Printer-friendly versionIf you asked us which of today's popular young comics most definitely engages in recreational drug abuse, we'd probably say Dane Cook - in about a second. But we'd be wrong, as Street learned in a conference call interview with the over-the-top star of this week's Employee of the Month.
Pertaining to your career as a whole, how do you feel about starting in stand-up and then moving into other parts of the industry like television and movies?
Dane Cook: First of all, you scared me with the question because you referred to my career as a whole, and the very first thing I thought of is a black hole and I was like, "Wow I never knew I was affecting this guy in such a negative fashion." As an entire entity, I've had the luxury of dipping my toe into different facets of media. Starting in stand-up comedy for so many years, and then doing television, and now film. I think that in some respects, if you are an entertainer, especially coming from the world of comedy as a storyteller, you want to tell different kinds of stories in different ways. These films provide me the opportunity to tell stories in a way I can't do when I'm alone on stage doing stand-up comedy. As long as my fans are along for the ride, I can check out these different opportunities, and hopefully make some great, memorable stuff. Everything is a work in progress; I don't think anything is set in stone. I'm glad people are responding, and that my career isn't a hole.
How would you describe college students today?
DC: College students today are a lot sharper. If I did a 1,000 seater back in '93 or '94, it would've been so rowdy that I couldn't have gotten a joke out. With the Tourgasm tour, we found that this is the same age college students, but it is a more mature audience. They are away from the Generation X attitude, and they are taking their careers and hopes into their own hands, much like I did myself. There are alternatives to waiting to see where the degree takes you, and with that comes maturity. That also relates to even how you find your entertainment away from your studies. I found that crowds are more interested in the show, as opposed to getting hammered and showing up and causing a mini-riot. The college crowds I've played are the most important shows in my career, because I've learned a long time ago that the relationships you make in your college years are the things you want to take with you for the rest of your life.
What's up with Jessica Simpson, your co-star in Employee?
DC: I just saw her last night. We had the big premiere. I thought I was busy, and she's probably 10 times busier. She's got an album out, a movie out. She's got the whole world peeking into her window and wondering who she is giving a massage to. It's bananas. But she's a good person, a really, really cool chick.
You are pretty popular on MySpace, 1.5 million friends. How do you deal with your overeager female fans?
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