The more you do it, the less you fall down...
Since Apple started selling videos that you can download to your iPod, the majority of the marketing has been toward the primetime TV shows that they have available. However, there are many other nuggets of boob tubey goodness out there that you can put on your Pod.
I, for example, discovered that Comedy Central has a series of stand-up routines that you can download and watch.
So far, I have only downloaded one -- Dane Cook -- and I love it. This download is my first experience with Dane and he is abso-friggin-lutely hilarious. I've actually watched it twice so far, that's how funny it is. Katie and our friends MadIrishMan and his wife really dug it, too, as we drove up to Lake Geneva this past weekend.
Have you ever listened to an audio recording of a comedian at some point in your life? Well I have. Tons of them. Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinison, Denis Leary, Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, you name the comedian, I've probably listened at some point in time or another.
Having these routines on your iPod is pretty much the same. You can just plug in and listen. For the most part, you don't really need to see what's going on to be able to understand and laugh.
However, what makes these iPod versions even better, obviously, is that you can check out the occasional bit of visual humor. This ability, of course, is glaringly absent from the old days of cassette and CD stand-up comedy recordings.
If you have an iPod and the willingness to fork over $1.99, I highly recommend it.
A few words of caution... don't Dane and drive; the combination may be deadly.
I hope to never find out, personally.
Okay, so now that I've become one with Dane Cook, are there other bits by him I should look into finding? Something I can put on my iPod? What about other comedians that are readily available on iTunes? I need suggestions as I feel the need to laugh out loud.
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You have officially reached the 9th level of coolness. All that was holding you back was your lack of Dane knowledge. Now you are complete. Congratulations grasshoppa'.
Posted by: Dustin | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 07:16 AM
You need to see/listen to Lewis Black. If you can get his latest,(Red, White & Screwed) it would be even better.
Posted by: MadIrishMan | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 07:27 AM
Besides the obvious (Chappelle) I like Wanda Sykes and the late Mitch Hedberg (who has a show on iTMS). And don't forget that the iTMS now has Dr. Suess books read by famous people available!
Posted by: Dave2 | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 08:31 AM
I love love love Dane Cook. And Chappelle. And have far too many downloads already. You're going to get me into trouble with Kennimus now.
All. Your. Fault.
Oh, and boob tubey goodness? Hilarious.
Posted by: Mocha | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 08:36 AM
Yeah, welcome to Dane. Dude is fantastic. I saw him in Berkeley maybe a year and a half ago. It was awesome. Look into his old CDs, Harmful if Swallowed and Retaliation. You'll learn the classics, like fighting monkeys, what a BAMF is, and he Kool-Aid guy. I swear I've listened about 15 times just hanging out with my iPod, and I still laugh uncontrollably.
Posted by: mrjerz | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 09:26 AM
Dustin, what would it take to get me into the 10th level?
MIM, I've gotta remember to look for Black's stuff.
Dave, Seuss? Awesome! I had no idea. I must get the download of the first book I ever learned to read when I was a child... Green Eggs & Ham. Katie will be all over these as well.
Mocha, I was hoping someone would like the "boob tubey goodness" comment. I claim no responsibility for any problems that result from reading material on my site. It's in the invisible disclaimer at the bottom of my page. Haven't you read it yet?
mrjerz, thanks for the recommendations. After I read this comment, I went to my library's Web site, and their network of interlibrary loan sites has both of them in. My request has been made. Thanks!
Posted by: Kevin | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 09:35 AM
A lock of Chris Martin's hair.
Posted by: Dustin | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 09:39 AM
Dane Cook! I just listened to him on my drive up to Seattle. So funny. You know who else makes me laugh my ass off? Mitch Fatel. Seriously, you gotta get his stuff.
"OhmygodIloveit."
Listen and you will understand.
Posted by: ms. sizzle | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 10:00 AM
Dustin, isn't he pretty close to cueball status with how short his hair is? Would you settle for Gwyneth or do I just have to resign myself to 9th-level status?
Sizzle, iTunes has both Super Retardo and Miniskirts and Muffins available. Which is a good place to start?
Posted by: Kevin | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 10:12 AM
OMG - you JUST took your first trip on the "Dane Train"????? I absofreakinlutely have loved him since he was just starting out.
I am watching Tourgasm on HBO now, have him on my MySpace list, have all his cd's, would totally fuck him if not married...ahem.
Anyway, my husband and I even do "rock quotes" and have since he did them on SNL last year. If you get a chance watch some of the videos on his site...mainly Dave Atell's Insomniac Tour.
/fangirl
(and I usually am NOT anyone's fan-beyotch)
Posted by: Hilly | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 11:14 AM
p.s. - I told Karl I am doing SuFi at the top of the Tower of Terror when they snap our pic. I am so so so so lame ;)
Posted by: Hilly | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 11:16 AM
The "Rock-n-Roll" quotes are all I use now, too. He did them in his act before SNL, and I think I talked about it on an old podcast once. Not sure, but I do have the habit of ripping funny stuff off.
Posted by: mrjerz | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 11:25 AM
mrjerz - hey he said he knows we are gonna steal them anyway so why not use them? LOL.
