Dane Cook

On a Sunset Strip balcony, sitting beside an azure pool, Dane Cook makes the confession that America has been waiting for during his two decades as a comic. "Can I just admit to you, you're right," the 37-year-old said, holding his palms up to the sky. "Look . . . I'm not funny. I'm OK with that. I'm cool with that." Cook is, of course, joking about his lack of humor, which, if you think about it, is kind of funny -- or maybe it's not funny at all.

NBC has put the kibosh on midseason newbie "Next Caller" from its lineup indefinitely, sources close to production confirmed. The Dane Cook-led comedy was picked up in May by the network for a six-episode order. But the commitment wouldn't last. It seems the network felt the series wasn't moving in the right direction creatively. Four of the six episodes were filmed before production was stopped. And those four will apparently not make it to air -- hey, not even as a movie special a la "Mockingbird Lane" ?

Dane Cook, the stand-up comedian, hasn't written any new material in months. He hasn't performed onstage since February, and he's not sure he'll ever pick up the microphone again. "I don't want to say I've retired, but this is an important time to shift my energy into something new," said Cook, who takes a dark turn in the ensemble drama "Answers to Nothing. " "If I'm going to gonna do stand-up again — I respect the art form so much, it's glamorous to me — and if I partake in it again, I want to feel like I'm lending something to it. " That might sound like a surprising revelation from a man who has had more success in stand-up than almost any modern-day comedian — he once played two sold-out shows in a single night at Madison Square Garden.

Dane Cook gives new meaning to the phrase "too soon" with this joke about the “Dark Knight Rises” shootings -- though you can wonder if the joke would have been appropriate at any time. In a performance at the Laugh Factory, the comedian quipped that the Batman movie was “crap” and proceeded to say that the violence last week at an Aurora movie theater - which claimed the lives of 12 people and injured scores more - took place because a filmgoer early in the screening lamented “oh...shoot me.” Oddly, Cook elicited some jeers but also some prolonged laughter.

Dane Cook gives new meaning to the phrase "too soon" with this joke about the “Dark Knight Rises” shootings -- though you can wonder if the joke would have been appropriate at any time. In a performance at the Laugh Factory, the comedian quipped that the Batman movie was “crap” and proceeded to say that the violence last week at an Aurora movie theater - which claimed the lives of 12 people and injured scores more - took place because a filmgoer early in the screening lamented “oh...shoot me.” Oddly, Cook elicited some jeers but also some prolonged laughter.

If you watched the World Series or walked by a multiplex this year, chances are you saw plenty of comedian Dane Cook. After appearing in such films as "Dan in Real Life" and "Mr. Brooks," he's back in his element with a new CD and a national tour, including a stop at the Honda Center on Sunday. But seriously, when does this guy sleep? It's incredible. I feel like it's been forever. I was definitely continuing to do a lot of stand-up while here in L.A. or even on location, but to be night to night doing shows of this caliber -- I mean, I've never done an arena tour before.

Dane Cook is under fire Friday for joking about the Aurora, Colo., shooting less than one week after a gunman opened fire in a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises," killing 12 people and injuring 58. It's the reaction to the comedian's joshing that's perhaps most noteworthy. The problem with Cook's joke doesn't appear to be that it's too soon to joke about the massacre. It will probably never be OK to joke about a massacre. The joke just wasn't funny, according to online reaction to Cook's quip.  It was dismissed by many as just one more unfunny joke by an unfunny comedian responsible for many unfunny movies.

The half brother of comedian Dane Cook pleaded not guilty Wednesday to embezzling millions from the comedian and was ordered held on $3-million bail. Darryl McCauley was arraigned at Woburn District Court in Massachusetts on charges including forgery and larceny. Prosecutors alleged that McCauley, 43, stole the money from Cook while being paid $12,500 a month to act as Cook's business manager as part of his company, Great Dane Enterprises Inc. Prosecutors accused McCauley of transferring funds from Cook's business accounts to his personal accounts between July 2007 and December 2008.

It feels like just a fortnight since comic Dane Cook made the leap from MySpace hero (he's got 2 million friends!) into the role of ubiquitous romantic comedy lead -- one notable exception being his wannabe killer in last spring's "Mr. Brooks." Now he's on some kind of a roll, with what seems like a film release every few months.

COMEDIANS aren't supposed to be happy, just the opposite, but Dane Cook is the Disneyland of comics: He's the happiest, most uncomplicated place on Earth. He's Seacrest-psyched, boy voted most likely. Cutest. Funniest. Coolest. For Cook, this is no ironic pose a la Andy Kaufman; it's a whole insufferable ethos, integral to the rise of his career.

