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. who are you
will at 12:41PM on Sep 20th 2007
62. 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
63. 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
64. 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
65. Do jokes have owners? Give me a break!!! Are they copyrighted? Get a life.
HELEN at 12:46PM on Sep 20th 2007
66. Hmm. Your jokes worth 65 million? Wow. They seem to be worth something more around the term sh*t. Your jokes are stupid and trashy. Just because someone sued millions for a lost pair of pants, do you really need to use that as an excuse to sue for something like your dumb humor. Hmm, Colbert "stole" your joke, and you stole the idea to sue for a idiotic reason. Pleeeaaase, you aren't even as good looking as Colbert....and...I think you may be jealous. Even if he did have to give you 65 million, he is so well liked he'd start a donation on air and 65 million would come back to him in a week, if it even would take him that long. Colbert could wipe his ass with that money, and sell it on Ebay quicker than someone can say you actually have talent. But, then again, who would want to say that anyhow?
P.S. You look like a muppet
P.S.S. And I seriously doubt thats why your girlfriend doesn't want to have sex with you...I'm sure she meant other things when she said you lost your sense of humor.
P.S.S.S. Mastercard should sue you for using there name and slogan without permission.
Have a nice day.
Megan at 12:46PM on Sep 20th 2007
67. Um... Yeah... The jokes were not the same at all... Sure, they both involved Klingons... But the actual jokes and payoffs were totally different... This guy is an idiot if he thinks he is going to win. He's acting like he has a monopoly on humor, even though it was a really obvious joke.
Adam at 12:47PM on Sep 20th 2007
68. I'm pretty sure Stephen Colbert makes Klingon jokes a lot. Like someone said already.. old nerds will make the same references. And another thing.. when I saw that episode of The Colbert Report the Klingon joke made me laugh. When I saw the clip of you saying it, I didn't. You don't deliver well, you're not funny. Way to go trying to be famous.
jackie at 12:49PM on Sep 20th 2007
69. 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
70. I have a radio show in my basement. I would like to get some attention. I'm going to sue both of them for 125m because I said it during the debate not after. I have a tape. Please give me some publicity. My show is definately beter than the young jerks and both people who listen to my show agree. HA
gofish1966 at 12:49PM on Sep 20th 2007
71. 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
72. is stealing and repeating someones joke really worth $65million give me an ffing break in a time where everybody sues everybody for everything you would think somebody who hosts a talkshow albeit a small and rarely listened to show you should be trying to stop the needless ridiculous and petty waste of time and taxes in our court system waaaaahhhh he stole my joke gimme a break we all do it every week standing around the "watercooler" at work grow up and move on or continue and prove to the world youre a greedy imbecile feel free to email me at Mwalker527@aol.com
staff101 at 12:50PM on Sep 20th 2007
73. Calling Cenk a comedian is like calling a woodpecker a carpenter. He happened to hit all the right keys PERHAPS once like a typing monkey can eventually produce a real word perhaps once. But Colert stealing his "work." I think thou doth protesteth too much.
raven at 12:51PM on Sep 20th 2007
74. Young Turks' Cenk Uygur's "Aha!!!...We caught ya" rant sounds sooooo much like Rush "Limpbully" Limbaugh....hmm, I wonder....
rocohul at 12:53PM on Sep 20th 2007
75. Can you say frivolous lawsuit you and your lawyers should be held responsible for any court fees for both sides. This is why our society is so messed up because people like you need to sue for a get rich quick scheme. Remember when Billy told you a joke in grade school and then you told Tommy. Should Billy be able to sue you now since he originally told the joke to you, it's his material, right! Hopefully you sided with the old lady who had no idea that coffee was going to hot when she ordered it too. As far as pants worth $65 mil remember what happened there. A waste of tax payers money having judges deal with bullsh*t lawsiuts. Put aside your petty jealousy over this man and do the right thing. Maybe you guys should just.....hug it out!
Woodguru at 12:54PM on Sep 20th 2007