The Erzsi and Jonny Show...Eat Up!

Jonny is always Video Blogging!

Erzsi Talking with the Bride's Maids

Erzsi and the Bride's Maids

Erzsi and The Bride's Family

Jonathan, the Bride and Grandma at the Wedding

Cool Rabbi

This Sunday I was the, “Wedding Official,” at my comedy partner, Jonny Goldstein’s wedding. I got to say things like:

The Opening Blessing
May the source of life sustain in you life.
May all that is noble and true in the universe inspire your lives together and bring peace to all humankind.

And…
Explanation of the Huppah
Surrounded by loved ones whose joy and prayers are with you, you stand at this huppah, a symbol of your new home. Its four sides are open, symbolizing the importance of community and of participation in each other’s lives. Friends and family fill the home. May your home be a shelter against the storms, a haven of peace, a stronghold of faith and love.

But Best of All….
Baruch atah adonai elo-hay-nu melech haw-olam boray pree haw-gaw-fen


I’ve never been in charge of officiating a wedding ceremony before, and I have to say I highly recommend it. It was a big honor. There was much speculation as to my background as the young, cool, hip Rabbi. Who was this tall red headed rabbi? I’m no rabbi. Jonny and his wife were married in city hall the Friday before. I was just in charge of the beautiful ceremonial part. I shouted out the blessings and directions under a bright red patch-work quilted huppah in Central Park. We agreed we wanted everyone to hear, and there are no mikes and amps allowed for ceremonies in the park.

Jonny made a point of mentioning at the Erzsi and Jonny Show the week before that his wedding ceremony would be my first paid gig. Of course at that point in the show, someone then walked up to me and handed me two bucks. So, now I’ve been paid for two gigs.

All of the 85 year and plus grandparents made a point of asking me if I am a Rabbi, and congratulating me on my first Jewish wedding. They liked my dress too. I am raised Lutheran, but hey – I also grew up in Great Neck. So I explained my seeming Jew-y-ness in that regard.

Funny to think, I was an avid churchgoer, growing up. I was the head Acolyte (the troupe of teen aged kiddies who light the candles on that big stage-like alter, and lead the processional in…) and I was in charge of the nursery school for a while. Crazy times. I often found myself carrying the gigantic cross up in front of the processional. On one occasion I didn’t secure it and it fell down that in the middle of the ceremony. That was a great day. I laughed a lot in church. We had a young, hip pastor.

I’m a spiritual person (aren’t we all?) but the patriarchal nature of the story of God is a bit hard to take for me nowadays. More so, I find the emotional dynamic in Church tough to swallow. It is supposed to be so joyous, but no one is laughing. I’m rather pleased sticking to live comedy as far as my spiritual evolution goes these days. Let’s hear it for a good crack on the wit whip for emotional truth. Good times.

Jonny Goldstein and Erzsi Pongo

My Roof Top

On the Subway

At the Bowery Poetry Club

We've Floored 'em!

Second Test Post

So B-log Means Special Sauce?

You may be wondering what on this great, big, wonderful Planet Earth, I could possibly mean by that. I will tell you. In my mind, "B-Log," sounds like, "G-Love." I just recently figured out that the purpose of a blog is an on-line web journal - as in LOG. Not piece of wood. Not big blob. BLOG.

So, now you're going to get it! Now, I'm going to actually update this on a fairly regular basis. That's the special sauce we're talking about here!But I digress.

Today is the day after, "The Erzsi and Jonny Show." My comedy partner Jonny Goldstein and I, run a show at 10:30 PM every Tuesday at the Village Lantern. It's a magical show. We manage to create an atmosphere that is as mystical as it is awkward. I, personally think awkward is rather funny.

In fact, I've often found myself in the middle of several waspie moments amid those from the land they call Connecticut - thinking about how incredibly funny awkward silence is. Breaking that tension is the best skill on earth, in my mind. Breaking tension in general is just, well, totally awesome. It's like a big clap of thunder or bolt of lightening.

So, finally, finally, finally multiple comics (the operative word here) are figuring out that you have to address this. I was of course, originally amused that people were getting a little testy and pissy-faced about the atmosphere. Although, better still - last night Bob Bell - announced, "I love this room. I've been performing here since it began in Nikita, around the corner on MacDougal. And what I love about this room is that it is a comedy obstacle course. You have to maneuver and use skills to get navigate around every single barrier that we manage to put up for ourselves."

Remember obstacle courses in gym?? Back in the days called school? Those were THE BEST days of gym. Forget volleyball! Oh sure - dodge ball has its merits. But the obstacle course? WOW! Teeter totters made of benches and ladders that you had to climb up and over; gymnastic equipment like parallel bars and uneven bars; and the best of all, something to jump into, usually and wade through like foam pieces or lots of balls. Obstacle courses were the best.

It's that sense of excitement that comes along with throwing oneself into some maze in order to figure out how to navigate around the twists that makes life amazing. That thing they call awkward, to me is really this level of excitement and anticipation that I cherish. I am so thrilled by my comedy partner Jonny too, who is as amused as I am (I think...) by our room. Thank you to everyone who comes out and performs. Week after week - the show grows. As do we. After all, isn't that what being a good comic is all about? Breaking the tension and creating laughter - where before there was nothing. That's creation. I like that. It’s the best.