Dane Cook is under fire Friday for joking about the Aurora, Colo., shooting less than one week after a gunman opened fire in a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises," killing 12 people and injuring 58. It's the reaction to the comedian's joshing that's perhaps most noteworthy. The problem with Cook's joke doesn't appear to be that it's too soon to joke about the massacre. It will probably never be OK to joke about a massacre. The joke just wasn't funny, according to online reaction to Cook's quip.  It was dismissed by many as just one more unfunny joke by an unfunny comedian responsible for many unfunny movies.

Dane Cook, the stand-up comedian, hasn't written any new material in months. He hasn't performed onstage since February, and he's not sure he'll ever pick up the microphone again. "I don't want to say I've retired, but this is an important time to shift my energy into something new," said Cook, who takes a dark turn in the ensemble drama "Answers to Nothing. " "If I'm going to gonna do stand-up again — I respect the art form so much, it's glamorous to me — and if I partake in it again, I want to feel like I'm lending something to it. " That might sound like a surprising revelation from a man who has had more success in stand-up than almost any modern-day comedian — he once played two sold-out shows in a single night at Madison Square Garden.

No heads turned when comedian Russell Peters walked into Du-par's in Studio City this week, aside from Peters' himself as he scanned the diner's orange booths for attractive ladies. He sells out stadiums in Dubai, London, Sydney and Hong Kong. But stateside, he's just another groggy dude in a black hoodie. Even before his first cup of coffee and his cayenne pepper vitamin, though, there was a little red "on-air" light flashing behind Peters' eyes, and he was firing off antagonistic one-liners, hoping to get a rise out of his interviewer.

The Laugh Factory in Hollywood will again throw open its doors on Christmas Day to provide food and entertainment to anyone who is in need of a meal or just some company. Meals will be served at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m., with the laughs provided by such comics as Dane Cook, Paul Rodriguez, Tom Arnold, Paul Mooney and Larry Miller. "With this weakened economy and high unemployment rate, more and more people, especially children, need hope," said Jamie Masada, owner of the comedy venue.

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there's certainly a free feast at the Laugh Factory. For 30 years now, the comedy venue has been serving up free Thanksgiving dinner for the underprivileged of Hollywood, as well as an all-star lineup of stand-up comedy. This year, Dane Cook, above; Paul Rodriguez; Kevin Nealon; Neil Brennan; and Jimmy Brogan will entertain the crowds. Laugh Factory Hollywood. 8001 Sunset Blvd. Shows and meals today at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Free. www.laughfactory.

On a Sunset Strip balcony, sitting beside an azure pool, Dane Cook makes the confession that America has been waiting for during his two decades as a comic. "Can I just admit to you, you're right," the 37-year-old said, holding his palms up to the sky. "Look . . . I'm not funny. I'm OK with that. I'm cool with that." Cook is, of course, joking about his lack of humor, which, if you think about it, is kind of funny -- or maybe it's not funny at all.

All the Two-Buck Chuck in the world won't make "Good Luck Chuck" go down any easier. The film is some sort of humor-deprivation experiment. For vulgarity spiced with wit and crassness done right, see "Superbad" or "Knocked Up." For a reminder that stridency gets you nowhere without certain other ingredients, "Good Luck Chuck" is this year's low-ender to beat. In stand-up mode, Dane Cook rides a wave of adorable hostility; "Good Luck Chuck" packages him as more of a generic rom-com headliner.

No heads turned when comedian Russell Peters walked into Du-par's in Studio City this week, aside from Peters' himself as he scanned the diner's orange booths for attractive ladies. He sells out stadiums in Dubai, London, Sydney and Hong Kong. But stateside, he's just another groggy dude in a black hoodie. Even before his first cup of coffee and his cayenne pepper vitamin, though, there was a little red "on-air" light flashing behind Peters' eyes, and he was firing off antagonistic one-liners, hoping to get a rise out of his interviewer.

The half-brother of Dane Cook has been ordered held on $1-million bail on charges that he stole millions of dollars from the comedian. Darryl McCauley pleaded not guilty to eight counts of larceny over $250, forgery and larceny by continuous scheme. Prosecutors said at Thursday's arraignment in Massachusetts' Middlesex Superior Court that more charges are expected. Prosecutors say the 43-year-old McCauley stole the money while being paid $12,500 a month to act as business manager for Cook's company, Great Dane Enterprises.