“Mencia” is worse than a sellout, he’s a cowardly thief. He takes food out the mouths of better comics.
People make a living by writing material.
[quote]simon-hecubus wrote:
Backlash79 wrote:
I’ve laughed at Carlos Mencia’s stuff on occasion and I’m sure he’s not the only one stealing material from other comedians but they fact that he does puts him down a notch in my book. I’d be more likely to avoid his show now than before.
I’m quite a comedy connoisseur and have watched 100s, probably 1000s of hours of stand-up. Let me tell you that LOTS of them steal from each other.
They may craft the joke and tell it differently, but the practice of trading jokes is very common.[/quote]
It always has been. Eddy Murphy acknowledged that much of the way he presented himself in stand up was taken from Richard Pryor and Red Sanford. I can see honoring the true originals because they paved the way…like Sanford, but anyone after them were the students of those guys. They saw what worked and used it again and again, hopefully adding some of their own style to it. I mean, even some of Jim Carreys stuff looks like it was taken straight from Jerry Lewis.
I mean, I don’t really find Mencia all that funny to begin with, but I wouldn’t dig a grave for him based on stealing some other comics joke or act alone.
I don’t know anything about Carlos Mencia, and I only know Rogan from watching UFC. Didn’t know he did comedy.
Anyway, am i the only one who felt that Rogan went too far? It came across as bullying and humiliation to me. Just the way Rogan is so in his face, posturing and intimidating the fella. Rogan is fairly built guy and trains MMA, Carlos just looks out of shape. He wasn’t just using words he was really in the guys face, probably making him feel physically threatened. Even when it was clear Rogan had showqed him up and proved his point, he just kept going and going, pouring on the humiliation. Did he deserve that?
[quote]simon-hecubus wrote:
I’m quite a comedy connoisseur and have watched 100s, probably 1000s of hours of stand-up. Let me tell you that LOTS of them steal from each other.
They may craft the joke and tell it differently, but the practice of trading jokes is very common.[/quote]
and Dane Cook has perfected it.
Redd Foxx 
He played Fred Sanford. And man was he incredible. He was the most foul mouthed unapologetic comedian that ever lived. He and Pryor and Lenny Bruce will likely never be equalled.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
simon-hecubus wrote:
Backlash79 wrote:
I’ve laughed at Carlos Mencia’s stuff on occasion and I’m sure he’s not the only one stealing material from other comedians but they fact that he does puts him down a notch in my book. I’d be more likely to avoid his show now than before.
I’m quite a comedy connoisseur and have watched 100s, probably 1000s of hours of stand-up. Let me tell you that LOTS of them steal from each other.
They may craft the joke and tell it differently, but the practice of trading jokes is very common.
It always has been. Eddy Murphy acknowledged that much of the way he presented himself in stand up was taken from Richard Pryor and Red Sanford. I can see honoring the true originals because they paved the way…like Sanford, but anyone after them were the students of those guys. They saw what worked and used it again and again, hopefully adding some of their own style to it. I mean, even some of Jim Carreys stuff looks like it was taken straight from Jerry Lewis.
I mean, I don’t really find Mencia all that funny to begin with, but I wouldn’t dig a grave for him based on stealing some other comics joke or act alone.[/quote]
[quote]aikigreg wrote:
Redd Foxx He played Fred Sanford. And man was he incredible. He was the most foul mouthed unapologetic comedian that ever lived. He and Pryor and Lenny Bruce will likely never be equalled.
Professor X wrote:
simon-hecubus wrote:
Backlash79 wrote:
I’ve laughed at Carlos Mencia’s stuff on occasion and I’m sure he’s not the only one stealing material from other comedians but they fact that he does puts him down a notch in my book. I’d be more likely to avoid his show now than before.
I’m quite a comedy connoisseur and have watched 100s, probably 1000s of hours of stand-up. Let me tell you that LOTS of them steal from each other.
They may craft the joke and tell it differently, but the practice of trading jokes is very common.
It always has been. Eddy Murphy acknowledged that much of the way he presented himself in stand up was taken from Richard Pryor and Red Sanford. I can see honoring the true originals because they paved the way…like Sanford, but anyone after them were the students of those guys. They saw what worked and used it again and again, hopefully adding some of their own style to it. I mean, even some of Jim Carreys stuff looks like it was taken straight from Jerry Lewis.
I mean, I don’t really find Mencia all that funny to begin with, but I wouldn’t dig a grave for him based on stealing some other comics joke or act alone.
