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 5 of 37)
61. Well, I would say the joke are of the same venue, not exactly alike, but Colbert actually did a more polished job of it.
Deal with it dude.
Timshell Rivers at 4:41PM on Sep 20th 2007
62. Ok, What the Fuck?!? So he MAY have stolen a joke. What's the big deal? Its not like you have some fuckin copyright to it! Comedians steal jokes all the time, it happens and no one really gets mad about it. STOP BEING SUCH A FUCKING PUSSY ASS BITCH and GET OVER IT!!! You should be happy that a piece of shit tiny show like urs is even watched by the geniuses at The Colbert Report and that they found it funny enough to rip off. MOVE ON and GET A FUCKING LIKE YOU FAT FUCK!!!!
John W at 12:36PM on Sep 20th 2007
63. Not the same joke, and do you have any right's to the joke anyways?... uh, no. You do realize the judge is going to laugh in your face right?> Colbert Nation all the way!!!!!!
Pmessick82 at 3:40PM on Sep 20th 2007
64. Omg this guys is so stupid so what if he used you jokes....are you gonna go cry about it.....Its like trying to saying im going to sue you over that your mama joke...when everyone uses your mama joke....You Suck and Need a life....Steven Colbert Amrica Loves you
Liz at 12:35PM on Sep 20th 2007
65. Your an idiot - Colberts jokes were way better
nitertr916 at 12:36PM on Sep 20th 2007
66. I think there is a lot of confusion here. The entire story was a joke based on the O.J. Simpson Vegas break in. Read the story people.
imiscible at 11:27PM on Sep 21st 2007
67. Buddy, you're just pissed because Colbert was able to show the world how to properly deliver that joke instead of you. $65 million is ridiculous (as would be $1). Jokes tend to make their way around by people telling them, you should be flattered. Instead, you got pissed because you were upstaged. You should try and get over yourself, and go piss in the wind.
jeb fallstone at 12:37PM on Sep 20th 2007
68. Actually,colberts joke was actually funny. Honestly,when I hear them go on and on about honor,as a good startrek geek,I thought the same thing,way before anyone used it on tv.
Michael at 10:48PM on Sep 20th 2007
69. who are you
will at 12:41PM on Sep 20th 2007
70. OMG folks!!! It's all a JOKE! Get over yourselves! Haven't you heard of irony?
If you watch Colbert he does this kind of humor all the time.... c'mon... "George Bush, Great President, or Greatest President EVER"....
NObody is going to believe THAT!!!!
Debbie at 12:40PM on Sep 20th 2007
71. Cenk Uygur should be sued for stealing the name of his show from an old Rod Stewart song.
On several occasions, I have seen all the late night talk shows rotate jokes from night to night. Leterman will do something that then turns up on Conan and then Jay uses it. I don't think it's stealing, I just think that stupid, common denominator jokes are thought of by several people. It's the Law of Univeral Idiocy. If you think of something, someone just as dumb as you has probably thought of it first.
Joshua at 12:46PM on Sep 20th 2007
72. Are you seriously kidding me? First off, I can barely hear the first joke, too noisy or too much static. If Uygur provided a transcript for his joke and compare it to Colbert's, maybe he get more people on his side. I know how it is to get your stuff stolen from you but his joke and Uygurr joke don't really sound the same. Yeah, it has same principles with honor and Klingon, but it's not word for word. If it was word for word, yeah, Uygur can sue all he likes to. But, right now, Uygur are just acting like a child. He should be an adult and ask Steven Colbert for an apology and make him give credit to Uygur. All he wants it’s money and fame, though both of them will fade in time.
Tri at 12:44PM on Sep 20th 2007
73. Suing over a joke?!?!? Give us a break! JOKES are generally considered to be in public domain. Milton Berle once published a book of his best jokes and stated in the book that any reader would be welcome to "steal" any joke from the book! Cenk UyGur is a pompous creep who should get laughed out of the courtroom if this case ever gets there ... or just award him the sum of $1, okay?
Jet at 12:49PM on Sep 20th 2007
74. Hey Cenk...
Your mom called and said she wanted you to move out of her basement. Grow up, get a life, and move on. Oh and in case you forgot. That idiot that sued because his cheap pair of pants was ruined didn't win his case. In which case you'll probably settle out of court like the rest of the hall of fame idiots that sued without any concept of real justice. It was a joke, jokes are meant to be told, end of discussion. Oh. And no one realy listens to you, even though you have a voice, your credability is tarnished, just like your retarded friend OJ.
cbueno2 at 12:50PM on Sep 20th 2007
75. Do jokes have owners? Give me a break!!! Are they copyrighted? Get a life.
HELEN at 12:46PM on Sep 20th 2007