Las Vegas Weekly

October 10, 2009 · 11:56 AM

Photo Gallery: Dane cooks up a comedy storm at The Joint

By Don Chareunsy

Dane Cook performs at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

Comedian and actor Dane Cook’s Isolated Incident Global Thermal Comedy Tour parked it at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel last night for 1 1/2 hours, and the audience was served the expected sex- and profanity-laden stand-up from the popular and likable frat-boy funnyman.

Dane’s comedic style isn’t over-the-top funny (not that it needs to be), but it is at once juvenile, random, shocking, insightful and even touching. Dane tackled gambling and the top-notch strippers in Las Vegas. Also on his radar were Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Fergie, sex, cell phones, secrets, YouPorn and numerous subjects I can’t write about without getting fined by the FCC (I work for Vegas DeLuxe, not Las Vegas Weekly, after all).

His impressions of his female friends, which also sound like gay men, are hilarious. Underlying in his monologues are defenses of women, gays and President Obama. Perhaps not so underlying when he skewered an audience member who booed after Dane mentioned Obama’s name. In a surprising and touching moment -- the best moment of the night -- he honored his mom, who passed away a few years ago.

Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik captured Dane in action onstage at The Joint. My guest, an avid Dane fan who has seen him live a few times, was disappointed that some of the material was recycled. Even I, seeing Dane live for the first time, recognized the sports book-as-church monologue from editing stories a few weeks ago about Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam fundraiser, at which Dane was a performer.

No matter, because Dane could recite the alphabet, and his fans would still love him … and enjoy looking at his big guns and jokingly self-described powerful chest and big, fat … smile.

Comedians Al Del Bene and Robert Kelly opened for Dane, each with approximately 15- to 20-minute sets. Life-long Catholic Al tackled Jews for Jesus, Mass, cocaine and Obama, while Robert, who received extended applause for parts of his monologue, delved into growing older, his grandparents, hygiene, sex and homosexuality.

All in a day for comedians working in this day and age. Dane, Al and Robert do it all over again tonight at 8:30 at The Joint.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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