You can see the stolen joke in this video (warning, profanity in the video):
And this press release explains all the sordid details of Stephen Colbert's thievery:
Air America Host Sues Stephen Colbert for $65 Million
SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 (LOS ANGELES, CA) Cenk Uygur, host of Air America's morning show "The Young Turks" is suing Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert Report"for $65 million. Mr. Uygur charges that Mr. Colbert has stolen his jokes on many occasions, but he can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that his "Klingon joke" of September 7th was directly pilfered by Mr. Colbert and recycled on his September 11th program on Comedy Central.
Mr. Uygur is considering adding Comedy Central, MTV Networks, Viacom, Bus Boy Productions, the head of Bus Boy Productions, Jon Stewart, to his lawsuit. Anyone and everyone related to stealing the aforementioned joke should "lawyer up" according to Mr. Uygur.
Mr. Uygur explained, "Today's word is: lawsuit."
He added, "As OJ would say, 'Think you can steal my sh**? Up against the wall mother f**ker.' I couldn't have said it better myself, that's why I didn't; I just quoted him instead."
As to the large sum of money sought in compensatory and punitive damages, Uygur explained, "If a pair of lost pants is worth $65 million, then my jokes are worth a hell of a lot more. How do you value the gift of laughter? I think the Mastercard commercials nailed it. Priceless!"
Uygur added, "Except this time it has a price and it's $65 million."
Then Uygur added, "Look, he's messing with my livelihood. That's how I put food on my kid's table. If I had kids, that's definitely where I would put the food. Plus, my girlfriend won't have sex with me anymore because she says I've lost my sense of humor. I told her I didn't lose it, it was stolen. I looked it up, they have a legal word for it: it's called loss of consortium. That means no more hanky-panky and it costs big time in lawsuit world."
Uygur added, "I have nothing further to add."
Since the joke was stolen in California, the suit will be filed in the state of California with California laws controlling. Since the joke was transmitted across state lines and used in New York , there might be federal charges as well.
Irrefutable visual proof of the stolen Klingon joke can be found on "The Young Turks" website at http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2007/9/19/1163/40077. Uygur added, "It is irrefutable."
"The Young Turks" airs live on nationally syndicated Air America Radio and XM Satellite Radio, Monday - Friday, 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. ET. The program also streams simultaneously as a first of its kind live video show on http://www.theyoungturks.com."The Young Turks" is hosted by Cenk Uygur, who is also known for his blogs on The Huffington Post and AOL's News bloggers. Recent guest on"The Young Turks" include Senator John Kerry, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Jimmy Carter, Reverend Jesse Jackson, conservative pundit Mary Matalin, NBC's Brian Williams, ABC's Sam Donaldson, Actor Matt Dillon, General Wesley Clark, Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, amongst numerous others.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 37)
31. fucking faggot is suing 65 million for a stolen joke, what a little bitch, I hope the guy bringing the suit dies real soon.
Jordan at 12:19PM on Sep 20th 2007
32. I didnt know it was against the law to steal a joke. I better start using only my own jokes. I dont think you can sue a dry cleaner for $65 million. Dry cleaners dont have that money. You can only sue them for what the company is worth.
justingoska at 12:19PM on Sep 20th 2007
33. Get a life! There is no chance in hell you'll get anything...let alone $65 million, even with your "irrefutableevidence."
Jessica at 12:20PM on Sep 20th 2007
34. You shouldn't sue Colbert, you shoud just kill yourself you fat un-funny mother fucker. Really just kill yourself.
Kevin at 12:15PM on Sep 20th 2007
35. It was a bad joke you piece of shit...die you fucking scum, he didn't do an impression, he put up a video, you are a worthlesss sack of shit and deserve to die.
Jordan at 12:20PM on Sep 20th 2007
36. don't be a bitch, dude. colbert is way funnier than you.
vb at 9:59PM on Sep 20th 2007
37. It's a joke...people. Can you not hear the humor in the suit. Well done, by the way.
Colleen at 12:33PM on Sep 20th 2007
38. Puh-lease get over yourself. The reason you're so mad is Stephen pulled it off. Your impression sucked he probably got rights to show the clip of klingons, Maybe they should sue you for infrigement what is everything you say copyrighted?
It's as bad as Paris Hilton sueing the greeting card companies.
Brynn at 12:20PM on Sep 20th 2007
39. You are not the only on to watch the debates r star trek...COlbert is a million times smarter than your jabba the hut lookin ass. Shut up and die quietly, even if he did take the joke, it might not have been him--it could have been a writer...I ope someone kills you soon.
Jordan at 12:20PM on Sep 20th 2007
40. This seems like a lame publicity stunt.
In order for the Klingon joke to even be funny, people have to "get" it, right? But if it isn't widely known that Klingons repeatedly speak of honor, then no one will get the joke. So, either the joke isn't funny (because no one gets it), or it is widely known that Klingons speak frequently of honor, thus it is not surprising that two people would make the same joke.
You can't prove that Colbert didn't steal the joke, but then again, you can't prove he did. It is much more ambiguous than the plaintiff would argue.
If every small-time comedian sued when a well-known comedian made a similar joke, the courts would be clogged with this crap. The radio host should improve his delivery and work his way into the mainstream with talent rather than a lawsuit.
Richard Spencer at 12:20PM on Sep 20th 2007
41. I can't believe you stole my line, "I roll OJ style!" I'll see you in court! And I'm suing that bastard OJ, too, for stealing my line, "up against the wall, Mother Fucker!"
Chris Gahr at 12:21PM on Sep 20th 2007
42. Chenk should be flattered that Colbert used his material.
BPinaire at 8:53PM on Sep 25th 2007
43. What a hack Cenk.....I hope the entertainment industry buries him beneath his own bullshit.....The jokes are completely different and mostly because Stephen Colbert's is funny......Get a life....I hope the Colbert counter sues and takes away your insta-matic camera...........You and Chris Crocker should find an island somewhere far far away and go live on it....
Ryan at 12:22PM on Sep 20th 2007
44. You have proven again you are trully young turds. I love it when you eat your own...ewwwww
socal4patrick at 12:22PM on Sep 20th 2007
45. Colbert will hear of this and he will bury you, you worthless piece of shit. He will show his audience--he actually has one--how fucking stupid you are. Your excuse for suing him is citing another ridiculous lawsuit. You are pathetic dude.
Jordan at 12:23PM on Sep 20th 2007