October has a certain kind of magic in New York. The light softens, the air cools just enough to feel intentional, and rooftops suddenly become prime real estate for conversations that matter. One of those afternoons landed me in Harlem, meeting up with my friend Eitan Levine at his apartment, camera in hand, to shoot an episode of Manischewitz Matzo Ball Mini Dates.
Eitan, known to many as eitanthegoalie, was hosting the episode on his rooftop. The setup was simple but perfectly dialed in. A classic New York roof. Fall sun bouncing off brick. That steady city hum floating up from the street below. Nothing overproduced. Nothing forced. Just space for people to show up as themselves.
This was also my first time meeting Jenny Zigrino.
There’s something uniquely unscripted about meeting someone for the first time when cameras are already rolling. No warm-up laps. No easing into it. Just real conversation, real reactions, and a format that thrives on spontaneity. Jenny stepped into that effortlessly.
If her name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen her before. Jenny is a stand-up comedian and actor who’s been steadily carving out space in comedy for years. She appeared in Bad Santa 2, sharing the screen with Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates, bringing her sharp comedic timing into a film that lives on uncomfortable laughs and offbeat energy. She’s also been seen on late-night television, including multiple appearances on Conan and a spot on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
At her core though, Jenny is a stand-up. The kind who’s clearly done the reps. Her comedy pulls from personal stories, social observations, and that specific mix of confidence and vulnerability that makes an audience lean in instead of sit back. She’s a Just for Laughs New Faces alum, has toured extensively, and continues to headline clubs across the country. Watching her interact in a setting like this, you can feel that stage experience underneath the casual conversation.
From behind the lens, that ease matters. When someone is comfortable in their own voice, the moments don’t need chasing. They just happen.
The rooftop itself felt like a quiet third character in the episode. October light is forgiving in a way summer never is. Soft shadows. Gentle highlights. The city looking relaxed instead of rushed. It created an intimacy that made the whole thing feel less like a “show” and more like an honest slice of an afternoon.
By the time the sun dipped lower and the episode wrapped, it felt like we’d captured a small, perfect capsule of fall. A Harlem rooftop. A first date. A few matzo balls…..
At the end of it all, Jenny decided she wanted to go on another date with me. And we did.