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.
Related:
2009: The year in dance, 2009: The year in theater, Good and evil, More 
- 2009: The year in dance
You could say there were two tremendous forces that propelled dance into the world of modern culture: the Ballets Russes of Serge Diaghilev and the choreography of Merce Cunningham.
- 2009: The year in theater
A quick look at this past year in Boston's theater scene.
- Good and evil
From L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz came the 1939 film; from Gregory Maguire's 1995 book Wicked came the 2003 Broadway hit of the same name.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
The bleakest months of New England winter are ahead of us, so the prospect of leaving your toasty house to see art may not be at the top of your to-do list.
- Fears and rages
Woyzeck isn't a play, it's a Rorschach inkblot test for directors and theater companies.
- Looking back, going forward
Economic recession and post-racial themes abound in Boston’s early 2010 theater repertoire.
- Holiday shorts
I have nothing against A Christmas Carol , but there's a lot of it out there right about now.
- Play by Play: January 1, 2010
Boston's weekly theater listings: January 1, 2010
- The Carols of Christmas
One can't just break out into Christmas carols, even in this warm and fuzzy season.
- Snacks
The most substantial item in the assortment of dances by the Trey McIntyre Project last weekend was an oddly proportioned 20-minute meditation on climate change and Glacier National Park. McIntyre, whose company appeared at the ICA as part of the CRASHarts series, has gotten a lot of press exposure as an up-and-coming choreographer with serious ideas.
- Wanting more
After its triumphant traversal of the complete Béla Bartók string quartets at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Borromeo Quartet was back for a free 20th- and 21st-century program at Jordan Hall, leading off with an accomplished recent piece by the 24-year-old Egyptian composer Mohammed Fairuz, Lamentation and Satire.
- Less
Topics:
Comedy
, Entertainment, Entertainment, Performing Arts, More
, Entertainment, Entertainment, Performing Arts, Steve Martin, Steve Martin, Stand-up Comedy, Arts, Larry the Cable Guy, Louis C.K., humor, Less