[/quote]
That’s what I meant. I get the character mixed up with him and that isn’t the first time.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
What comedian today is just completely original?[/quote]
None of them. It’s all be said before. Same goes for music, art, and just about everything else in pop culture. However, I think there is a difference between blatantly ripping someone off and taking what isn’t yours and putting your own spin on it. I don’t know if you saw the video before it was taken down(which says a lot about the truth of Rogan’s accusations), but the joke about the super fence along Mexico is hard not to call anything other than stealing a joke. It is almost word for word, the structure of the joke is very similar, even how they both raise their hand at the end as if they were asking the question.
I think Joe’s real beef with Carlos is that he DOES claim to be completely original. He denies he has ever stolen a single joke, he denies that Ari ever opened for him, he made up a story about Joe at the Comedy store that Joe had video of to prove what Carlos described didn’t happen. If Carlos would have simply said “oh yeah sure, I borrow some ideas here and there and improvise on some stuff that isn’t mine…”, he probably would have been happy with it and left it alone. Every one stands on the backs of those who came before them, that’s just how you progress in just about anything.
[quote]aikigreg wrote:
Redd Foxx He played Fred Sanford. And man was he incredible. He was the most foul mouthed unapologetic comedian that ever lived. He and Pryor and Lenny Bruce will likely never be equalled.
Professor X wrote:
simon-hecubus wrote:
Backlash79 wrote:
I’ve laughed at Carlos Mencia’s stuff on occasion and I’m sure he’s not the only one stealing material from other comedians but they fact that he does puts him down a notch in my book. I’d be more likely to avoid his show now than before.
I’m quite a comedy connoisseur and have watched 100s, probably 1000s of hours of stand-up. Let me tell you that LOTS of them steal from each other.
They may craft the joke and tell it differently, but the practice of trading jokes is very common.
It always has been. Eddy Murphy acknowledged that much of the way he presented himself in stand up was taken from Richard Pryor and Red Sanford. I can see honoring the true originals because they paved the way…like Sanford, but anyone after them were the students of those guys. They saw what worked and used it again and again, hopefully adding some of their own style to it. I mean, even some of Jim Carreys stuff looks like it was taken straight from Jerry Lewis.
I mean, I don’t really find Mencia all that funny to begin with, but I wouldn’t dig a grave for him based on stealing some other comics joke or act alone.
[/quote]
Red Fox ruled. I rented a standup video of him several years ago and the first thing that came out of his mouth when he walked out on stage was “Let’s talk about some stinky pussy.”
It’s one thing to imitate and perfect a style but yet another to directly rip shit off of performances which were merely a few years ago by parallel comedians. There’s a big ass difference. And I did think Mencia was ok…as Joe said himself “You’re good, you’re really good with other people’s shit.”
I’m really surprised they didn’t get into a fist fight.
Well I just checked Rogan’s site and he posted saying he is now banned from the Comedy Store. FUCK THAT. Looks like the money brought in the big guns. Kinda sad when the little guy exposes the big guy for being a phony and gets kicked in the balls for it. What bullshit.
I get the feeling that “Carlos Mencia” is acting when he’s doing his show. I don’t know if anyone else got that vibe. But it seems like the “real” comedians, you see them on stage exactly how they would be off the stage. I really don’t like how “Carlos Mencia” comes off on stage, and I get the feeling he’s not a cool guy off stage as well.
[quote]StevenF wrote:
I get the feeling that “Carlos Mencia” is acting when he’s doing his show. I don’t know if anyone else got that vibe. But it seems like the “real” comedians, you see them on stage exactly how they would be off the stage. I really don’t like how “Carlos Mencia” comes off on stage, and I get the feeling he’s not a cool guy off stage as well. [/quote]
I think you are right, Joe Rogan’s puts the incident into perspective:
Rogan was working that night, “Carlos” was the one who walked onto the stage after Joes set. He told the crowd that Joe wouldn’t dis him to his face.
Rogan claims the joke-thievery was so severe that the off-stage comics would signal the performer when “Carlos” walked in the club. The comic would alter his act to preserve his good material.
Rogan feels the video exposed “Mencia” enough to drop the whole issue.
Now its gotten even more out of hand, Rogan’s agent is part of the agency that represents Carlos Mencia as well and has dropped Rogan. This is why comics get ripped off in the first fucking place, no one in Hollywood is willing to step up and say shit is wrong.
WOW!
