. Right Here, Around the Corner generously provides a peek into Romano's life, teasing fans about his now grown-up children, his wife of more than 30 years, and the humor he finds in everyday mundanities.

The special also features cameos from comedians Ryan Reiss and Richard Sarvate. Their brief appearances further the feeling of camaraderie and nostalgia that guides the show, underscoring the fundamental essence of stand-up comedy - a community of performers joking about life and not taking themselves too seriously.

In essence, Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner sees the accomplished actor returning to his roots. It presents an hour of enjoyable, down-to-earth humor and nostalgia, unfolding on a relatively small stage but in the vastly big heart of Romano. The special is a must-watch for anybody seeking laughs derived from relatable life scenarios, presented with a melancholic wisdom only a seasoned performer like Ray Romano could provide. Its soft-spoken humor, coupled with Romano's comedic charm, makes an entertaining spectacle that will leave the audience laughing and reflecting on life.