As I get all my entertainment from the net I started by Googling Jim Jefferies. I didn’t find the special (perhaps it hadn’t aired yet) but I found enough on YouTube and similar sites to know I had little interest in seeing a full hour. What I saw was loud, drunken, misogyny without the saving graces of fearless conviction (a la Stanhope) or cool characterization (a la Dice). As already pointed out, he had some good bits, but nothing truly original.

Now to Dane. Again I didn’t find the special but what I did find may be even more poignant. This making-of doc http://www.megavideo.com/?v=HOE3AJHP. Watch as Cook actually dissects his humor with a dull butter knife. I’ve never been one of his detractors but this single-handedly cured me of any residual respect. You’d think with all the accusations of his stealing material he’d avoid anything remotely similar to other artists but his bits on abortion and racism seem lifted directly from Stanhope (again) and Louis CK (again again!).

To weigh in on Dane’s rise to fame I think one thing has been overlooked. Brian is correct about his marketing skills but take note of where that marketing was done…the internet. The net, along with reality television, has completely changed the nature of celebrity. Our value system has been altered. Pop stars are now chosen directly by the populace and they’re choosing people just like them. Or just like they’re buddy. Cook is just the most popular of a group that includes Jimmy Fallon, Andy Samberg, and Horatio Sanz as well as non-comedians (not to be redundant) Susan Boyle, Perez Hilton and Johnny Fair-Play.

http://www.myspace.com/iacomedians

It’s an interview show I do with local Iowa comics to let people know about the scene we have here. Just uploaded the first interview with a good friend of mine, Jeff Caudill.

Hope you guys enjoy it!

The guy who ran the show brought a huge Subway sandwich, chips and drinks to feed everybody. He started by giving everybody 10 minutes, but eventually realized that wouldn’t work with the hard-end time of 10:30PM. It wasn’t just comics… there was a mime troop that seemed to go on for about 20 minutes (but seemed like an hour). He also encouraged the audience to “get involved”, which quickly turned into heavy heckling (“show us your tits” was a common refrain).

It was a weird show, but at least there was an audience and free food… that’s better then some places I’ve been. I’ll have to try it again this week… If anybody is in LA and wants the contact information, send me an email off-line.

—D

When I listen to comedy I want to hear the point of view that goes ‘Let’s think about this topic this way instead.’ Or ‘I’m different and I want to tell you why and my experiences with this.’

I don’t want to hear how you can fuck any girl you want, are richer than I’ll ever be and are best looking guy in the room.

Let’s be honest we’ve all had the sand kicked in our faces by the ‘frat’ boy too many times to see one make more money than we’ll ever dream of. Comedy is about the little guy winning in the only way he can – not the fucking SuFi on every asshole’s t-shirt.

On other topic I lost my stand up virginity last night. It was a packed house about 250 at miami improv. I killed it and got my first comedy boner. Thank you all for advice and boards . totally worth it.

I think the first few stand up shows I saw were Eddie Murphy Raw, Bill Cosby Himself, numerous Gallagher shows and maybe some of the Carlin specials. I also remember A&E used to run a show I think it was called “A Night at the Improv”. Belzer, Reiser & a lot of the ’80s crowd were on there regularly.

Before I got really into standup (as a fan), Dane Cook, Eddie Izzard, Mitch Hedberg and Bill Cosby were my favorite comedians in the world (and only ones I’d ever listened to, hence the eclectic list). Dane Cook because he had that way of taking a stock joke and taking it a step or two past where you expected it to end. Then I bought a million more standup CDs and caught up and found out that Dave Attell does the same thing but much more smartly, as do many better comedians. So I can still see his appeal, which is where some of his hardcore fans may still be stuck.