I just listened to Carlos talk smack about Rogan and other comics on radio, and for someone that steals jokes, his ego and denial is way too high.
[quote]slimjim wrote:
Now its gotten even more out of hand, Rogan’s agent is part of the agency that represents Carlos Mencia as well and has dropped Rogan. This is why comics get ripped off in the first fucking place, no one in Hollywood is willing to step up and say shit is wrong.
He apparently didn’t just say “shit was wrong”. He tried to deface their largest meal ticket at the moment. That was a dumb move unless he was also pulling in the money that Mencia currently is. No one gives a shit about Mencia stealing a routine. This is comedy, not a scientific invention convention. THEY ALL STEAL SHIT. Wheher you personally like the guy is a completely different matter.
Ya know, for him stealing people’s shit, you’d think he’d at least be a little bit more funny. I’ve never laughed when watching his show. I’m fucking sick of him referring to himself as a BEANER too. Aren’t beaners mexicans??
[quote]Professor X wrote:
slimjim wrote:
Now its gotten even more out of hand, Rogan’s agent is part of the agency that represents Carlos Mencia as well and has dropped Rogan. This is why comics get ripped off in the first fucking place, no one in Hollywood is willing to step up and say shit is wrong.
He apparently didn’t just say “shit was wrong”. He tried to deface their largest meal ticket at the moment. That was a dumb move unless he was also pulling in the money that Mencia currently is. No one gives a shit about Mencia stealing a routine. This is comedy, not a scientific invention convention. THEY ALL STEAL SHIT. Wheher you personally like the guy is a completely different matter.[/quote]
Mencia called Rogan on stage, in addition to calling him out in a radio interview a few months ago, so yeah, he did step up and say shit was wrong and when Mencia challenged him to prove it, he told him exactly what was wrong.
You may not care about comedians ripping off material, but I think people do give a shit about Mencia stealing material, especially those whose material he has stolen. Further, I believe that if this video continues to be passed around the internet and hits the mainstream, people will stop watching his shitty little show and then what?
Also, your point about it not being a scientific convention is a bit off-based. There are different forms of intelligence, and comedic intelligence may not get us to the moon, but a master of the art is pretty damn impressive in his own right. You don’t have to respect them, but that doesn’t lessen their claim to intellectual property rights.
[quote]slimjim wrote:
Mencia called Rogan on stage, in addition to calling him out in a radio interview a few months ago, so yeah, he did step up and say shit was wrong and when Mencia challenged him to prove it, he told him exactly what was wrong.
You may not care about comedians ripping off material, but I think people do give a shit about Mencia stealing material, especially those whose material he has stolen. Further, I believe that if this video continues to be passed around the internet and hits the mainstream, people will stop watching his shitty little show and then what?
Also, your point about it not being a scientific convention is a bit off-based. There are different forms of intelligence, and comedic intelligence may not get us to the moon, but a master of the art is pretty damn impressive in his own right. You don’t have to respect them, but that doesn’t lessen their claim to intellectual property rights.[/quote]
I never wrote I didn’t respect them. I have written specifically that they all steal/borrow acts and routines. I have never sat and broke out laughing at Mencia.
I was amazed they chose him (of all people) to replace the phenom and cash cow that Chappelle had become in such a short time. That is probably one reason I really don’t care about this particular incident. If it were someone I truly consider a “master of the art”…like early Eddie Murphy or even some of Cosby’s stand up from the 70’s, then maybe I would give a shit.
To me, this is like two shitty comedians pissing each other off. Who truly cares? I also have no doubt that since he is the replacement for the man that had high sells on every release of his show on dvd, they will attempt to protect their current money maker.
So, to recap, I thought ALL of his shit was stolen. I never thought he was really funny. But then, I don’t consider many of those guys funny who show up on some of those stand up comedy act shows. There are a rare few that actually have you rolling every single time they perform and who come across as truly and naturally funny people when interviewed.
The funniest interview I’ve seen is Chappelle on Oprah…and he wasn’t even trying to be funny.
[quote]slimjim wrote:
Now its gotten even more out of hand, Rogan’s agent is part of the agency that represents Carlos Mencia as well and has dropped Rogan. This is why comics get ripped off in the first fucking place, no one in Hollywood is willing to step up and say shit is wrong.
Money talks…
Sucks but it’s not as if Joe Rogan is struggling for a meal ticket now anyway, with all the little stuff he does plus all the money he got from Fear Factor and the MMA stuff he’ll still be sitting pretty in the end.