Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Dane Cook, the man famous for selling out arenas with jokes about itchy rear-ends and murder by frozen turkeys, has signed a talent deal with NBC, EW has confirmed. Cook is working on a half-hour comedy for the Peacock; if it’s successful it will be his first foray into the world of network television. (Deadline first reported the story.)
Unfortunately for Cook, this deal was signed less than a week after the premiere of Whitney. Whitney, if you happen to live in an area where billboards and buses do not exist, is the painfully unfunny Whitney Cummings project that has been advertised more than Bud Light during a football game. “Whoever invented morning sex… forgot about morning breath!” Ahh, yes. That’s the one. Remember now? Cummings, much like Cook, is a crass comedienne who has proven herself capable with her stand-up and written work (2 Broke Girls). But despite her obvious talent, her NBC project just isn’t working. The concept is weak, the jokes fall flat, and the advertising is absolutely infuriating. Cook’s raunchy, overgrown-fratboy sense of humor and tendency to choose big paydays (My Best Friend’s Girl, Good Luck Chuck) over quality entertainment has me worried that we might just have another Whitney on our hands.
But then I remembered Cook’s brilliant appearance on Louie this year, and how that show, headlined by another blockbuster comedian, is one of the best comedies on television right now. Cook’s sense of humor certainly aligns closer to Cummings’, but his passive-aggressive bit on Louie showed a much different side to the Cook we’ve gotten to know over the years. It showed his humility, and his ability to laugh at himself in the face of a career-altering controversy. If Cook can tone down the crazy and stick with this much more subdued and likable aspect of his personality, then this could be a more-than-decent project.
So what do you think, PopWatchers?
Read more:
‘Whitney’ series premiere: The jokes feel not-so-fresh, but is there hope for this show?
Louis C.K. on the Dane Cook cameo: ‘I really was letting my competitive ego f— the bit up’
EW Archives: Dane Cook Shapes Up
He was great in Dan In Real Life. Hopefully his show is more like that.
He is not fun or funny!
Yeah, I don’t think he’s that funny, and I hate his stand-up, but he isn’t a bad comedic actor; it depends on what show he makes; it would be better if he were part of an ensemble.
poor lisa g. so dumb!
Agreed lisa, only time he was bearable was on the excellent, ground-breaking Louie. Definitely going the Whitney way, laugh track and all!
Hey EW, no article about the great Artie Large’s new gig????? He’s bigger news than Dane!
* Lange
What’s up with Art?
He has a new radio gig! Not sure if It’s satellite radio or not. He’s teamed up w/ Nick dapaulo….who’s pretty funny as well!
You’re comparing it to “Whitney?” The show has been on for one week. Really? Couldn’t you use an example of a bad show that’s been on for at least two weeks. Just maybe….
I’d say NBC is open for criticism regarding Whitney. She’s a pretty sought after ticket as far as stand up comedians go, her specials did well, and there was a lot of hope that in her show, which by all appearances is terrible. Perfect Couples and Outsourced were better than this…
I agree with Monty. Outsourced was not that great, and Perfect Couples was very goofy but showed some promise, but they both beat the snot out of ‘Whitney’. She is funny, but the show is just so stale.
I’m still laughing that someone still uses the word “comedienne”. I watched the pilot for ‘Whitney’ and while its not going to collect any Emmy’s from that ONE episode it was on par with higher rated long running predictable sitcoms like 2 1/2 Men. Why not compare this to Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Home Improvement, etc? Also shows based on stand ups? Long story short Cook is nowhere near as funny as Whitney Cummings. He’s often, quite often, accused of stealing others jokes and his appeal to viewers got him laughed out of Hollywood for the wrong reasons…lack of ticket sales. However, given his pandering comedy to the obvious low brow type of jokes viewers will probably tune in. Remember folks, we live in the world where According To Jim was on for what seemed like 27 seasons.
One reason Louie is so great is that Louie C.K. does all the directing and editing, and, it turns out, he’s a totally awesome film-maker (in addition to being so funny). He instinctively brings out the humor, the sadness, the humanity of everyone. It’s no wonder that Dane Cook was awesome on his show.
But a show of Cook’s own? Probably managed and directed by NBC committee? It doesn’t have a chance.
Louis C.K. wrote every word that Dane said in that episode, so to the extent you are drawn to what he said – that’s not dane cook. That’s dane cook as imagined by louis c.k.
exactly. dane even wanted a rewrite, and objected to the way he was portrayed, but louis refused. the same people that love dane cook love jeff dunham.
He should steal his show plots from Louie. I would actually laugh at that.
^ this.
Good to know that being an untalented and unfunny comedian still gets you lots of $$$ in Hollywood. Flash forward to the week after this show airs and the story will be “Gilbert Gottfried signs development deal at NBC” and we will be arguing whether or not we will have the next “Seinfeld” or “Dane!” on our hands.
@W I actually believe that Gilbert did have a pilot for one of the networks but it didnt get picked up. Either this year or past year.
They will give him another chance…just like they keep giving Dane Cook (and David Spade) more chances.
That’s great.Now he can transfer from terrible movies to terrible sitcoms easily. Thanks NBC. How’s that Chelsea Handler piece of crap pilot coming by the way?
hahaahaha.
oh wait, you’re serious….yikes.
I don’t care if Whitney’s show isn’t funny. She’s fun to look at.
thats the problem. She’s marginally funny, but also marginally attractive. Those two traits are exponentially greater when combined, so she gets a fast track to a sitcom. Where’s the big tv break for Kathleen Madigan or Kristen Schaal?
Although I agree that Louie is, without a doubt an excellent show, I have to say I lmao during the series premiere of Whitney.
Poor Dane. He’s really not a bad guy. He’s just drawn that way.
love this idea….could be funny…NBC tho..pathetic network
Interestingly enough, though, is that NBC has the best comedies on TV with Parks and Rec, Community, 30 Rock, The Office (at least when it was in its prime).
Remember when Dane Cook was funny? Yeah, me either.
You are not allowed to like Dane Cook. Bottom line. If you do you are a worthless dumb piece of sh!t and I don’t even have to know you to know that. I declare that you are not allowed to like him because apparently I have that power. Bow to me and my opinions.
If anyone wants to know what a Dane Cook sitcom would be like then just go pick up a copy of “Dane Cook The Lost Pilots” DVD. It features two failed unfunny sitcom pilots that Dane Cook tried to get going a few years back.