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Even if he didn't steal Louis CK's material, which he obviously did, he's an utter flake with nothing to say. It's like Family Guy stand-up. And yet, his street teams have blanketed the internet and people are falling for it.
For your benefit, here are ten comics a billion times more important than Cook... don't let the mainstream pander to you.

Bill Hicks
Mitch Hedberg
Doug Stanhope
George Carlin
Lewis Black
Eddie Izzard
David Cross
Eugene Mirman
Lenny Bruce
Mort Sahl

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Mitch Hedberg

R.I.P.

Both George Carlin and Lewis Black are fucking hilarious. Stanhope is pretty good too, what about Joe Rogan? He's pretty funny.

Regarding Cook, I never liked the guy, he is just obnoxious and lacks anything intelligent to say. Regarding joke stealing, wouldn't be surprising (See: Carlos Menstealia).

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Originally posted by /\/\1X3:
what about Joe Rogan? He's pretty funny.

He's one of the main Cook hater comics. He's always ragging on him, and how he steals not just from established comics, but those struggling to make it. I'll have to find something by him.

I'd add Patton Oswalt's name to that list. I've been enjoying his "Werewolves and Lollipops" CD for a couple of months now.

You don't get much better than Patton Oswalt and Zach Galafanakis. They're both as good live as on record.

I saw Eugene Mirman do stand up recently also... I lost my shit. Truly, totally lost my shit.

there was a time when i would have never believed that joe rogan could possibly be funny. after hearing some of his stand up and interviews i have to admit he is pretty good (and way out there on hallucinogenic drugs).

Hm.. I didn't know about his plagiarism. That is really disappointing, especially since Louis C.K. is very under appreciated (c.f. now defunct Lucky Louie). You can hate on me all you want but I listened to Harmful If Swallowed and Retaliation and got some laughs out of it. I thought it was fairly average comedy, but there were some bits that stood out among the copious fluff: "Bathroom" on Harmful If Swallowed and "Car Alarm" and "Heist/Monkey" on Retaliation. His arrogant frat boy ego persona is annoying but that help explains his popularity.

Also, Jim Gaffigan.

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Originally posted by IBleedPixies!:
His arrogant frat boy ego persona is annoying but that help explains his popularity.

Bingo. Max Jack said pretty much the same thing about Dave Matthews in another thread, which is very accurate because I'm around 'em here way too much. Never liked Dane Cook at all and Carlos Mencia annoys the shit out of me. Mencia can be kinda funny (I did laugh once but that is his job) but all of his jokes are on race. Nothing but stereotypes.

I'm a huge George Carlin fan, even his more preachy stuff recently is pretty brilliant.

Carlos is the worst thing to happen to comedy.

Cook is okay. I really liked Harmful if Swallowed when I first heard it.

I didn't know a thing about Dane Cook until the MLB playoffs rolled around this year, and I asked someone "who's the obnoxious douche bag with the bad hair doing the 'October' shtick?" "Oh, that's Dane Cook, a pretty well known comedian."

Two words: hate him.

I am so happy I found this message string. I have been baffled by this fool's popularity now for over a year. I have peripheral friends that are funnier than this simpleton. Yes, I get it that his Internet marketing campaign and street marketing created a buzz, but at what point do people just admit he is not funny. Perhaps it is the innate fear we all have of being somewhere and not getting it, so everyone who gets duped into going to one of his shows pretends he is funny. He's the annoying fraternity guy we all hated in college. He was on some show recently with Greg Girardo and Jim Norton, and during the behind the scenes footage it was obvious that they could barely stand him. They were hilarious, and he acted like the little brother who could not keep up. I guess it is fitting that the general public digests this pablum, just like the movies and music that fill the top 40. I think I hate him even more because he got to kiss Jessica Alba in that movie recently.

Filmore Mescalito Holmes: I don't think I've met you before (despite your Guru status, maybe your name is still funny'd after the Halloween shenanigans?) but you just went from 0 to "very high" in my book. You even listed Bill first, bless your soul.

I begrudgingly admit I think Dane's funny. Insubstantial he may be but the absurdity gets me a lot. When I heard about the plagiarism though it definitely soured him for me. But I can't all of a sudden say I don't think he's funny at all, I can only turn down my nose at his methods. Unlike Carlos Mencia (stage name) he can make me laugh with someone else's material.

Others I haven't seen listed yet:

Chappelle (also absurd, material with substance, doesn't rip anyone off)

Chris Rock (has a very rehearsed delivery I've begun to dislike but has a lot to say and really hilarious idiosyncrasies)

Dave Attell (I really prefer him for "Insomniac With Dave Attell", in that casual, impromptu format, but the stand-up's respectable.)

Does anyone honestly believe that today's stand-ups have the acting/vocal/satirical/spontaneous skills of Richard Pryor in the greatest comedy concert film I've seen, Richard Pryor Live in Concert?

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Originally posted by mark f:
Does anyone honestly believe that today's stand-ups have the acting/vocal/satirical/spontaneous skills of Richard Pryor in the greatest comedy concert film I've seen, Richard Pryor Live in Concert?

Yes.

So you have seen Richard Pryor Live in Concert (that specific film) enough to compare acting and wisdom skills between Pryor and this GUY?!?

I've seen it, Comedy Central plays it on their "secret stash" after midnight sometimes. "Enough times to make that comparison?" Mm, probably not. I think the real question is the one that comes up in music all the time, age and era. I respect Pryor for what he did, but because he broke the ground thirty years ago people like David Cross mean more to me today because I just wasn't around in Pryor's day, and you were. I don't think any amount of viewings will make me favor him over the Crossman, who nails the acting/satiral/spontaneous/maybe-not-vocal? in a way that connects more to me.

I keep forgetting Richard Pryor. His influence is inarguable, but I've never really been into him Eddie Murphy's Delerious was funny sh!t as I recall (it's been a whoile since I've seen it, though). Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle are great though. And check this Baron Vaughn guy; he's got the goods. Bernie Mac can kiss my ass. He's too much like Ray Romano.

I own most of George Carlin's albums and everything Bill Hicks ever made, plus bootlegs. David Cross is totally one of my faves (I've got both his albums, all of Arrested Development/Mr. Show, and Let America Laugh was wicked), but he's just just doesn't seem to have the same spark on stage as Hicks or Carlin.

Sarah Silverman's Jesus Was Magic is awesome, but her show blows ass. Who are the big female comics these days?

When I was a kid, I loved Howie Mandell, Jeff Foxworthy, and Sinbad, so I can't really trust my comedy taste over time. If I was 12 right now, I'd be all over Dane Cook. He's the Denis Leary my parents would have let me listen to, only a much worse actor.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Filmore Mescalito Holmes,

Some great posts. I am not getting down on Dane Cook because he is derivative, rather that he is not funny if you are over 21. Most of the great comics had their influence(s): Pryor/E. Murphy, Bill Hicks/D.Leary,Don Rickels/B. Slayton, Gallager/Carrot Top (just kidding on that one).

Dane Cook would sleep with your girlfriend if you gave him a chance, but so would i. I still hate him though.
David Cross and Dave Chappelle are friggin greats in my book.

My girlfriend would punch him in his stupid mug. She hates him more than I do. To your point Chappelle was fantastic for that two year span. I hope he gets his life together. Does anyone know the true story about why he went off the rails? I have always assumed it was drug related even though no one has ever said so.