Printed in both the and the

Just for laughs
by: Barbara Russo

(Click here to download The Source pdf)

(Click here to download The Staten Island Register pdf)

July 2005

Two of them are fat, one has a big head (in proportion to his body), and the other one is just plain brown.

They’re the guys from local sketch comedy group, A Dan Amongst Dans, and they believe there should be comedy in everything, including themselves.

With a new, self-titled DVD being released next month, the group is composed of friends Chris Sorrentino, Brian McGuckin, John Szeluga and Frank La Monaca. They’re all former film students in their 20s who tour Staten Island and New York City attempting to make people laugh through good old-fashioned sketch comedy – with a dash of bathroom humor. Although they’ve been told their material is offensive, touching on such topics as amputation and fecal matter, they’re unapologetic about it.

For example, one of their most popular sketches that gets outrageous reactions from some audiences when it’s screened is "Girl Arm," about a guy who loses his arm in a car accident and gets a replacement arm from a 13-year-old girl.

"We had a girl come up to us, who had something wrong with her arm say ‘How can you write something like that?,’" Szelugar said. "I told her I was sorry about her arm, but I won’t apologize for the comedy."

Described by some critics as "trash can humorists," Szeluga and the rest of the guys agree that comedians shouldn’t hold back what they want to say because there’s an audience for everything, no matter how inappropriate it may seem to a mass audience.

"People get killed by the running of the bulls, but you’ll still see Bugs Bunny running from one," Szelugar said.

Sure, part of their humor is based on human tragedy, but can they take it as much as they give it?

"I’ve been the fat kid my whole life, so it’s like, if you’re going to make a joke, make it good," McGuckin said. "Don’t just say ‘Hey fatty!’ Say, ‘Hey fatty, have a cookie.’ That’s a little better at least."

Sorrentino agreed there isn’t too much people can say to knock down these thick-skinned guys.

"Brian and I grew up as the fat kids. John has a light bulb-shaped head. I don’t think there’s anything people can really pick on us about," Sorrentino said, adding that fourth member Frank La Monaca, who is of Philipino descent is the token "brown" guy.

The comedy quartet does admit that delivery of a joke matters just as much as the choice of words. When the guys hold auditions for their filmed sketches, for example, many will try out for a role and feel they’ll get it simply because they are making fun of someone.

"You should be able to joke about anything, but picking on someone in a mean-spirited way just isn’t funny," Sorrentino said.

He added that there is a certain comic value in things that are true, saying people laugh because at things that are part of reality.

"Certain stereotypes are just funny. There’s some comedy behind these things," Sorrentino said.

According to Szeluga, comedy also has a bad rep when it comes to focusing on social issues.

"Dealing with the horrors of AIDS and terrorism, some people write a poem, some write a song. We make comedy videos," Szelugor said.

Life-long comedians, the four friends met when they were film students at the College of Staten Island (CSI). Being active in theater and film production, the guys noticed something very unusual about their technical classes: Every one they took had at least one student named Dan on the roll-call.

"That’s how we came up with the name. We were the Dans amongst all Dans," Sorrentino said.

Because they are all film production enthusiasts Dan Amongst Dans admits part of their comic success comes from good camera shots and high-quality graphic design. Although they don’t have a lot of money, the guys say their technical talents allow them to ultimately produce a professional video.

Though their compilation isn’t being released until August, A Dan Amongst Dans has admitted to selling out shows at places like BAM, CSI and the Muddy Cup. The group is also planning a pit stop at Super Mega Show Convention at the Crown Plaza Hotel in New Jersey on July 9 and 10, where they will be selling their DVD. They’re also scheduled to perform this summer at Chicago’s Second City Comedy Club, where such comedy legends Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and Chris Farley got their start.

If you feel like laughing or just want more information about A Dan Among Dans, visit their Web site at www.badbenfranklin.com.

Note from ADAD: All typos and strange misquotes were left in, and we were never scheduled to perform at Second City - although a video of ours may screen there as a part of a friend's one-man show. We'll see.

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