Interview: Dane Cook

Dane Cook is a powerhouse of comedy. One would be hard-pressed to find someone who had gone from playing college campuses to selling out multi-night arena gigs in a shorter timeframe than Cook did in the early 2000s. He filmed prominent specials, and his talents spilled over into feature films.

While venue sizes have adjusted over time, the reality is that Dane Cook has never strayed far from his passion. Yes, he has taken some time for himself, got married, and has consistently been touring around the country doing what he does best: stand-up comedy. Cleverock had a chance to Cook ahead of his October 24 engagement at Northeast Ohio’s Akron Civic Civic Theatre {DEETS & TIX}

The first time this interviewer saw Cook perform live was when he came to Kent State University for his famous “Tourgasm” tour. It was the hottest ticket on campus in 2005. The 30-day, 20-show tour was filmed and documented for an HBO series. Cook was asked how about his memories of the show and filming an episode of Tourgasm in Kent!

“It was totally by accident or happenstance. I was filming it for my own archives, and I just brought a few friends out on the road that were pretty great,” he said. “You know, just some videographers and whatnot. By the end of the tour, I had a chance meeting with HBO. That turned into something that blossomed beyond that. HBO said, ‘What are you working on out on the road?’ I said, ‘I’m just filling some different gigs so that I can cut some episodes together from my website.’ Then they came back and asked to purchase the film and turn what was filmed into a show. So that’s where that came from!“

The tour was sold out. At least in Kent, there was a waiting list for tickets. The HBO series was a hit! Cook was asked if he had an inkling about the success this would lead to.

“Yeah, that was a pivotal moment,” Cook said. “I knew my life was changing, which is why I filmed it. The tour went from playing to 3,500-seat venues to field houses with 10,000 to 12,000 people. You definitely caught me at the start of a wave that became a tsunami.”

Knowing that his tours have been going on for over 20 years since those early college shows, inquiring minds want to know how things have changed 20 years later on this current Fresh New Flavor Tour.

“It’s been fantastic. Touring is one of my favorite things because I get to hang out with fans and share new material. The best part is when people come expecting one thing, and I hit them with a new hour of material,” he said. “It’s also amazing seeing different generations in the audience. People who saw me in the ’90s now bring their kids, and sometimes their parents, who didn’t even want their kids listening to me back then! It’s a multi-generational experience now.”

Cook raises a neat point! When Cleverock took its summer road trip to Pittsburgh to see Green Day, the audience was made up of so many old-school fans who were bringing their teenage kids to see a band that meant so much to them when they were at a similar age.

Comedians are too frequently under fire in today’s cancel culture. Times have changed on that front. In addition, many comedians chose to have fans secure their smartphones in pouches to prohibit their recording abilities during shows due to the ease of access for publicly sharing (and spoiling) new material. Cook was asked if this has forced him to change his approach to comedy.

“It really has been something to keep it up. It’s also a lot of luck. You never know if your humor will stay relevant, but thankfully, funny is funny. My storytelling and improv have sustained me, and I’m lucky to still be connecting with people the way I did when I started. It’s been somewhat difficult to keep up, but as far as my fashion choices in the early ’00s, I’ll take the hit for that,” he said with a laugh. “But I’ll keep evolving with my comedy, and people seem to be enjoying it as much as ever. After the intense run I had in the 2000s, I was ready for something new. I’d been through a lot personally, and it was time to reassess and enjoy life a bit more. I’ve also been branching out creatively—directing, producing, and writing. The pandemic changed a lot of things in the entertainment world, but it also gave me the time to get back to the heart of what fans loved about my early work. Now, I’m in a great place personally and professionally, and the material I’m doing on this tour feels fresh but familiar. It’s hitting all the right notes.”

It’s always good to hear performers are taking time to prioritize themselves after giving so much of themselves to their fans through their work. Cook was asked what his growth is looking like through his current material.

“Yeah, I’ve always tried to avoid being derivative. I want every album or special to show growth,” he said. “Comedy is a journal for me, and sometimes that means poking fun at myself. I don’t take myself too seriously, but I take my comedy seriously. Stand-up is always a little chaotic, and I love that. Each show is different, depending on the crowd and my mood that day, but the material is rock solid.”

Cook also discussed the importance of a live audience connection (which fans can experience for themselves in Akron this week!)

Dane Cook is scheduled to perform at the Akron Civic Theatre on Thursday, October 24. Tickets are priced from $42 up to $78. {More info on CleveRock’s Event Calendar}