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Dane Cook is funny

By STEVE MACONE  |  December 30, 2009

But then that small, pretty good party became, like, a rave where no one could hear what guests Patton Oswalt and Louis C.K. had to say. While Cook helped lead a resurgence in the appetite for stand-up, he simultaneously overshadowed other equally funny comics, ones without rock-star trappings. So when a comedy fan says "Cook isn't funny," I think it partially springs from the frustration over the absurd fact that millions have heard of Cook but have no clue about that fan's favorite comics. I personally think it's insane that certain bits by DJ Hazard, Ryan Hamilton, Kelly McFarland, Chris Fleming, and Rob Potylo, who are stunningly talented, are not part of the canon of Western literature. But I don't take it out on Cook.

Instead of negativity — instead of saying "Dane Cook is not funny" — I would much rather hear, "[Comic you've never heard of] is fantastic." Our city is one of only a handful in the world that has at least 150 five-minute sets worth watching. Find one.

Meanwhile, Cook's party will likely continue its progression to a more mature get-together. Or maybe it won't. All I know is that, at this juncture, it's wrong to say, "Dane Cook is not funny." Because he is.

Now, as for this Larry the Cable Guy . . .

Steve Macone is a Somerville-based comedian and writer. He can be told inarticulately that Dane Cook is not funny at stevemacone@gmail.com.

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Related: 2009: The year in dance, 2009: The year in theater, Good and evil, More more >
  Topics: Comedy , Entertainment, Entertainment, Performing Arts,  More more >
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Comments
Re: Dane Cook is funny
" But "Dane Cook is not funny" is an extreme oversimplification."Not really, for him to be funny, he would need to make people laugh.
That is something he fails to do...at least for me. He kind of just runs around and screams and makes weird faces and bitches about stuff. Crazy people on the street do the same thing and sometimes even pretend to be hip, but then I only laugh because they make me uncomfortable. Comedy is an art. It is an insight into the world and humanity through different eyes that people can relate to, which makes them laugh. Therefore, I am being direct and to the point, when I say he sucks at what he does. That's my oppinion. He makes you laugh, apparently, so to you, he is funny and good at what he does. A three-page article stating your oppinion as fact isn't going to change my mind. You should post a counter article from those of us who find him horribly unfunny. 
This, however, is funny: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/dane_cook_parlays_new_burger_king
By jla018 on 01/08/2010 at 6:23:38

ARTICLES BY STEVE MACONE
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    There are two things that non-comedians feel the need to tell me when discussing comedy. One is "Bob Saget is filthy." The other is "Dane Cook is not funny."
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