Dane Cook
After plugging away on Comedy Central and the late-night TV circuit, stand-up Dane Cook, 33, has just seen his comedy album Retaliation reach Billboard's Top 5. That hasn't happened since Steve Martin's A Wild and Crazy Guy in '78. Cook talked to PEOPLE'S Oliver Jones.
FOR A FAIRLY LOW-PROFILE COMIC, YOU HAVE A LOT OF FANS. HOW'D THAT HAPPEN?
I built my fan base the way early punk bands did in the 70s. They'd pass out fliers and advertise their shows months in advance just to get people excited. I used the Internet the same way.
BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
Growing up I was into old Bob Newhart records, George Carlin and Richard Pryor. People say that what I do is observational humor, but the observations are stuff that you're embarrassed to admit.
HOW DOES YOUR MOM FEEL ABOUT YOUR ACT, WHICH CAN BE PRETTY RAW?
She's been to almost every show I've ever done. Fifteen years ago she was there when I was doing stand-up in laundromats and Chinese restaurants.
YOU'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A SITCOM PILOT—WHAT'S THE SCOOP ON THAT?
We completed it. I've created something entirely based on my point of view, the way Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano did. We'll see how things pan out, but we had a great time doing it.
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