Dec. 20th NOT FRIDAY with Patton, Van Poppelen, Dimond, Prinsell, and Wilson

This Monday's show is going to be a lot of fun.  I'll be sharing some of my favorite Christmas stories this week, and I'll be bringing the ukulele out!  I won't be the only musician on the show, and I hope you'll come out for a very special Not Friday, a show that takes place at 8 PM every Monday night at White Rabbit, 145 East Houston Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave, next door to Sunshine Cinema).

Take a look at this week's lineup:

Sean Patton (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central)

Brooke Van Poppelen (truTV, NPR)

Tim Dimond (Swick and Easy, Laugh Track Sold Separately)

Billy Prinsell (James Harris says he's funny.)

PLUS live music by Matt Wilson!

This show is produced and hosted by James Harris, Adam Pateman, and myself.  Doors open at 7:30.  $4 beers and highballs.

I'll see you there!

- John Szeluga

NOT FRIDAY with Bargatze, Haynes, Gould, Zach & Zach, and more!

NOT FRIDAY is a FREE weekly comedy show produced and hosted by James Harris, Adam Pateman, and John Szeluga.  It all happens at 8:00 PM every Monday night at White Rabbit, 145 East Houston Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave, next to Sunshine Cinema) in NYC.  Doors open at 7:30.  $4 beers and highballs.  Take a look at this week's amazing lineup:

Nate Bargatze (Comedy Central, Conan O'Brien, CMT)

Andy Haynes (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

Zach & Zach (Zach and Zach Save The Community Center)

Charles Gould (JFK Sat Here)

As always, you can expect a few surprises.

I'll see you there!

- John Szeluga

NOT FRIDAY with Kondabolu, Logan, Schaefer, and Kissel!

Not Friday is a FREE comedy show that takes place at 8:00 PM every Monday night at White Rabbit, 145 East Houston Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave, right next to Sunshine Cinema), and is produced/hosted by James Harris, Adam Pateman, and myself.

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our first weekly show at White Rabbit on Monday.  Get ready for another great lineup on Monday, December 6th!

Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live)

Jared Logan (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing)

Sara Schaefer (Comedy Central's Comics to Watch, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

Ben Kissel (Roundtable of Gentlemen, Dog Shit)

I'll see you there!


- John Szeluga

NOT FRIDAY is back TONIGHT at 8 PM!

View Larger Map Not Friday is back, now at its new venue, White Rabbit!  Come join myself, James Harris, and Adam Pateman as we host a night of free comedy at 145 East Houston Street, NYC (right next door to Sunshine Cinema).

Take a look at our amazing lineup:

 

Hannibal Buress (SNL, Louie, Comedy Central, 30 Rock)

 

Nick Vatterott (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

Erik Bergstrom (Grimmer Tales)

Danny Kallas (in from Chicago)

plus Katie Crown via the web (The Jon Dore Television Show)

I'll see you there!

- John Szeluga

Give the gift of comedy this year.

Co-producing a weekly show has been an amazing experience for me, and we've had so many talented comedians on our show.  If you're looking for gift ideas this holiday season, consider some of the books, CDs, and DVDs that these comedians have produced.  It's a great way to support your favorite comics.



Thanks!

- John

Dealing with a Compulsive Gambler

When confronting a friend or loved one that is struggling with an addiction to gambling, I find it best to fight fire with fire.  Take that addiction and use it against the addicted.  Look the compulsive gambler in the eyes and say, "I bet you $1,000 you can't stop gambling for a year."  If your acquaintance is truly a pathological gambler, he or she will take that bet.  There are several ways this can play out.

1. The gambler succeeds in resisting the urge to gamble for one year.  In this case, you've tapped into someone's potential, helping them realize the extent of their own willpower.  Unfortunately, the gambler expects to be paid.  Do not give $1,000 to the gambler.  Instead, teach the gambler that gambling doesn't pay.  Besides, you can't afford it.

2. The gambler loses the bet.  While the addiction remains, your friend or loved one has now lost $1,000, and hopefully that encourages the gambler to seek further help.  Plus, you just made a thousand bucks!

3. The gambler loses the bet, but refuses to pay you.  This is a scenario you must prepare yourself for.  No matter how close the gambler is to you, you have to be willing to shatter that person's kneecaps when payment is refused.  This will provide yet another deterrent from a life of compulsive gambling, and it sends a clear message to others struggling with gambling addiction, letting them know that you mean business.  Finally, you could really use the money.  The holidays are right around the corner.

NOT FRIDAY at NOT Aces and Eights, then NOT happening for a while...

Hello everyone,

Aces and Eights has shut down (again).  Luckily, the good people over at Three of Cups (83 1st Avenue and 5th Street) are letting us do the show in their downstairs lounge tonight (again).  After tonight, Not Friday will be going on a brief hiatus.  I want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us every week, and I also want to thank all of the great guests who have performed on our show.  This has been a lot of fun for me, and I can't wait to return once we find a new permanent venue.

