I have to admit that when we launched our "Dane Cook Sucks and You Know It." ad campaign, I expected a good bit of backlash...

I mean, let's face facts.... Dane is the only human alive with 2,000,000+ MySpace friends and he consistantly sells out huge arena shows like Allstate Arena and Madison Square Garden to 15,000+ fans and makes more money in a single show than we're likely to make over the next ten years... Dude's got fans.

I have to confess to being a bit surprised over the course of the last two months since starting the campaign how well it's been received. I've received so many supportive comments, letters and emails it's been a little overwhelming (and of course, gratifying to know we were on the right track).

In fact, over all this time, I've only heard from one brainless twat speaking up for Mr. Superfi, when she wrote "shut up you insecure fuckers - you're just jealous" (17 y.o. santa monica, profile set to private).

I'm not jealous... truly... and I don't care whether all you Dane supporters who have been too chickenshit to write so far believe me or not.

Here's the thing...

At the Lakeshore Theater, we present comedy as an art. Comedy that believes something. Comedy that not only makes you laugh, but makes you think, makes you see things in a new way, or makes you feel things that are visceral, honest and true. Specifically, we do comedy that is of such a strong opinion that it doesn't care whether you agree with it or not. We're the final bastion of free speech - TRUE free speech.

Dane doesn't do that.

Dane is an accomplished marketer and self-promoter who has successfully modified his material to be most acceptable to the largest number of people as possible. He's top 40 for sure, but he ain't a great comedian any more than Britney Spears is a great musician. You can't say Dane Cook and Doug Stanhope are both comedians any more than you can say Hanson and the Rolling Stones are both bands. The best thing I've ever read about Dane Cook was written by Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone Magazine when he wrote: "It's like he's a lovable character Will Ferrell made up for an upcoming media-prank comedy, Funnyguy: The Legend of Dane Cook."  Rolling Stone Article - beautiful.

I don't hate Dane Cook. I don't wish him any ill or begrude one penny of his success.

Our ad campaign is about establishing the fact that our aesthetic is the antithesis of what he represents - we're the opposite - that's all.

As we've struggled to provide answers to those who feel a need to define us, pidgen-hole us, articulate what we are, Dane helped us arrive at one of our taglines (yes, even artists with integrity use them) "Lakeshore Theater - Sometimes Sold Out - Never Sells Out".

That said, Mr. Cook, if you'd care to come to our humble 300-seat art house of the finest comedy in the world and prove us wrong - consider yourself welcome - I'll set up a "Last Comic Breathing" 12 hour comedy marathon with you, Doug Stanhope and Louis CK - it'd be fun... Until he's live on our stage, I guess you can only see DANE COOK at www.lakeshoretheater.com

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