How can you sell out 20,000-seat arenas, star in several Hollywood films, record the biggest selling comedy album in 30 years, and still be called "polarizing?" Dane Cook stops by the garage to talk about being Dane Cook and whether that might be more complicated than it seems. Meanwhile, Marc tries to kick his nicotine addiction. This may not end well.
As far as Dane Cook the man.... I don't know, he seems to be a typical entertainer. Hes go issues etc. But overall, he seems like a guy I would like to know IRL. Hes certainly funny. He may be a bit tense and defensive but who wouldn't be after being called a thief and getting so much jealousy from other comics. And thats most of what it is, jealousy. People always like to knock down the guys who are doing well for whatever reason. Its just human nature. Its dark human nature, but it is what it is.
And Marc comes off as a bit of a a-whole quite often :) But he is still one funny sonnafabitch. He kept harping on the "my essence" quote trying to get Dane to just lose it. A bit too much but whatever.
But it all made for a pretty great show with some interesting insights into Dane and Marc.
P.S. I would never see them getting alone in real life. Marc is just to dark IMO for Dane.
I do not feel Maron was the asshole so many are painting him to be but rather was trying to poke through in order to get Dane to break out and just have a conversation rather than a carefully constructed piece meant to curry favor.
Dane was very political in this one and I think that is why Marc was trying to get him to stop campaigning and just act like the cameras and mics were off and just talk about anything and everything without being so calculated.
I'd still like to hear a follow up Mencia-style where several of Dane's biggest foes speak their piece as to why they feel the way they do and then Dane gets brought back to address further points.
My favorite part was that really intense part where he was saying that both of his parents died of cancer within the same year, so he doesn't care what other people think. It really put it into perspective and I think he was directing that energy at Marc.
Oh and sorry Marc, I'm a big fan of you and everything, but I think you came across as really immature. It's fine to grill people and not just suck their cocks because they're a guest on your show. In fact, I respect people more when they don't do that. But after someone explains themself, whether you believe it or not, you let it go and move on. That's the adult thing to do. But you kept beating a dead horse and sounded like a bitter, jealous ex-girlfriend. Then when you started backpeddling, it just made you look petty and foolish. So seriously grow up. You're making me defend Dane Cook for christsake.
For instance, the part about Cook's act with the anonymous@yahoo.com. Maron made Cook sound like a complete vengeful douche for his response to the fan's apology. Cook saw the angle Maron was trying to work from a mile away, and explained himself that his response in the act was simply for the punchline. But Maron didn't give a shit, he just wanted to hear, verbatim, what he said in the act, which was not the complete story.
I never followed Dane Cook either, until I heard him on Joe Rogan's podcast, among others. I saw his latest special Isolated Incident, and I thought it was great. I then went chronologically back in reverse at his past specials, and can definitely understand the perspective of the critics of his early work.
His Comedy Central special was terrible in comparison to Isolated Incident. If that was my first exposure to Dane Cook I am sure I would be hating him too. But the fact of he matter is, is that he has definitely honed his craft and his previous work is no indication whatsoever of his current work.
Maron just seems too proud to change his perspective of Cook after he tongue-lashing he gave with Garofalo.
This interview didn't convert me into liking his stand up comedy, but I can't deny that I'd definitely watch a buddy movie with Maron/Cook.
Comics are supposed to have sharp tongues and stinging wit. While there is alot of philosophy talk behind the scenes, and self loathing (for comics). This wasnt a god damn theropy session. Could you imagine Howard Stern trying to make friends with everyone who doesn't like him? Or Russell Brand or Chris Rock.
Cook was so WEAK! Im not a comedian expert. If i laugh i laugh. Dane is funny. But hearing him wallow around while trying to make nice with the world on this podcast, was sad. I was like hearing Ronnie James Dio trying to make friends with all the religious types.
Dane seemed to treat this interview as if he was on The View. Love both Dane and Marc but Dane was a turd. A smelly turd wanting people to like the smell. No thanks! Wrong time wrong place.
