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 4 of 37)
46. I hope you were smart enough to Copyright and patent your joke before you aired it. A verbal claim will get you nothing but lawyer's fees. I think 65 million dollars is a little greedy. What the hell do you need that much money for? I suppose you are just hoping for a settlement. But then again, I hope you don't win. Just for the sake that Klingons aren't something you created...you are attempting to bank on the idea of another person.
ardentluma at 12:23PM on Sep 20th 2007
47. If cenk is serious - he's an embarassment. Technically, it's not even the same joke. Legally, in terms of damages, he's probably damaged himself even more by the stupid lawsuit.And if he's not and just pullng a pr stunt, he's loud and...you know what? Not funny.
mike at 12:26PM on Sep 20th 2007
48. Stolen Joke? You are crazy!JOkes are supposed to be funny and yours wasn't. The joke are really the politicians that act lik eKLingons. I am sure many can make that analogy without visiting your Blog or watching the Colbert Report.
HAve a beautiful day!
rockolito at 12:25PM on Sep 20th 2007
49. That is hilarious...the whole thing! I feel sorry for your non-existant kids! HA!
Khgoode at 12:31PM on Sep 20th 2007
50. That was absolutely retarded. Screw this guy. COLBERT ALL THE WAY.
kelly at 12:26PM on Sep 20th 2007
51. ONe more thing, YOU TRULY SUCK!
rockolito at 12:28PM on Sep 20th 2007
52. This guy is a freaking loser and has no lofe. Sueing someone over something that isnt copyright is about as low as you can go. And do you honestly thing someone as big as Stephen would ever listen to a loser like you? I hope the judge laughs in your face if this ever makes it to court. And if it does the peopoe who allowed it to go there deserve to lose their jobs. All you are doing is making yourself look even more immature and idiotic than you currently are. I hope that anyone who sees you on the streets points and laughs at you saying, "HA! look at that loser who tried to sue someone over something he didnt create!" Just incase you missed that, you didnt creat the klingons.
Joe at 12:31PM on Sep 20th 2007
53. Um yeah, so who the hell is the fat guy anyways? Colbert is way better, and the way he presented the joke was infinitely better than that weirdo. $65 million dollars!?! That fat ass is just a greedy M***** F*****
Jan at 12:42PM on Sep 20th 2007
54. Are you that desperate for attention? it is a known fact in all realms of comedy's that jokes are "stollen". In fact, just reading your post I saw various "stolen" thoughts, jokes. The OJ thing was obviously stolen from OJ. I have heard the "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." various times. And then there's the whole "priceless" comment. Did you pay Mastercard their proper fees for using their trademark phrase?
msanch79 at 12:29PM on Sep 20th 2007
55. Same subject but totally different usage.. you're a dumbass Cenk.. the reason you don't get any "hanky-panky" is cause you're a goofy lookin bastard with a 3 inch cock.. havin fun wastin your "precious" time and the little money you have somehow mustered up throughout your life all in the name of bad publicity
Matt at 12:59PM on Sep 20th 2007
56. What an asshole. Let it go. 65 million for that? it wasn't even that funny. It just makes him look like an asshole. Stephen Colbert is the shit.
Josh at 2:40PM on Sep 20th 2007
57. Are JOKES copywrited? WTF!?
Sound a little jealous to me. Colbert is the funniest guy on t.v. and you should get a JOB!
My own "wag of the finger" to you.
This Marine mom has your back, Stephen. No worries.
Saxyeddiesmama at 12:31PM on Sep 20th 2007
58. AND AGAIN... WHO IS THIS GUY?
JOHN at 12:31PM on Sep 20th 2007
59. This is rediculous,people use other peoples jokes all the time. Milton Berle was famous for it. Can you imagine where this would go if he really got 65 million for a stolen joke. Doesn't he first have to have a copyright?
Mikey at 12:36PM on Sep 20th 2007
60. I would like to start by saying I am a huge fan of Colbert, but I can see the similarities between the segments presented. But if anything, Cenk should be thanking Colbert. First, because the "original" joke, WAS NOT FUNNY!! Cenks' has no idea how to deliver a good joke, he just talks and thinks he's funny. And Colberts' way of comparing Giuliani to Klingon had NOTHING in common with the bit on "The Young Turks". Hey, Cenk Uyger, learn to tell better jokes, and then you can get mad when people "steal them".
Turkish1029 at 12:32PM on Sep 20th 2007