Jason Cook

Jason Cook - The Search for Happiness

An hour of pleasant company, although lacking memorable friction

8 Aug 2011

Cook’s latest frenzy of silliness is an exploration of happiness (as defined by Wikipedia), researched thoroughly by the comic and his dear old mum. The problem with a show that openly aims not to please everyone is that there’s no challenge to the…

Jason Cook

Well-crafted, life-affirming stuff

11 Aug 2010

It’s a cliché that comedians just want to be loved, but Jason Cook tries awfully hard to endear himself. Welcoming the audience into The End (Part 1), he lightly teases a few individuals, joshes with a reviewer he recognises and seeks advice and…

Jason Cook draws us the essence of his Fringe show

Board Meeting: Jason Cook

5 Aug 2010

This week we’ve persuaded another fine comedian to put pen to board and draw the essence of their show. Jason Cook is one of the few comedians chirpy enough to do a show about death without sounding like a depressed goth tied to a bus stop of pain. He’s…

Jason Cook

7 Jan 2010

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, as Geordie stand-up delivers the kind of honest-to-goodness material that makes you laugh out loud one minute then get all emotional and gooey the next. The discovery of the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe…

Jason Cook - My Comedy Hero

30 Oct 2009

My comedy heroes? That is a toughie as there are so many: the spontaneous genius of Ross Noble; the cutting one-liners of Frankie Boyle or Jimmy Carr; the measured calm of Stewart Lee or Sean Collins. Everyone has their own thing that makes them a…

Jason Cook: Fear

The Geordie’s honest approach falls short with Fear

14 Aug 2009

Anyone familiar with Jason Cook’s routines knows that he likes to produce heart-warming comedy with an emotional kick. Since 2007’s My Confessions and last year’s Joy, the brutally honest approach has been a refreshing departure in the scene, especially…

Comedy Day Planner

29 Jul 2009

Not sure what do you with your time, but really want to see some good comedy? Brian Donaldson helps sketch out your mirthful itinerary between lunchtime and the witching hour, from The Early Edition to Late ‘n’ Live

Jason Cook

13 Nov 2008

Jason Cook is a happy man. Today, he cheerfully tells me, he has purchased a new Xbox game. But Cook has other reasons to feel upbeat; his 2007 début fringe show My Confessions was a critical hit and was successfully followed by a show about happiness…

Hitlist - Comedy

13 Nov 2008

● Hairy Watt Comedy Club Joe Heenan, Wendy Wason (pictured) and Bill Dewar help take the students’ minds off their educational endeavours for a couple of hours. Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, Tue 25 Nov. ● Jason Cook The confessional comic aims…

If.comedy shortlist long on quality

Little to argue with over judges award selection

21 Aug 2008

The rant was already prepared. How could they possibly let A on there when B has put together a far more impressive hour? C was absolutely hilarious: why have they let D & E in when they were funnier three years ago? And yet the good people sitting…

Jason Cook

Finding comfort and joy in the darkest of places

21 Aug 2008

It’s his birthday today, so you’d expect Jason Cook to be in party mode. His sister has even showed up for Joy in this tiny and packed Stand back-room. But while we pile out onto the street having hugged strangers and armed with paraphernalia that would…

Jason Cook

Bringing joy with honeymoons, confessions and midgets

31 Jul 2008

Geordie comedian Jason Cook looks at the Fringe like a month-long Christmas day. In fact, he wants his show this year to be a caring, sharing, warm hug of a thing, where people feel so uplifted, they’ll be crying when they leave. As his alter ego, Herr…