I don't find Dane funny but thats ok. I believe him when he says he did not steal. Maybe I'm wrong. There is not near the evidence for his supposed thievery as there is for Mencia.
As far as Marc's behavior, sure he was pretty sardonic with regards to the "steal my essence" comment, but shit, how could you not be? "He stole my essence"? Maron is from a class prior to Dane's. He is the perpetual cool senior of alt. comedy and Cook is the upstart freshman no matter how much money and fame Cook achieves. That's all there was to Marc's behavior. And it seems from the interview Cook accepted those roles. Not a big deal to me.
Great episode. Ever think about weaning yourself off the nicotine instead of going cold turkey, Marc? Just a sane, rational thought. Thats all.
And yes, someone else here posted that like Mencia, "he wished he really stole those bits so he could have a cleansing of confessing to it". Bull Fucking Shit you wish that Cook. Your act is physical and energetic (like other thieves Robin Williams and Carlos Mencia) but there's very little content. Why not supplement what little there is with other people's material, just change it up a little using my cadence.
I do feel bad that Cook lost both parents within a year, that is terrible. But, a little nagging feeling in me believes that maybe he uses that emotional appeal as another way to gain sympathy, to be likeable? It's an ugly thought, I know, but it just recalls Mencia's blatant appeal to sympathy about his ethnically varied upbringing and how it fucked with his identity. May very well be true but when you hold it up as a shield to deflect questions about loose professional ethics, well, you lost your credibility.
I'm rambling too, another great show Maron. I too have finally given up the nic gum. It'll be fine.
This is not snark, but you may be hitting your stride in these interviews , Larry King just bailed on his show yesterday...I think you would be perfect!
Rape jokes are never funny.
Be well, from a little WTFerina.
though i always thought that it would be fun to hear cook picked on i found that i was wrong.
love the show though, especially these john stossel type exposes on shitty comedians. keep it up bearded one.
One thing i have to say though - Marc, if you are that messed-up after quitting Nicotine you must have been an unbearable fucker when you quit cocaine and booze. Part of me is enjoying hearing you whine and part of me is thinking what a big pussy! Mind you, i haven't given up anything yet myself so maybe its me who's the big pussy!
Either way, WTF is my favourite podcast dude. Keep it up.
Cook - an american comedian who worked for comedy central
Coincidence? I think not.
Cook - has never drank or done drugs.
Coincidence? Me think not.
Still a big fan, and I wish you the best of luck dealing with the lack of nicotine...it's tough.
The 'essence' taunting was a bit childish and presenting it as 'I'm only joking' just made it obnoxious. Dane's 'Me, and Chris Rock and Steve Martin' put down definitely put Marc in his splace after which it went a bit uneven. Marc certainly has issues with jealousy and envy (although that's why he's so funny). This guy wasn't just a contemporary, he was from a generation behind. Let it go Marc (unless you can make it funny, of course).
Thing is Dane is not in the sane league as those superstars. Sure, comercially he is on a par with them, but they got their props through material and talent, and while Dane has undoubted talent, his success is more to do with MySpace and networking. I'm sure the guys who peddle penis enlargement make truck loads of cash, but spamming a quality product does not make.
The thing with stealing didn't wash. It wasn;t just that those two bits and also the itchy ass/smelly finger bit were small and universal, it was all three were on the same Louis C.K. CD. ALL FROM THE SAME SPECIAL.
Ultimately Dane Cook is sometimes funny, his stadium gigs are awful, and he lacks grace. People above you, who make sure you know it aren't cool people.
Good day to you from England. Pip pip.
Also, you didn't really get into the joke stealing thing much. Dane mentioned a couple of things from the Louis CK controversy, but we never got to hear what they said to eachother when they talked; and we never heard what Rogan had to do with any of it.
Cook was right about the "Comedy Central Presents" being rerun too much.
Marc, please have John Mulaney on. Lorne Michaels needs to fire Fallon and give him Late Night.
