Dane Cook’s biggest fan.

Straight up, we don’t like Dane Cook. We think he’s hacky, we don’t like his mugging, we hate the way he uses schmaltz to try to sound like a sensitive guy who just happens to like a couple of non-threatening blowjob jokes, and we think he gets by on physical energy and college dude charm more than on the quality of his material. And that’s all putting it nicely. But clearly, we’re in the minority.

His show at the Colosseum last night, nearly a sellout, was a case study in Cookology. Sitting right in front of us were four sorority girl types, clearly in love with the guy, who were a perfect example of a divide in people’s taste in comedy.

Every time they cracked up, like when Cook referenced his “powerful chest” and “big, fat cock,” we sat in stony indifference. One girl even went so far to parrot back Cook’s manic movements in fits of laughter, as if flailing were the ne plus ultra of comedy. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Jim Norton will be replacing Christian Bale as the next Batman. (Via myspace.com/jimnorton)

Jim Norton has a nasty habit of being on underappreciated TV shows that meet an early demise. See Lucky Louie an Tough Crowd. It’s a good thing he’s multimedia, then, as a co-host on the Opie & Anthony radio show; with an HBO special (Monster Rain) and show (Down and Dirty); and his second book, I Hate Your Guts reaching No. 13 on the New York Times Best-Seller List.

Norton hits the stage tomorrow night at 7 p.m. as part of The Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace. We caught up with him while he was on a train bound for New Hampshire. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone