RichardPryor.com Forums

walrusjk,

I met him. He does.

jane_haze,
Dat Phan is catching hell everywhere but I've found that a TON of comedians don't like Dane Cook. I can understand why I guess. But tell me this cause I asked a bunch of comics this last night. Is there any credit for making it work? True Dane's stuff is hardly original and I can't see him doing this ten years from now but right now it's working and he's filling theatres. And if he's really such a hack...how is it that he makes it work? I'm not defending him but I guess I'm more concerned about how the industry is turning. Club owners have told me they are looking for comics that can fill seats because one example was how they lost a guy like Brian Regen. Any thoughts?

chelcie3,

My feeling on cook, is yes, it's overdone, and not very original. And if he wasn't writhing all over the stage, he wouldn't be able to get a laugh with what he says.

I think a lot of comics feel that, pantomimes are no substitute for punchlines. And that's what he does, time and time again.

He seems to have done some great marketing things, (i.e. his MySpace account, which he attributed a portion of his audience following in the last few years.). He's easily marketable to teens and college aged kids, because he looks youngish and has that fratboy look to him. And it seems, college aged kids are the ones buying his albums and going to the shows-- therefore keeping the bookers/owners happy, but pissing off comics that feel they are above that cheap, physical humor atop hack premises...

I don't think comedy on a local level is necessarily moving that way. But on a national, highly invested hollywood level... it's what sells. Dane Cook and Larry the Cable Guy are selling, so until people figure it out and are bored with it, it's not going away.

Is there any credit for making it work? ...I'd like to say no from an artistic and writing stand point, but from a business aspect... yeah. Can't knock any of them, if they've learned how to go from an open mic stage to making millions...

Those are my thoughts. Most of them, anyway.

-jane

jane_haze,

Well, I agree with you about Marc Maron. Very funny guy. I wouldn't sleep with him though. LOL!

Y'know whenever I start labeling someone a bad comedian, I almost immediately have a change of heart. Patton Oswalt is a perfect example. I didn't like him initially. But he certainly grew on me. Original. Dane Cook is another one. Sure he's overly animated. But even if you don't like the guy, you give him props for indirectly promoting our artform. Besides you never know when one of these guys might want an opener. Hahahahahaa

mojones,

In reality, if given the chance, I wouldn't sleep with him either. I've talked to his wife for a reasonably long amount of time, she's really nice, and like a foot taller than me -- she'd have no problem kicking my ass!

I will agree with you to a degree on the giving of props for that reason. I've also read interviews with him, and how after the stand up thing he wanted to be a producer of comics and just generally help out new comics get a foot in the door. I do think that's really decent. I just don't like his act for shite!

jane_haze,

I tell you someone I dont' care for? Paul Reiser. I'm sure he's a great guy and all. But I"m just not a fan. I go back and forth on Todd Barry too. I'm not crazy about Jackie Mason either. But that might be a generational thing. I do tend to like the Cringe Humor comics -- Dave Attell, Sean Rouse, Robert Kelly and Patrice O'Neal. But who knows how I'll feel 2 weeks from now?

mojones,

I feel you on the paul reiser. I think he's an aight sitcom actor, but his stand up.. .eh.

I'm not a huge fan of attell's persona, but he's said somethings that I thought were pretty good.

And Sean Rouse... I didn't even realize he was known nationally! But he seemed like a nice guy, and I liked a lot of his material. Though, that boy has had like every illness known to man! So, I think talking with him and learning about his background info makes me want to like him more.

Is there anyone else we haven't cracked on? I feel this is cathartic. Anyone? Carrot top maybe? He's always fun to mess with.

jane_haze,

Carrot Top??? The guy is so silly, it's hard to take him seriously. I saw this Family Guy epsiode that parodied Carrot Top doing a set without his props....loved it! How 'bout the ladies? Wanda Sykes? Lisa Lampanelli? Sarah Silverman? Laura Kilmartin? Leighann Lord? Wanda Sykes -- I don't get. I understand her jokes and everything, but....Lampanelli is Don Rickles in a dress. It gets annoying after awhile. But I can really dig her in small doses. Silverman has certainly cut out a niche for herself. Nobody else does her type of stuff. I wonder how much longer she can keep it up though. Leighann, I love. Mendrinos is a lucky guy. Oh and her comedy isn't bad either...

JTF,
This question is moot, until everyone see's my act.

jane_haze,

Yeah Sean Rouse is Dead Man Walking! He has every illness imaginable. Some I've never even heard of like Gonnoryphilis. Poor dude. Funny fellow though. Labeling someone as the worse is subjective anyway. We've all had our moments of infamy. I'll never forget the time I slipped up and uttered profanity in front of a religious audience. It was a small monosyllabic word preceded by "and." I didn't even know I said it until the room got exceedingly quiet. They looked at me like I had a pentagram tatooed on my forehead. I still haven't lived that one down. Didn't help matters that it was in front of my old man's congregation...