George Lopez v. Dave Chappelle: Is This Joke Stealing?

Hey Todd,

First things first. Congrats on the video work! Liking it.

Secondly, about your question. I think in this case, George Lopez clearly is making a topical joke and adding his own Mexican-American spin on it. But. And this is a big but, so to speak, Lopez also has had a recent habit of going for the easiest spin on topical jokes. Exhibit B: Who’s going to build that wall on the border with Mexico? And remember, this year’s Democratic candidate field also included New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, so the joke premise is entirely within the realm of possibilities. That said, this is a case of parallel thinking combined with the desire to get an easy laugh on national TV.

Chris Rock did the same premise on SNL years ago:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255574/quotes

Thank you, Dennis. Now as you know, there’s been alot of talk about a black vice president. And I just wanna tell the world that it’ll never happen. As long as you live you will never see a black vice president, you know why? Because some black guy would just kill the president. I’d do it. If Colin Powell was vice president, I’d kill the president and tell his mother about it. What would happen to me? What would they do? Put me in jail with a bunch of black guys that would treat me like a king for the rest of my life? I would be the biggest star in jail, alright, people would be coming up to me and I’d be signing autographs: “97-KY, here you go.” Guys would be going: “You’re the brother that shot Bush. And you told his mother about it huh? I hope my children turn out to be just like you, Man, you know I was getting ready to rape you until I realized who you were. And even if they had a death penalty, what would happen? I’d just be pardoned by the black president. So you see, Dennis, it would not be in George Bush’s best intrests to place Colin Powell on the ticket.

If he did, it’s not a conscious thing. Lopez and Chappelle are both ethnic comics who work largely the same side of the street. They’re going to cross paths every once in a while.

I’ve heard this joke from more than just these two guys, going back a long time, and certainly before this presidential race.

It’s up to one of them (or someone else) to raise the stakes on this joke now.

But yeah, it might be a lift, but not a theft. I’m sure they’ll talk about it at some point.

I say current events joke and not stealing. BUT - if you are going to joke about current events on a nationally televised program reaching millions of viewers (and comedy bloggers) you should check around with your peers and make sure no one else has used something similar. That’s what I think.

My gripe with Lopez’s version is that he says, “How great a country is this, the only place where a white woman and a black man can run for the President of the United States.” Well, of course it is. You can’t run for the presidency of the United States in any country but the United States.

Anyway, the actual punchline seems obvious enough that at least two comics could come up with it, if not many more.

...i can see the similarities in both comedians comments…and i dont think either is that clever as to be the only person who thought of that joke…i am a comedian, and i have been accused of stealing another’s joke…and i have heard other comedians tell one of “my” jokes…there again, i dont consider myself that brilliant that i was the only one who thought up that particular joke….coincedences do happen…..

George opens by telling us that the United States is the only place where people can run for president of the United States.  That makes me think that he’s pretty much running on auto pilot.  Also- this really barely qualifies as a joke.  It’s like a Dave Barry observation.  Of course, stealing something lame is still stealing- in this case from Chris Rock it seems.

I think it’s just the political climate. The topic of an assassination attempt on Obama in the White House came up in my own family not too long ago. I told them not to worry about it, that the Secret Service would be tipped off by the “Dukes of Hazard” General Lee Dixie horn. I think that the idea or fear is out there and people are trying to address it with humor.

This proves that the world is running out of new jokes and original stuff… Not really, but comics can’t check every joke ever told before they say it to make sure it’s never been told before.

If he did intentionally steal it then shame on him.  Maybe he thought no one would catch him.

well my house of four says no they were both funny and it’s a topical joke of the time they may have been the first people to tell it on national television but i’m betting the hundred monkey theory got the joke to THEM in the first place jokes are timing and can’t ever REALLY be stolen.

thats my opinion.