Please be sure to join either the Not Friday Google Group or Facebook Group to learn about future shows.

James Harris and I will be hosting tonight's show.  Come see Adam Pateman perform before he leaves NYC for a few weeks.  Soon he'll be performing in Canada, visiting friends and family, and eating all the maple-smothered moose head his little belly can hold.

Also on the show tonight:

Andy Pitz (Late Show with David Letterman)
Nick Cobb (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing)
Jared Logan (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing)
Glenn Wool (Comedy Central, Let Your Hands Go)

PLUS we may have a special guest!

21 and up to enter.

I love you all.

- John Szeluga

NOT FRIDAY with Gethard, Mooney, Morril, Normand, and Turner

Not Friday is a free weekly comedy show produced by James Harris, Adam Pateman, and myself.  It takes place every Monday night at 8:00 over at Aces and Eights, 34 Avenue A in NYC.


View Larger Map
Take a look at the amazing lineup we have planned for tonight, October 18th:

Chris Gethard (Comedy Central's Big Lake, Weird New York)

John Mooney (Comedy Central, 30 Rock)

Sam Morril (Comix March Comedy Madness Champ)


Mark Normand (Last Comic Standing)

Nick Turner (College Humor)

2-for-1 Bud Lights & mixed drinks. 21 & up to enter.

I'll see you there!

- John Szeluga

Thank you

Last night's Wonderfoo was so much fun, and we raised a lot of money for the National Kidney Foundation.  First, I want to thank Cargo Cafe for letting us do the show there and for taking care of all the performers last night.  In particular, I want to thank Sal Vulcano for helping me to put this whole thing together.

I also want to thank the love of my life, Christine Modica, for all of her help during the event.  Big thanks to the very funny RG Daniels for co-hosting with me.  RG is one of my personal favorites, and it was fun sharing a stage with him.

Thanks to Erik Bergstrom, Anthony DeVito, James Harris, Mark Normand, Adam Pateman, and Greg Stone.  You guys are hilarious.  I also want to thank Jay Miller and Casey Jost for stopping by to do a surprise set.

The Barnyard Boys and The Wahoo Skiffle Crazies are awesome, and I can't thank them enough for performing last night.  Last but not least, thanks to everyone that came and supported The National Kidney Foundation.  We couldn't have done this without you.

The 2010 NYC Kidney Walk is tomorrow.  If anyone would still like to join Team Wonderfoo, or if you would like to make a donation to our cause, please visit http://donate.kidney.org/goto/johnszeluga.

I love you all.

- John Szeluga

WONDERFOO and the 2010 NYC Kidney Walk

We are just a few days away from WONDERFOO, a fundraiser for the National Kidney Foundation!  I hope you can join me for an evening of live comedy and music starting at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 15th at Cargo Cafe, 120 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY.  Admission is only $5, and all proceeds will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation.

The comedy portion of the evening will be hosted by myself and RG Daniels (frenchfryhead.com), and will feature performances by Erik Bergstrom (Grimmer Tales), Anthony DeVito (Best Friends of Comedy Tour), James Harris (Grab Ass), Mark Normand (Last Comic Standing), Adam Pateman (Not Friday), and Greg Stone (Opie and Anthony)!

Then hang out at the bar all night and listen to live music from The Barnyard Boys and The Wahoo Skiffle Crazies!  Cargo Cafe has cheap drinks and great food, and it's just a short walk from the free Staten Island ferry.  If you cannot attend and would like to make a donation, or if you would like to join me in the 2010 NYC Kidney Walk on October 17th, please visit http://donate.kidney.org/goto/johnszeluga.  Between two comedy shows and the 2009 NYC Kidney Walk, Team WONDERFOO was able to raise over $3,000 last year!  Even the smallest donation helps. Did you know that if each of my facebook friends gave just one dollar, I would more than exceed my fundraising goal for this year?

If you're free on Sunday, October 17th, you should really consider joining my team.   This is a great cause for an amazing organization, and the walk itself is a lot of fun.  We meet up at the South Street Seaport at 9:30 AM, then at 10:30 AM we walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and back.

Why do I walk for the National Kidney Foundation?   I do it for family and friends who have been affected by kidney disease, and I also do it because the National Kidney Foundation is a very effective and efficient organization. More than 81 cents of every dollar goes directly to vital programs and services. You don't see numbers like that when you look at a lot of other charities, and I want my dollars and efforts to help as many people as possible.

I hope you'll join me at the show on Friday, and please think about walking with me and my team on Sunday.

Thank you, and thanks to everyone who has donated or joined the team so far!

- John