Experienced theater-goers - What do you think the odds are of getting decent same day tickets on Dec. 29th or 30th?

Thanks.

Sorry, in NYC.

For long running shows, there will be some availability, but you are going at a very busy time. If you are flexable this is a good option but if you have a desire for only a few shows, get the tickets now.

There'll be some availability. But, remember, that's probably the busiest week of the for the Broadway theater.
What shows are you specifically interested in?

I'm actually asking for a friend. He just wants to take his wife to an on Broadway show. I don't think he has a particular preference. It sounds like if we was to prefer a hot show he'd probably have a tough time even at this late date.

I used to live in NY and am usually up visiting family around the holidays. The TKTS lines are pretty long around then, especially if the weather is halfway decent. If it's cold, the tourists seem to be there regardless but the suburbanites like my rels aren't. Hot tickets are pretty hard to come by and never seem to be on the board when I've gone. The best thing to do is get there early and be prepared to stand on line and not have one's heart set on a particular show. Another thing I've tried was to go to the box office of the theater to see if they had anything left. I got lucky once but was shut out the other times I tried...

If they want discount tickets, then TKTS is their best bet. Offers on Playbill and similar websites will be few to non-existent for that week.
What shows do the have the best chance of getting tickets for? Here's a list of those most likely to be available at TKTS:
A Wonderful Town
Fiddler on the Roof
Rent
Bombay Dreams
Dracula
Brooklyn
I would NOT recommend the last three!
Of course, there is a chance that others might be available.
Obviously, their best chance would be to pay full price and get their tickets now. You are correct that some shows will already be sold old.

I would suggest sending them to the TKTS booth in lower Manhattan it's at the back of the Prudential building, and the lines are never as long, and they open at 10am, so you can get in get your tickets before the uptown booth opens and have a shot at all the shows up and better seats.

The Prudential Building is at the corner of Water and Fulton St at the South St. Seaport.

Thanks everyone. I'll pass this along. Wantsomesun, GREAT tip! Thanks.

While wantsomesun has a good point, it has been reported in the past that not even close to as many tickets are allocated there as at the Times Square TKTS location. So, you may be sacrificing a wider choice for a shorter wait!

Wantsome- there are SIGNIFICANT lines at the Southport TKTS location Christmas/New Years week. I go every year and last year they were out PAST Fulton St and way more slow moving due to fewer booths. I have had excellent luck hitting the line about 7:30pm with the last minute house seat releases, many times in the past included the week mentioned above last year.