Posted by: Hilly | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 12:26 PM
Maybe I just caught a bad act of Dane's, but when I saw him on Comedy Central he did nothing for me. I didn't laugh even once. In fact, I thought he was so unfunny that I changed channels after 10 minutes or so.
Posted by: Karl | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 12:55 PM
Hilly, I need to set my TiVo for Tourgasm. Now that I know what Dane's all about, I think I may enjoy it. You go rock that SuFi!
mrjerz, are the R&R quotes on his site? I'll have to go look. Or is there another place I can find them?
Karl, I've had that happen with more comedians than I care to remember. Thankfully, for me, it wasn't the case with Dane Cook. But, for the most part, I try to avoid watching Comedy Central because they never seem to capture the better moments. It's like they are perpetually stuck with D-level bits from C-level comedians. Occasionally, you get someone good on there, but typically on their off day. This particular Comedy Central Dane Cook performance was great though.
Posted by: Kevin | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 02:13 PM
Have you ever seen/heard Stephen Lynch? I watch his Comedy Central performance over and over.
Posted by: Rabbit | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 02:39 PM
Glad to see you've jumped on The Dane Train. Dane Cook is glorious. I'm a big fan of Mike Birbiglia. I think you'd like him.
Posted by: Johnny C. | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 03:36 PM
I was going to suggest Chappelle but someone beat me to it. I'm off to find some Dane. Great blog by the way. I've been skulking around since we joined forces over at Hyperion's, but I don't think I've ever dropped in to say hello.
So, hello.
Posted by: wordnerd | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 06:46 PM
I'm going to kill you Kevin! I've been raving about him for AT LEAST six months on my blog. Proof you don't pay attention to me. Maybe next time you will ... you could have seen him live in April! :)
Oh and I agree with everything Hilly wrote. ;)
Oh and Karl you probably caught the first stand-up he did for Comedy Central when he was in all black. Not as funny as his later acts I've noticed. Give Dane another try, you won't regret it!
Posted by: nicole | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 06:48 PM
LOL Nicole.....
Karl - I am so submersing you to the Dane Train of Loooove.
Erm, that sounded wrong.
Hi Kevin...can you tell I heart Dane, being all up in your hoobastank today?
Posted by: Hilly | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 09:41 PM
Dane is by far the funniest comedian today. I, like you, am used to comedians that are older than me like Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, etc. Now here comes Dane the voice of our generation!!! I have Dane's two CDs and I laugh so much no matter how many times I listen to it. I've recommended these CDs to lots of people -- including my mom! -- and everyone loves them (including Mom!)
I went to see Dane in concert last year and he was awesome. The audience is so into him that they all know his routine and say them along with him and then still laugh!
Oh, and HBO now how the Tourgasm reality show on every Sunday. It follows Dane and three other relatively unknown comedians on a month-long U.S. tour. It's a lot of behind the scenes stuff, it's really funny.
Posted by: Eve | Wednesday, 12 July 2006 at 06:42 AM
Rabbit, the name sounds familiar, but I'm not absolutely certain. I'll have to look into him.
Johnny, that name also sounds familiar. Will have to check him out.
wordnerd, welcome aboard. Yeah, I've been taking in all my fellow International Dayers. I've gotta start commenting as well. Now go find some Dane!
Nicole, I know you have. You were the first person to really make me question whether or not I should. But I've been so lukewarm about most modern comics that I was a bit afraid. And no one that I knew in person had any of his stuff that I could check out without buying it ahead of time. Then, a few weeks ago, I bit the bullet and bought the video off iTunes. Just be happy I'm finally on board. And, yes, I know I could've actually gone and seen him. Damn. He'll likely be coming back to town sometime, though. You'll have to keep me informed as you seem to know much more about these events than I.
Hilly, go ahead and get all up in my hoobastank. It's nice to know someone is. ;-)
Eve, I actually just started downloading his Tourgasm and personal videocasts as well. Gotta see what they're all about.
Posted by: Kevin | Wednesday, 12 July 2006 at 06:49 AM
Hey pal, I also like Dane Cook and I have one other guy that you should check out. Daniel Tosh. He's a tall skinny dude, I have his CD/DVD that he's got out so I'll just let you borrow it. What makes the entire set is that he wants to be on cribs to show off his "middle of the night" bathroom trip. I won't ruin it for you but he wants to hire the people from universal studios to turn a regular bathroom trip into an adventure.......hilarious. He was on Leno about two months ago and I hadn't seen new stuff from him in about a year. The good thing is that I found him funnier on Leno than with what is on his CD. I love when comedians aren't "one hit wonders".
Posted by: Scott | Wednesday, 12 July 2006 at 09:09 AM
Did you see Dane when he was on Leno with Charlize Theron late last year? It was hilarious. You can check it out on Dane's site and, likely, on YouTube as well. I will have to check out Daniel Tosh. Never heard of him. But if you like him, I'm sure I can trust your opinion, right? RIGHT? ;-)
Posted by: Kevin | Thursday, 13 July 2006 at 06:39 AM
Yep, he's an entertaining guy. But you already knew I thought so.
Posted by: Jill | Friday, 14 July 2006 at 11:43 PM
That letter is even cooler now that I'm really into him and know a bit more about him.
Posted by: Kevin | Sunday, 16 July 2006 at 06:26 AM