Memorial Sloan Kettering Comedy vs Cancer | Jazz at Lincoln Center | Ronnie Davis, Managing Director
I adore this event and have already marked my calendar for 2027, as this is truly one of my favorite “labors of love” all year. It is outstanding events like this that make us “do what we do.” The comedy benefit show for blood cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Comedy vs Cancer, returned to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. The sold-out, one-night-only event raised more than $2.5 million to support lifesaving blood cancer research at MSK.
Founded by Niccole and Jeremy Kroll, Jennifer Rogers and Robert Carlock, and Nick Kroll and Lily Kwong, Comedy vs Cancer has raised more than $9 million for blood cancer research since 2019. This year’s show was made possible with generous support from Founding Partner and 2025 Honoree Carrie Goldberg and her husband Laurence.
Hosted by comedian Nick Kroll, the 2026 show brought together a powerhouse lineup of comedy’s finest, including Bridget Everett, Zarna Garg, Brett Goldstein, and Hasan Minhaj who all showed up to support breakthroughs at MSK.
“Comedy has a unique power to bring people together, even in the face of something as serious as blood cancer,” said Kroll, co-founder of Comedy vs Cancer. “Every year, we get to help turn a night of laughter into real hope for patients and their families. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”
This year’s show celebrated honoree Erin Junkin, Co-Head of Television at WME and Founding Chair of MSK’s Entertainment Advisor Council, for her unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for people with blood cancer.
Comedy vs Cancer focuses on funding innovative early-stage research. In 2025, money raised by this community helped launch five new projects to better understand and target aggressive blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma.
“At a time when funding for research is increasingly uncertain, the generosity of the Comedy vs Cancer community gives our scientists the freedom to ask ambitious questions and pursue discoveries that can genuinely change lives,” said Ivan Maillard, MD, PhD, Head of the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Laurence Joseph Dineen Chair in Leukemia Research at MSK. “What begins as a bold research question today can become the breakthrough treatment of tomorrow — and that transformation is fueled by philanthropy.”
It is hard to compare this to other fundraising events . . . it is even harder to call this work.
After Party Menu
- Vietnamese Vegetable Summer Rolls [VEGAN, GF]
Sweet Chili Sauce - Roasted Cherry Tomato Tatin [VEGAN]
Savory Onion Jam, Chervil, Marigolds - Truffle Grilled Cheese [VT]
White Cheddar - Goat Cheese Bonbon [VT, GF]
Quinoa & Marigold - Tuna in a Bird’s Nest [DF, GF]
Tuna, Wasabi Sesame Yuzu Vinaigrette, Wasabi Tobiko, Micro Shiso - Roasted Long Island Potatoes [GF]
Caviar & Crème Fraîche - House-made Kosher Pigs in a Blanket
Deli Mustard - Pepper Crusted Beef Filet [DF]
Tomato Chutney & Black Bread Ficelle
- JG Melon Style Slider
Cheese, Thin Butter Pickles, Ketchup & Mustard - Lobster Roll
Buttered Brioche & Chives - Fresh Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Pizza by the Inch
- Grilled Eggplant, Olive & Ricotta Pizza by the Inch
- Ginger Fried Rice
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Tomato, Ciliegine Mozzarella & Basil Salad [VT, GF]
Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Sea Salt - Abuelita’s Garden [VEGAN, GF]
Romaine Lettuce, Roasted Peppers, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Shaved Radish, Cherry Tomatoes, Mango Vinaigrette - Shaved Summer Squash Salad [VEGAN, GF]
Radish, Fines Herbes, Horseradish & Sumac - Farro & Sweet Corn Salad [VEGAN]
Blueberries & Tarragon - Kale & Watercress Caesar Salad [VT, GF]
Pickled Onion, Caperberries, Black Pepper Parmesan Frico
- Chicken Spit
Chicken layered onto spit for display on station - Chicken Bowl
Basmati Rice, Cabbage, Pickled Red Onion, Yakitori & White Sauces, Sesame Seeds - Cumin Beef Bowl [DF]
Braised Brisket, Basmati Rice, Cabbage, Pickled Red Onion, Spicy Scallion Cucumbers, Red & White Sauces, Sesame Seeds - Spicy Eggplant Bowl [DF, VT]
Basmati Rice, Cabbage, Pickled Red Onion, Carrot, Cucumber, Scallion, White Sauce, Thai Basil, Sesame Seeds
- Flourless Chocolate Cake Bites [VT, GF]
- Lemon Meringue Pie Pop [VT]
- Vegan Raspberry S’mores Rice Crispy Treat [VEGAN]
- Mini Strawberry Shortcakes [VT]
Bamboo Skewer - Dark Chocolate-Raspberry Truffles [VEGAN, GF]
- Assorted Petit Four
- Roaming Bombolini [VT]
Chocolate Cream, Vanilla Cream, Raspberry Jam Fillings