Lighten up a little, Dane.... learn to laugh at yourself.
I saw Louie C.K. do a bit about the 40 P's of success, while talking about giving young comedians advice (during a recent appearance he did on "Late Night with Conan O'Brian") and I remembered it and still think it's funny.....but I was watching a "Mr.Show" playlist on You Tube and I saw David Cross doing basically the same joke back in the 90's.....There is no question in my mind that Louie didn't steal the joke intentionally or unintentionally, but I just wanted to give an example using the alleged victim of Dane Cook.
Just for the record, I don't care for Dane or his brand of comedy, I do respect his sense of standards though, especially the choice not to be like almost everybody else in the country who uses drugs for no reason....And it seems that that is actually a defining quality, since it appears that most comedians at some point have used drugs. As a person with a disability, I'm especially sensitive to hearing stories that come from the use of drugs (for no reason)
In Colorado we have lazy hippies who are physically able to work, but instead of bathing and getting a job they decide to wait at one of the marijuana dispensaries for somebody they will be able to rob easily, then follow them home & take the medicine from them, that helps them to deal with whatever has become such a disibility that even a doctor (who in most cases, is gladly in the pocket of the highest paying pharmaceutical Co.) even a doctor is willing to Say "well your liver and kidney function has been almost completely taken, looks like we're down to the one thing that might actually help".
Marijuana is not addictive (physically), but I think that being lazy is a lifestyle choice and it seems that a lot of lazy people who want to slow their neuron activity (for no reason) maybe to be a lazy thief, you find that people like you find yourself sharing space with people who use drugs more often than not, or maybe it helps you not look or address the kind of person you're becoming.
I don't know, I only included this rant because I've met, known, and am related to, people like this, so I know what I'm saying when I say that unless Dane is just a horrible person who chooses to steal, without need, even though he has full use of his faculties....well, I probably don't need to explain again, how I feel about someone who would choose to exist as scum, even though there might be other options available to them.
I do think Carlos is another story though, but that's just my opinion, and has nothing to do with any concrete proof.
We missed the jerky Marc here who cops to his own massive sense of entitlement and jealousy after -- or instead of -- behaving in such a manner.
Anyway, good luck with the withdrawal.
P.S. Don't know what the product itself is like, but it will at least be nice, as listeners, to no longer hear the word "Snus."
I haven't followed Dane Cook much beyond seeing some of his stand-up on TV, but I think I may have dismissed him based on the reputation -- and I know that's unfair. I really enjoyed hearing his take, and I think he's a good guy and I wish him the best. He may be on the verge of eruption, though, and I'm not sure he realizes it. I'd like nothing more than for Marc to be there to catch what spatters. Just think how well those pants would fit when sodden with whatever's powering a Dane Cook.
WTF is getting better all the time. This show is really something to be proud of, Marc. Good luck crushing nicotine. You can do it.
I've never been interested in Dane Cook and definitely not in the "controversy" surrounding him. But the above quote sums up Dane's stage act pretty well. And I think that is a damn good reason to dismiss his act. No?
I did see Dane in some movie revolving around a family vacation of some sort and thought Mr. Cook did a really good job in his role.
So Dane in a movie: sure, I'd watch it.
Dane on stage: not in this lifetime.
The thing about Cook is, someone else SHOULD be writing his material. Only the worst hater could deny the guy's got presence and charisma. The problem is he's got no decent jokes. And he never will; he's just not a very thoughtful or intospective dude.
I liked Dane Cook when I first heard of him. He seemed a bit raw and full of energy. It seemed that the more his career went up the less effort he put into his material.
As an over-achiever myself, I can empathize with Dane's frustration over his ambition, success, confidence, and opinions being misinterpreted as asshole egocentric narcissism.
At any rate, keep up the good work Marc :D
Maybe I still will.
Great podcast, Marc, but seriously, buy a nice pair of slacks and stop all this craziness.
Also, 1 : appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect
2 : marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made