Reception

One reviewer noted that Cook attracted a young, growing audience through colorful observations
and high energy performances.[62]

Commentators in a variety of media sources have characterized Dane Cook's humor as

unfunny.[2][3][63] Comedian Ron White has criticized Dane Cook for his lack of real material and
for his inflated ego; saying "[He] does not make me laugh, at all, in any way, shape or form."[64]
When asked about his opinion of Cook on The Howard Stern Show, comedian Nick DiPaolo said
"he doesn't make me laugh, but that doesn't mean he's not funny."[65] On Boston radio station
WBCN, Dane Cook was named by radio show Toucher and Rich to a tournament of the top 16
"Worst Comedians" and, based on listener voting, was voted the "Worst Comedian" of all. In the
Michigan Daily, Elie Zwiebel and co-author Jesse Bean wrote that "he's managed to become one
of the most overrated comics ever" and that his act is "boringly stagnant".[66] In an interview with
Jason Tanamor of Zoiks! Online, Tanamor asked Cook why he was so despised. Cook stated that
he'd had conversations with his therapist, attributing some of the negativity to his alpha
demeanor. Add to that, Cook's highly successful career. "Unfortunately, what you find is, you
know in your graduating class with the guys you came up with, there's going to be some dudes in
front of you that don't want you catching up, and there's going to be some guys behind you that
maybe they've never had an opportunity. That, coupled with, like you said, reaching the
Billboard charts with 'Retaliation' and a lot of people going, 'Who the fuck does he think he
is?'[67]

Jim Breuer talked about Cook's reputation within the comedy industry, saying: "Everyone kills
this guy ... Not one comedian comes on [my Sirius radio show] and says 'I'm so happy for him',
which is weird. ... They can't stand this poor guy." Breuer went on to say that he personally
thinks Cook is a "tremendous performer".[68]

Paul Provenza said that he was not a fan of his earlier work, but "...caught a couple of Dane
Cook shows at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, and he was fantastic", and became a fan
because he felt he had "matured".[69]

Accusations of plagiarism

Comedian Joe Rogan claimed that Cook performed a bit on an episode of Premium Blend that
Rogan had developed on I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday, and claimed to have performed the
routine earlier in clubs with Cook present. In 2010 Rogan had Cook as a guest on his podcast,
telling him that he was a "good dude" and that he was "...glad we put all that shit past and hung
out...I think you are doing some awesome shit." Cook replied: "That means the world hearing
that from you, Joe ... You've got a lot of integrity and I've always had a lot of respect for you."[70]

In 2007, a "veteran comic" accused Cook of appropriating one of that comic's "very physical
routines", despite a direct request that Cook stop using the routine in question.[71]

There was also widespread Internet discussion regarding 3 bits from Cook's 2005 album
Retaliation, and similar bits from comic Louis C.K.'s 2001 album Live in Houston.[71] In 2011,
Cook played himself in an episode of Louie, scripted by C.K., centering on a fictional encounter
between the two comics during which they discuss the controversy.[72] In an interview in 2012,
Louis C.K. defended Cook, saying "I don't think he stole from me knowingly... I think he sort of
got some of my jokes in his head and got sloppy. He's a good guy and not capable of
maleficence."[73]

Personal life
Cook has stated that he does not drink or take drugs.[81] Cook's half-brother Darryl was his
business manager until 2008, when it was discovered that Darryl and his wife had embezzled
millions of dollars from Cook.[82] Both were convicted and sentenced to prison for the
embezzlement.[83]

In 2017, Cook began dating Kelsi Taylor, who is 26 years his junior.[84]